American International College (AIC) welcomed Lt. John Vanasse to lead the campus police department. 

Vanasse’s background and experience lend well to his new role at the college. Most recently, he was an instructor of Criminal Justice at Westfield High School. He has also served as a corrections officer and deputy sheriff at the Hampshire County Jail and House of Corrections. Additionally, while working in safety and security for the Springfield public schools, he managed a million-dollar budget, supervised security staff at schools throughout the district, developed safety and security training programs, and conducted investigations into major security infractions. Prior to relocating to Western Mass. 15 years ago, he was deputy director for Safety and Security at the Massachusetts State House and other state facilities throughout Government Center in Boston.

Vanasse is an employee of G4S Secure Solutions North America, which has been the provider of campus-security services for American International College for more than five years.

“Working for a college police department has always been a professional goal of mine,” Vanasse said. “I feel that it ties my work experiences in security, education, and law enforcement together well. Personally speaking, heading the police department of my late father’s alma mater makes it that much more special to me.”

Vanasse received his undergraduate degree in criminology and law from Suffolk University and a master’s degree in criminal justice from Anna Maria College.