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They call Greensboro, North Carolina, Tournament Town based on the city’s storied legacy of hosting championship sporting games. It’s more than fitting for a top-tier champion canine to be hard at work every day in this bustling hub. His name is Maverick II. According to his devoted handler, Kyle Papp, this five-year-old black Labrador has winning explosive odor-tracking skills that reign supreme.
As part of Allied Universal® Enhanced Protection Services’ fleet of detection canine teams, Kyle and Maverick are trained and certified to screen cargo under the U.S. Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Third-Party Canine (3PK9) Program. The pair work on behalf of an international freight shipper, ensuring every package—whether pallets, Unit Loading Devices (ULDs) or loose freight—is thoroughly screened for explosives. Properly trained canines like Maverick can search cargo up to 10 times faster than conventional methods such as X-rays or trace detection, making them the most effective screening tool available.
Kyle and Maverick have been working together for more than two years. They completed their intensive training in Memphis, Tenn., at one of the company’s many regional training centers. 
Maverick mastered the ability to detect all five families of explosives, whether commercial, military or homemade. It was there that trainers quickly tapped into Maverick’s strong love for tennis balls. Play reward is most often preferred by breeds like German Shepherds and Malinois, while Labradors enjoy food reward. “Don’t get me wrong—Maverick loves to eat,” Kyle says with a laugh, “but the tennis ball? That’s the ultimate for him. The second we get in the car, he knows we’re headed to work, and he gets excited because he knows that tennis ball is coming.”
Kyle’s background in both military and law enforcement paved the way for his work as a handler, although he admits the shift in career focus came as a surprise to him. “This wasn’t on my radar, but after just a few days training with Maverick, I called my wife and let her know that I found my dream job.”
After graduating high school, Kyle enlisted in the U.S. Army National Guard, following the path of his great-grandfather, who served in World War II, and his grandfather, a Vietnam War veteran. “I’ve always felt a deep connection to service and a responsibility to give back to both my community and my country,” Kyle shares. “What drew me in then—and what continues to motivate me now—is the sense of purpose that comes from working toward a shared mission. The camaraderie, teamwork and aligned mindset are incredibly fulfilling.”
After transferring to the North Carolina National Guard, Kyle reclassified as a combat engineer, where he specialized in clearing barriers with explosives, identifying and mitigating hazards, and providing critical engineering solutions to support combat operations. After eight years of service, he transitioned into law enforcement with time at the sheriff’s office, the Greensboro Police Department and the U.S. Secret Service.
Like every one of the company’s detection canine teams around the world, this bomb dog lives at home with his handler, which strengthens their connection on and off the job. At the Papp household, Maverick’s biggest fans are Kyle’s 11-month-old twin boys, who adore their four-legged furry sibling. The family loves to get outdoors on the weekends and in the summer, you can find them unwinding at the lake—Maverick’s favorite spot. “He wasn’t a water dog at first,” Kyle laughs, “but he got used to it pretty quickly and now he’s the first one off the boat to cool off, always wearing his life vest—we’re trained in safety first.”
