Sandy Aguilera
Owner/Instructor

Born and raised in Arizona, Sandra Aguilera was hired by the Arizona Highway Patrol in 1980. In 1986 she was the first woman to qualify and ride motorcycles with the Arizona Highway Patrol. Sandra successfully promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 1990. She continued to ride motorcycles and became the first female motorcycle sergeant in the State of Arizona. Sandra has trained and supervised numerous police officers in her 30+ years of law enforcement, personal and executive security. She is certified in mediation/conflict resolution. Some of her other duties included field training of police officers and working as a physical fitness instructor.

For more than 6 years Sandra was the lead investigator and instructor for sex, age, race and religious and employee harassment complaints. She was also involved in undercover investigations and human resource supervisor in charge of the hiring process for new police officers.  Sandra was on the response team (S.W.A.T.) for 8 years in the East Valley, responding to riots, hostage situations, barricaded subjects and involved in hostage negotiations.  She is also a recognized expert in accident scene management.

Sandra is the founder and owner of S.T.A.R. Concepts
(Safety, Training, Appropriate, Response)
We are a self-protection company teaching women and children
realistic strategies to stay safe from potential conflicts and danger.

Sandra has developed several safety programs with the help of fellow police officers, military personnel, individuals experienced in the martial arts arena, teachers, doctors, psychologists and parents.

Nominations

S.T.A.R. Concepts was nominated for New Business of the Year in 2015 for Phoenix (Ahwatukee), Arizona for their work with children and teens.

Sandra was nominated for the Palo Verde Social Enterprise Award of the year in Phoenix (Ahwatukee), Arizona in 2016 for her awareness classes and potentially lifesaving works in the community.

In 2017 Sandra was nominated fro the Palo Verde Business Woman of the Year in Phoenix (Ahwatukee), Arizona.

Leadership

She was elected as a school board member in northern Arizona in the early 80s. In 1984 Sandra was transferred by the Highway Patrol to the Tempe/ Mesa area and along with her regular duties as a police officer she performed numerous school safety talks with the assistance of “Baby Bumper” (an animated miniature patrol car).

Sandra was a guest speaker & drill sergeant with Metro Tech High School, a vocational school teaching real life work skills (in Phoenix) for over 10 years.

As her reputation working with youth continued to grow.  The American Legion called on Sandra’s expertise in dealing with teenagers to instruct “mini police academies” in Tucson. Two weeks out of the year for five years she sacrificed her time away from her family for teens wanting a career in law enforcement. This instruction involved coordinating lesson plans, team building experiences, seeking out officers from other agencies as counselors, setting up physical assessments and, around the clock supervision for the youth attending the sessions. Sandra was given the “Award of Appreciation” from the American Legion for her service to this program.

She has been volunteering in the Chandler School District ever since 2011, helping in the classrooms and with the “Art Master Piece” program.  Sandra is also a Girl Scout volunteer.

Organizations Past and Present

Sandra has been trained and certified by the “Defend University and Women’s Self Defense Institute” and member of “The Foothills Women’s Club,” “BNI Group,” “Ultimate Women’s International”, “National Association of Professional Women,” “Eliances”, “Women’s Success Group” and “Girl Scouts of America”, “Women’s Success Referral Group”, “Gilbert Chamber of Commerce”.

Service

As an instructor, Sandra has had the honor of teaching numerous groups to include: Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, The Cardinals Cheerleaders, The Rattlers Sidewinder Dancers, Church Groups, Credit Union employees, Realtor Groups, Military Families, Cotillion Groups in Chandler and Scottsdale, Arizona Fire Fighter Families, Mohave County Court, Wives of the Coaches for the Arizona Cardinals Football Team, Home Schooled Children, Public Schools, Charter Schools and Religious Schools.

In 2014 to 2015 Sandra served as the Executive Director of “Safe and Secure” a non-profit organization. In June of 2015 Sandra participated in a 4 day Forever Young Foundation Nonprofit Institute training that was facilitated by The Arbinger Institute. She taught a class of 50 women motorcycle riders for the non-profit organization Steal Horse Sisterhood in Colorado. Subsequent to this self-defense training, in October of 2015 Sandra was invited to be a Volunteer for the organization; The Steel Horse Sisterhood is a non-profit organization designed with the purpose of making a difference in the lives of women.

S.T.A.R Concepts looks forward to working with you!