Maritime & Flight Support

Mission-Ready Support for Maritime and Aerospace Operations

Western Confluence Group delivers advanced maritime and flight test support for clients and companies conducting operations on water or in the air. We are mission-proven in supporting experimental aircraft operations, prototype vehicle testing, and over-water aerospace trials.

Our personnel are cross-trained in aquatic rescue, tactical medicine, and executive protection—and operate in direct coordination with test directors, safety officers, and control teams. We also support private security and standby rescue for high-net-worth clients during yacht travel, island transit, or other marine-based excursions.

CORE SERVICE AREAS

Maritime Support

  • Rescue divers and surface swimmers for in-water standby

  • Vessel-based EP coverage and discreet transport

  • Private dock/marina security

  • Shore-to-ship logistics and gear transfer

Flight Test & Aerospace Support

  • Support for experimental aircraft, eVTOL, and unmanned systems over water

  • Downrange safety staging and test article recovery

  • Integrated communications with range control and aerospace safety teams

  • Contingency planning for capsule, rotorcraft, and airframe splashdown events

  • Safety staging for test pilots, engineers, and support personnel

SPECIALIZED CAPABILITIES

Protective Integration

  • EP agents trained in waterborne security and movement

  • Low-profile boarding and exit protocols for high-net-worth clients

  • Coordination with vessel crews, air crews, or client staff

Rescue Disciplines

  • SCUBA-certified rescue divers (ERDI, PSD, PADI)

  • Surface rescue swimmers with ocean, surf, and cold water capabilities

  • ALS-certified paramedics integrated with rescue teams

  • Real-time communications with test command or operations teams

Deployment Platforms

  • RHIBs, center consoles, and shore-based support points

  • Tethered and free-swim rescue profiles

  • Rapid-deploy trauma kits, AEDs, and comms kits

PAST PERFORMANCE

Aerospace Client – 2025

  • Provided over-water rescue support for an experimental vertical lift aircraft test

  • Deployed a team consisting of a rescue diver, surface swimmer, protective agent, and licensed boat captain

  • Supported experimental flight testing, shoreline security, and in-water contingency planning

  • Maintained operational communications with the client’s test director and control team

PERSONNEL PROFILE

Former and Active-Duty Backgrounds Include:

  • U.S. Navy SEALs

  • SWCC (Special Warfare Combatant-Craft Crewmen)

  • U.S. military rescue swimmers

  • Firefighter paramedics 

  • Lifeguards and water safety instructors

Our team is composed of elite, multi-disciplined professionals:

  • Rescue Divers (ERDI, PADI, PSD)

  • Surface Rescue Swimmers with real-world surf/ocean deployments

  • ALS-certified paramedics with aquatic rescue training

  • USCG-licensed captains with security integration

  • EP agents cross-trained in waterborne operations

IDEAL USE CASES

Executive protection on or near private vessels
Aerospace prototype testing near water
Emergency dive standby for capsule recovery
eVTOL flight operations in over-water environments
Short-notice deployment to private or commercial waterfront sites

Rob Chang

Range Master & Executive Protection Agent

Rob Chang stands at the center of Western Confluence Group’s firearms and tactical training philosophy — a mentor, craftsman, and lifelong instructor dedicated to developing disciplined, capable protectors. With more than two decades of experience leading live-fire programs and building training curricula for thousands of students, Rob’s influence defines the standard by which WCG agents train and operate.

A consummate professional and educator, Rob brings a calm, methodical approach to every range session. His background spans private-sector protection, tactical program design, and advanced emergency response instruction. Whether teaching a first-time shooter or refining the performance of seasoned executive protection agents, Rob’s focus on fundamentals, judgment, and precision makes him an unmatched instructor in the field.

Career Highlights

  • Over 25 years of experience in firearms instruction, tactical program development, and range operations

  • Owner and Lead Instructor at Silicon Valley Tactical, providing professional-level training in pistol, rifle, shotgun, and carbine disciplines

  • Former General Manager of Coyote Valley Sporting Clays, overseeing a 90-acre range facility and its instructor development programs

  • California Department of Justice–certified Instructor in multiple disciplines, including CCW, Firearm Safety, and Equivalent Entity training

  • NRA Chief Range Safety Officer and Certified Instructor in pistol, rifle, shotgun, and both defensive handgun courses (inside and outside the home)

  • Certified AVERT (Active Violence Emergency Response Training), Emergency Medical Response (EMR), BLS, Wilderness First Aid, and Advanced Bleeding Control Instructor

  • Holds active BSIS Guard Card, BSIS Firearm Permit, and multi-state CCW permits (CA & AZ)

  • Extensive real-world incident response experience including major natural disasters and emergency interventions

  • Accomplished mountaineer and expedition leader, with ascents on Mount Everest, Ama Dablam, Denali, Mount Shasta (100+ ascents), and other peaks worldwide

  • Over 2,500 days of expedition-level climbing and 140 days above 16,000 ft, integrating human performance, risk management, and survival expertise into his teaching