SIA New Member Profile: R2P Innovations

New Security Industry Association (SIA) member R2P Innovations designs and manufactures state-of-the-art bulletproof doors that protect the lives that matter most. The company is headquartered in Ladson, South Carolina, and serves organizations including schools, government facilities and security-conscious businesses.

SIA spoke with Tony Deering, CEO of R2P Innovations, about the company, the security industry and working with SIA.

Tell us the story of your company.

Tony Deering: R2P Innovations was founded with a clear and urgent mission to protect children and teachers in the moments that matter most. Our team is made up of veterans, security professionals and parents who recognized a critical gap in school safety. While procedures like lockdowns and drills are important, many classrooms remain physically vulnerable. R2P was created to address that gap by turning classrooms into secure safe havens. From the beginning, our focus has been on partnership working alongside schools, parents and communities to deliver practical solutions that can be implemented today.

What solutions/services does your business offer in the security industry? And what makes your offerings/company unique?

TD: R2P designs and manufactures the world’s most advanced bulletproof classroom door systems that provide a last line of defense during a threat. Our doors meet UL 752 Level 8 ballistic standards and are engineered to stop high powered rifle rounds while remaining lightweight, fire-rated, and easy to operate. They are designed to retrofit into existing classroom door frames without costly renovations. What makes R2P unique is our ability to combine high-level protection with real world usability. A young child can open the door, a teacher can secure it quickly and a school can install it without disrupting daily operations. We do not replace existing security measures—we strengthen them.

What is something we might not know about your company—or something new you are doing in security?

TD: Beyond manufacturing, R2P is actively working with schools and organizations to help them navigate funding pathways for security upgrades, including federal and state grant programs. We believe access should not be a barrier to safety. We are also building partnerships within communities, including faith-based institutions, to ensure solutions are tailored, accessible and aligned with real-world needs.

What is your company’s vision, and what are your goals for the security industry?

TD: Our vision is clear: by 2035, every child in America learns in a classroom designed as a true safe haven. We are working to set a new standard for school safety, where physical security is an integrated layer of defense from day one.

Our goal is to partner with educators, policymakers, and security leaders to make proven, immediately deployable solutions a core part of every school’s safety plan.

What do you think are the biggest opportunities in the security industry right now?

TD: There is a growing recognition that layered security is essential. The opportunity lies in bridging the gap between planning and physical protection. Schools are actively seeking solutions that are practical, scalable and fundable. There is also an opportunity to better align security solutions with available funding streams so that implementation can happen faster and more equitably.

What are your predictions for the security industry in the short and long term?

TD: In the short term, we expect increased demand for solutions that can be deployed quickly without major infrastructure changes. In the long term, we believe physical security will become as standardized as fire safety, with clear expectations and requirements for protective infrastructure inside buildings, especially in schools.

What are the biggest challenges facing your company and/or others int he security industry?

TD: One of the biggest challenges is awareness. Many institutions do not realize the extent of their physical vulnerabilities or the solutions available to address them. Another challenge is navigating funding and procurement processes, which can slow down implementation even when the need is urgent. As an industry, we also face the challenge of balancing security with maintaining welcoming and functional learning environments.

What do you enjoy most about being at your company—and in the security industry?

TD: What we value most is the impact. This work is about saving lives. Partnering with schools, parents and communities and knowing that what we build can make a difference in a critical moment is incredibly meaningful. There is a strong sense of purpose that drives everything we do.

What does SIA offer that is most important to you/your company? And what do you most hope to get out of your membership with SIA?

TD: SIA provides a vital platform for collaboration, education and industry leadership. Being part of a network that brings together innovators, policymakers and practitioners is incredibly valuable. We hope to contribute to and learn from that community, help shape the future of school security and ensure that practical, effective solutions are part of the broader conversation.

The views and opinions expressed in guest posts and/or profiles are those of the authors or sources and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Security Industry Association.