Dr. Flores has over 40 years of serving in public safety career fields. Presently he is the Homeland Security Program Coordinator and teaches in the Public Safety Division in Homeland Security, Administration of Justice and Corrections courses.
Previously, Dr. Flores was the Dean of Public Safety Academic Programs, Professional Academies and Regional Training Centers and Interim Dean of Business at Rio Hondo College.
Prior to working in academia, Dr. Flores was in the US Navy. He retired as a Lieutenant Commander. Prior to his service as an officer, he was a senior noncommissioned officer serving as a Senior Chief Master-At-Arms (AW/SW). Dr. Flores specialized in law enforcement, physical security anti-terrorism and force protection. He received over 60 personal, unit, and campaign awards; was qualified as a Surface Warfare Officer, Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist and Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist. Dr. Flores served in two Officer-in-Charge tours, and in several department/division head positions. He is a combat veteran and visited countries in North America, Europe, Asia, Australia/Oceania, and Africa.
Dr. Flores Educational portfolio includes multiple disciplines.
- Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from National University
- Diploma (graduate) from the Navy War College’s Command and Staff Program
- Master of Arts in International Relations from the University of San Diego
- Master of Professional Studies in Homeland Security from Pennsylvania State University
- Executive MBA from Pepperdine University
- Doctor of Education from the University of Southern California
- Executive Certificate in Public Policy from Harvard Kennedy School
- Executive Education
- Fellow at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies in
- Comprehensive Security Responses to Terrorism
- Harvard Kennedy School of Executive Education
- Leadership in Crises; Preparation and Performance
- Mastering Negotiations: Building Agreements Across Boundaries
- Cybersecurity: The Intersection of Policy and Technology
- Senior Executives in National and International Security
- Fellow at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies in
Dr. Flores has taught courses in the following programs over his career. Served as an adjunct instructor in criminal justice and homeland security at the undergraduate level and an adjunct professor/lecturer in top tier universities in Law Enforcement Leadership, Homeland Security and Executive Business Administration. While in the Navy, Dr. Flores was an active instructor. He was Master Training Specialist in Law Enforcement, Small Arms Master Instructor, and Weapons and Tactics Instructor, as well as instructing various courses in antiterrorism/force protection, physical security, information security and emergency management.
Pedagogical Perspectives on Discovery
Dr. Flores’ pedagogical approach to learning—discovery—in his classes will be taken from the perspective of the course reading materials as well as his professional and academic experiences. For instance, he will use his career experiences to discuss the course materials from the perspective of a patrol officer, watch commander, training officer, chief of police, and commissioner as well as those of city leaders and state and federal agencies. Additionally, he will add perspectives on political science, public policy, international relations, homeland security, human security and business management. Criminal justice is a dynamic tapestry of interconnected and interactive social, political and economic factors that have not been traditionally considered in courses of instruction on law enforcement and justice curriculum.
The purpose of Dr. Flores’ pedagogical approach to learning is to expand how the student views their role in the public safety career fields as well as being a contributive citizen in a democratic society. Dr. Flores want his students to develop critical thinking skills that broaden their view of the world and how they can affect it through your actions or inactions.
The pedagogical framework used is based on the expectation that everyone in the class actively participates in their own learning process. Dr. Flores welcomes those seeking to learn to any of his classes.
Office Phone Number (562) 463-7733
The Counter Terrorist Magazine
Podcasts about the Homeland Security Program
Dr. Flores’ Faculty Spotlight in the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges Newsletter January 21, 2020.
