O’Gara Training combines its rich history and heritage with outstanding people and ever improving facilities to provide a customer experience tailored to their customer’s needs. Over the years O’Gara Training experience has taught them one very important lesson, its customers are the most important assets it has – and it treats them that way.
Prior to 1994: 140 Year Legacy
O’Gara Training and Services traces its roots back to its founder, Bill O’Gara, and O’Gara-Hess and Eisenhardt, Armoring Company (OHEAC).
O’Gara-Hess and Eisenhardt, Armoring Company (OHEAC) started its more than 140-year history of protecting human life back in 1876 while manufacturing coaches. The O’Gara history includes providing presidential limousines starting in the 1940s with Truman. OHEAC has also provided armored limousines for many high-profile individuals.
1994
OHEAC expanded its operations by developing and building the Up Armored HMMWV for the U.S. Army and U.S. Airforce.
1996
The company was taken public as The O’Gara Company. Shortly thereafter, O’Gara expanded operations overseas with manufacturing operations in Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, Venezuela, France, Russia and The Philippines.
1997
The O’Gara Company acquired its first training operation in Westpoint, VA. Through the acquisition of the International Training Institute better known as ITI, O’Gara began offering driver training and other tactical training services.
1998
The O’Gara Company acquired Kroll, Inc. and changed its name to Kroll-O’Gara. It expanded its training and services offering to include background investigations, pre-employment drug screening, site surveys, first responders for kidnap and rescue as well as mobile training teams.
2001
The O’Gara Company sold their portion of Kroll-O’Gara to Armor Holdings.
2003
The founders of The O’Gara Company, formed The O’Gara Group. The O’Gara Group includes two divisions: The Mobile Security Division and The Training and Services Division. Since that time O’Gara Training has continue to expand its capabilities and facilities.
2006
The O’Gara Group acquired the Safety and Security Institute from Virginia International Raceway. Today, this is our Alton, VA facility. This facility, which is WPS approved, provides O’Gara Training and Services with a capacity that is unrivaled in our industry when combined with our facility in Montross, VA.
2009
O’Gara Training and Services broke ground on a green field site to develop the state of the art Montross, VA facility. Since 2009 O’Gara Training and Services has continued to add training venues, facilities, people and equipment to its Montross facility to make it the premier WPS and GATA compliant facility in the country.
2014
O’Gara Training and Services expands facilities to accommodate groups such as NGOs and corporations who need awareness training and practical exercises for dealing with high risk situations.
2016 – 2022
O’Gara Training and Services developed tailored curriculums for Active Shooter and Travel and Safety Abroad Training, O’Gara Training and Services supports Schools K-12, Colleges and Universities, Small and Large Businesses and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO’s).
2022
Former O’Gara Training and Services President and General Manager, Kelly Dollins, and his wife of 35 years Suzanne Dollins, purchase O’Gara Training and Services and reclassify the business as a Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business.
