LaPonda is an internationally recognized aviation security and law enforcement expert and trainer with over 36 years of experience. She provides organizations with the essential tools and insights necessary to add value to their workforce. With a diverse consultancy of local, state, federal, and international aviation security, law enforcement and other organizations, both public and private, she develops policies and procedures for safety, security systems, methods and procedures, and emergency management; conducts security risk and threat assessments and develops field, classroom and online training courses.

Having a passion for Human Resources Management with a focus on non-discrimination, gender equality, diversity and inclusion, and unconscious bias, LaPonda helps organizations improve their service to both their internal and external customers by understanding that an organization is only as good as its culture and its employees. She performs organizational analysis, employee satisfaction surveys, provides employee coaching, develops and instructs on workplace violence and diversity and inclusion training among other Human Resources Management issues. She helps organizations provide their teams with the essential tools and insights necessary to add value to their workforce to increase their bottom line.

An avid researcher, LaPonda makes informed recommendations for compliance, implementation, and develops training through comprehensive analysis of local, state, and federal laws, regulations, scholarly works, articles and court decisions. She develops policies, procedures, security technology recommendations, organizational realignment suggestions, individualized coaching programs and other necessary guidelines based on these analyses.

Understanding the dynamic and diverse venue that a global system such as aviation presents, post-9/11, LaPonda created an international aviation law enforcement training program that has been an industry standard for more than 17 years. She has trained well over 2000 police officers, TSA and other aviation security personnel across the country and internationally on their law enforcement and security responsibilities in the unique aviation environment. This included the law enforcement components for Atlanta-Hartsfield, Phoenix-Sky Harbor, and the Massachusetts State Police F-Troop assigned to Boston Logan Airport to name a few. LaPonda has developed and instructed additional training courses including a 3-day executive level course in Crisis Management, Active Shooter Response for an international audience, Psychological Preparedness, Diversity and Inclusion, Workplace Violence Prevention for Managers, and many others. She has been featured as an aviation security and law enforcement expert on NBC and ABC affiliates, other news outlets and in newspapers and magazines across the nation and internationally.

Prior to retirement with the Los Angeles World Airports Police, LaPonda was the Commanding Officer of the Professional Standards Section where she updated, developed and reviewed all policies, procedures, employee conduct (Internal Affairs), employee training (police academy and continuing professional), hiring standards and police officer pre-employment investigations for over 1100 employees. LaPonda was the liaison to the EEO Coordinator and conducted and reviewed complex discrimination and sexual harassment investigations involving police and civilian employees through their conclusion. She served as a pre-disciplinary hearing officer and assisted the City Attorney with defending personnel decisions to the Civil Service Commission and in Superior Court. LaPonda had a unique role in that she represented both management and labor (union president) in collective bargaining negotiations and was a member of the City of Los Angeles Joint Labor-Management Committee that made recommendations on citywide collective bargaining contracts, employee administrative policy and procedures, and associated employee benefits. LaPonda also conceived and implemented the Los Angeles Airport Police Homeland Security Section to ensure multi-agency law enforcement and public safety activities and response was properly coordinated to reduce the Los Angeles World Airport's (LAX, ONT, VNY and PMD) vulnerability to a terrorist event or catastrophic emergency. This included the development of the nation's largest airport law enforcement bomb detection K-9 unit, expedited multi-agency intelligence sharing, Airport Emergency Response Plan (AERP), and an on-site tactical response unit tailored to the aviation environment.

LaPonda received her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from UCLA with a concentration on globalization and diversity. LaPonda is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management where she obtained her designation as a Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). LaPonda received her Management and Executive Development certificates from the State of California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST). She also has certificates in Background Investigations, Tactical Commander, Managing Within the Law, Equal Employment Opportunity, and Labor/Management Collective Bargaining. She received her West Point Leadership diploma and Instructor Development certification from the Los Angeles Police Department and is a certified instructor in Franklin Covey's Presentation Advantage™. As a life-long learner and researcher, she has received certificates in employee coaching and assessments including the PeopleMap6™ Leadership Coach Approach Program, 360° Degree Assessments, and is currently seeking an additional Certification from Cornell University in Diversity and Inclusion and Unconscious Bias which will be completed in April 2019.

LaPonda received the National Black Police Association Outstanding African American Woman in Law Enforcement "Taking Charge of Change" Award in 2011, a California National Guard Commendation for the Post 911 Operation Safe Passage Training and Military Deployment to Airports in 2002, and a Federal Aviation Administration Certificate of Appreciation for Contributions to Aviation Safety and Security also in 2002. An ardent sports enthusiast, LaPonda coached the men's basketball and co-ed softball teams for the Los Angeles Airport Police for many years and enjoys long-distance cycling and hiking. LaPonda is married to Bernard Fitchpatrick, a retired Los Angeles Police Department sergeant and they have three daughters, one son-in-law and one granddaughter. She lives in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.