A Veteran‑Owned Security Firm Building Safer Communities

Led by Former Federal Agents Dedicated to Public Safety Leadership

At The Project Survive Training Institute, a 501(c)(3) non-profit division of The Pohl Group, llc, we are led by safety experts with more than 75 years of combined experience serving as federal agents with the FBI and the Department of Defense. As a veteran-owned organization grounded in national-level public safety leadership, we equip organizations to prevent, respond to, and recover from violence by strengthening preparedness and building safer, more resilient environments.

Our Mission & Heritage

Our Vision: Empower schools, businesses, and communities with evidence‑based training forged in federal service making safety proactive, not reactive.

Our Origin: Founded by retired FBI and DoD agents turned public safety leaders, our heritage is steeped in real-world response from crisis zones to communities at home. These decades of service and leadership shape every program we deliver.

Our Commitment: We carry forward the legacy of reliability, precision, and accountability that defines public safety leadership teams.

Meet the Leadership Team

Mark J. Pohl

A U.S. Army veteran and former Special Agent with the DoD (retired). A Global War on Terrorism Medal recipient (Iraq & Afghanistan) where for over a decade he led the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force, prosecuting global terrorist networks. Mark also served as an undercover agent in the U.S. and London, England. During his career, he collaborated closely with the CIA, FBI, DEA, IRS, and U.S. Military on sensitive and high-profile investigations including the first extradition of a fugitive from Iraq in U.S. history. Mark is also a DHS‑trained instructor in Active Shooter Response and Tactical Medicine (TacMed) and served as a public safety research advisor for Purdue University.

Ken Wall

A retired FBI Supervisory Special Agent and Air Force Veteran, Ken brings over 30 years of public and private security leadership, experience. His passion for public safety and violence prevention was forged during his service leading teams at the 9/11 terror attacks at World Trade Center, Shanksville, Pennsylvania, and school shootings nationwide. While with the FBI, he facilitated tabletop, functional, and full-scale exercises across all 88 Ohio counties that improved violence prevention and response procedures. Ken is also the former Director of Cincinnati SAFE, an organization dedicated to protecting Cincinnati’s Jewish community.

Mark Rogers

Mark is a former Special Agent for the FBI (retired) with extensive experience in violence prevention, threat assessment, critical incident response, tactical operations and training. Mark is a former SWAT operator, FBI Hostage Negotiator, and de-escalation expert. He was the former director of training for the FBI Cincinnati Division. His hands-on leadership and instructional capabilities have helped develop industry-leading training programs for law enforcement, schools, and corporate partners alike.