Management Team
Joseph Autera, President and CEO

Widely recognized as Tony Scotti’s protégé, Mr. Autera’s career in the private sector spans nearly twenty years. During this time he has built a reputation as one of the foremost designers and developers of defensive and evasive driving training programs by incorporating lessons learned and real world experience gained while participating in, planning and managing protective security operations around the world. He also brings extensive management and business development experience to VDI, having previously served as the Director of Security and later, Director of Operations, for a multi-national technology concern and, more recently, as the Vice President of Global Security Services for one of the world’s leading providers of crisis and risk management services to the international business community.

Mr. Autera has authored articles relating to driver training, secure transportation and protective security operations that have appeared in some of the security industry’s most highly regarded publications, including:

• Security Management Magazine
• Intersec, the Journal of International Security
• The Journal of Counterterrorism and Homeland Security
• The FBI National Academy Associate

Larry Side, Vice President of Operations and Chief Instructor

Mr. Side is a former Non Commissioned Officer in the United States Army and veteran of Operation Desert Storm. He recently retired from the military after twenty years of Active, Reserve and National Guard service during which he was responsible, at various times, for developing and conducting a variety of small unit training programs relating to tactical vehicle operations, convoy security and mobile force protection tactics, techniques and procedures.

His private sector experience includes an eight year stint as a Performance Test Driver and Lead Test Driver under contract to the US government’s Aberdeen Proving Grounds, during which time he was directly involved in the testing and evaluation of a wide range of experimental and prototype vehicles including the up-armored HMMWV. Mr. Side’s experience on the test track and various types of driving ranges has contributed extensively to a number of testing projects conducted by VDI and Tony Scotti Associates on behalf of various private sector entities, government agencies and publications.

In addition to his training and testing expertise, Mr. Side also brings real world security experience to VDI, having participated in secure transportation and surveillance detection operations in support of executive protection details operating in moderate and high risk locales throughout Latin America, Europe, and both the Middle and Far East.