Yesterday morning, Arux Group Co-Founder and CEO Brendan Weed was officially recognized as a 2026 Portland Business Journal 40 Under 40 honoree at the awards ceremony held at the Hilton Portland Downtown. Brendan joins 39 other rising leaders identified by the Portland Business Journal as transforming the Portland region.
A Career Built in Service Before Business
Brendan’s path to founding Arux Group did not begin in a boardroom. It began in uniform.
After earning his Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with Summa Cum Laude honors from Northeastern University, Brendan served as a U.S. Army Captain, Ranger-qualified and deployed as a Combat Veteran during Operation Enduring Freedom. He returned stateside and joined the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, where he served as a Deputy Sheriff in patrol, as a Field Training Officer, and as a SWAT Element Leader.
It was during his time on the SWAT team that Brendan, alongside fellow operators Ethan Ogdee and Tyler Winegar, developed the operational philosophy that would eventually become Arux Group. On operations, team members would call out “with you” to signal presence and support to their partners. It became more than a tactical cue. It became a standard of trust. When the three founded Arux Group, they added one word: Always.
Always With You.
In His Own Words
The Portland Business Journal asked each 40 Under 40 honoree a set of questions for the official publication. We wanted to share Brendan’s answers below for anyone who doesn’t have a Portland Business Journal membership.
What are your best leadership qualities?
“Performance and composure under extreme pressure, decisiveness in high-stakes situations, resilience and grit, servant mindset with team loyalty, radical accountability and extreme ownership.”
What has been your career high so far?
“My career high has been watching a young team member start at entry level, work his way up over one year, and step into a managerial role at just 24. Seeing his growth and confidence build is what stands out most.”
What challenge ultimately made you a better leader?
“A close friend and top performer became toxic to team culture. Balancing our relationship with my servant mindset, I prioritized the team’s well-being. He voluntarily left for a better-fit role. This strengthened my accountability, decisiveness, and commitment to putting the mission and team first.”
What might surprise people about you?
“I can finish a whole 48-oz tub of Tillamook mint chip ice cream in one sitting after dinner.”
What is your favorite place in Portland?
“OX for the Argentine-inspired steaks. The wood-fired grilling reminds me of the incredible meals I had in Argentina. It’s my top pick in Portland.”
What is your proudest accomplishment outside your career?
“Mentoring fellow veterans and first responders through tough transitions. Sharing advice, helping with career moves, or simply being a sounding board, guiding someone from struggle to stability is what I’m most proud of outside my career. It feels more meaningful than any award.”
Building Arux Group from the Ground Up
Arux Group was founded in 2023 with a clear conviction: the private security industry accepts adequate as sufficient too often, and the people who need protection deserve better.
Under Brendan’s leadership, Arux Group has grown into a full-service private security company serving corporations, executives, high-net-worth individuals, and organizations across Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Services include:
Every service line operates on the same foundational principle Brendan brought from the field: no off-the-shelf programs, no general labor pool hiring, and no tolerance for adequate. Personnel are drawn from law enforcement, SWAT, military service, and extensive security backgrounds. Clients have direct access to leadership.
What This Recognition Represents
The Portland Business Journal 40 Under 40 recognition is awarded to professionals who lead with impact. For Brendan, that impact is visible in specific, concrete ways: the 24-year-old who grew into a manager, the veterans and first responders guided through difficult transitions, the team culture that held when it was tested.
Arux Group is a veteran-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned small business certified by the SBA. It was founded by three people who spent their careers in service to others and built a company as a continuation of that service in a different form. This recognition places Brendan among the Portland region’s most impactful young business leaders, and it reflects the work of every person on the Arux Group team who shows up to that standard every day.
Congratulations, Brendan. And to the rest of the Arux Group team whose daily performance made this recognition possible.
Former U.S. Army Captain, Ranger-qualified Combat Veteran, and Clark County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Element Leader. Co-founded Arux Group in 2023. Licensed armed and unarmed security professional in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.
Work With the Team Behind the Standard
Speak directly with our leadership team. No operators, no automated systems.
Brendan Weed
Brendan brings extensive expertise in executive protection, security operations, and tactical planning. A former U.S. Army Captain and Ranger-qualified Combat Veteran with service in Operation Enduring Freedom, Brendan also served as a Deputy Sheriff at the Clark County Sheriff’s Office in specialized SWAT, Field Training, and Element Leadership roles. He co-founded Arux Group in 2023 to build the professional security company the industry was missing.
Military Service
US Army (Captain): 2012–2016
Infantry Platoon Leader (Ranger Qualified)
Executive Officer & Operations Officer
Combat Veteran (OEF)
Law Enforcement
CCSO (Deputy Sheriff): 2017–2025
Patrol Deputy (Field Training Officer)
SWAT Element Leader
Education
B.S. Criminal Justice (Summa Cum Laude)
Northeastern University, Boston MA
Certifications
Unarmed/Armed Guard License (WA/OR/ID)
Private Investigator License (WA)
Executive Manager (OR DPSST)
Executive Protection (EP) – CQB
Tactical Emergency Casualty Care (TECC)
ASIS Member | TWIC Card
