29 Oct The Human Side of Security
Veteran Jorge Hernandez brings military lessons into school security
By Sadie Palker ’27, Dane Mitchell ’28, & Sophia Dubler ’28
Jorge Hernandez was born in the Bronx, N.Y., but frequently moved when he was younger, living in Allentown, Pa., and New London, Conn., before eventually settling down in Stamford in 1997.
The Stamford community grew on him and has become an important fixture in his life. Since moving here, Hernandez began to appreciate the importance of looking out for the people around him and contributing something positive whenever he can.
This appreciation of looking out for others and contributing something positive led him into the U.S. Army. His time serving was incredibly important to him and shaped the way he works. His service taught him discipline, situational awareness, teamwork, communication, and how to remain focused under pressure. It taught him how to lead, take responsibility, and work with people from varying backgrounds.
Hernandez served for 12 years and reached the rank of sergeant. A transition into security was only natural after his military service. Hernandez took the lessons he had learned in the military and applied them to civilian life.
Outside of his career, Hernandez is a father and a boxing coach. He swears by hard work and takes pride in what he does.
Hernandez has been working with Magen Security, a Stamford-based security company, and his boss, Eyal Vita, since 2009. He began working at Bi-Cultural Hebrew Academy in 2023.
“School security is different from any other type, because here I am not just protecting the building, but looking out for the students,” he said. “Knowing that my presence can help people feel safe makes the job meaningful to me—being around the students reminds me of my own!”
He wishes he had understood from the beginning just how much the human side of security matters.
“Security isn’t just watching doors or monitoring an area,” Hernandez said. ”It’s paying attention and noticing when someone is down, and something is wrong. Security’s job is, ultimately, to help.”
Hernandez mentioned that students, day in and day out, remind him of this and inspire him to keep going. “You don’t always see the impact you have on others, but simply being present and dependable can make someone feel safe, and that difference matters.”