Former Marine Didn’t Know What to Do with His Particular ‘Skillset.’ Then He Became One of

Before Dustin Folkes was hired as personal security for some of the world's biggest celebrities, he was fighting on the front lines. However, once his time in the service came to an end, he was unsure what his next phase of life would look.

However, while applying for the position, he was contacted by Gavin de Becker & Associates, a large security firm known for protecting public figures. In my mind, it didn't click like they needed security; they needed bodyguards.

What Happened

Still, Folkes, a new dad at the time, decided to "entertain" the offer — and before he knew it, he was working for some of the "biggest names" in Hollywood. In the decades since, his client list has included Justin Bieber, David.

• Folkes served in the Marine Corps — the 15th MEU, to be exact — and tells PEOPLE he "did a lot of stuff overseas," from tours in Iraq to operations in Indonesia in the.

• It's spiraled — in the greatest way — it's been the greatest career, and I've done it for...

• Looking back at his decades-long career, Folkes still can't believe where he ended up.

Key Details

The father of two spent four and a half years working at the firm before opening up his own private security business. The "secret" to being a good celebrity bodyguard, he says, is "communication."

• The book begins by detailing his experience going to Iraq, noting that while they were trained for combat, "none of us were trained" for "the humanitarian piece."

• "There were some that had NDAs that I asked and got permission, and then there were some that I have zero NDAs."

• He admits he had to reach out to a few past clients who had iron-clad NDAs in order to write about his experiences, but says nearly all of them gave him the green light.

Why It Matters

There's a lot of security that will just stick to simply, 'I'm here to protect you. Folkes, who currently works for Conor McGregor, notes that you also "can't be afraid to talk to your client."

• When he is not working security, he is focused on his clothing brand, VYZN Apparel, and writing his yet-to-be-announced memoir, which he plans on calling Day in the Life of a Celebrity Bodyguard.

• While the California native retired from full-time security work last summer, he still works part-time for a select few clients.

What Reports Say

Coverage of the story so far points to:

• Continued reporting by Yahoo as more details emerge