Roman works in Aviation Security for SWISS. A typical workday hardly exists. “Our job is incredibly varied,” he says. Sometimes he’s at the SWISS Headquarters, coordinating with different departments. Other times, he’s traveling to international stations. Airports, secure areas, and meeting rooms all become his workplace. On site, he conducts audits, inspections, and quality checks, reviewing processes and analyzing security systems firsthand.

Aviation Security is about threats that could be deliberately created. “We talk about intention,” he explains. “People or organizations who might intentionally harm civil aviation.” His team’s role is to identify risks early, make vulnerabilities visible, and ensure protective measures are effective. Above all, it means staying alert, always. “You don’t want to miss anything,” Roman says. His personal standard is clear: at the end of the day, he wants to know he’s done not just what was necessary but everything possible.

The impact of his work becomes especially tangible during audits, when discovered gaps lead to concrete improvements.
“That’s when you know you’ve made a difference for safety, not just for our airline but for everyone.” What’s often underestimated is not the rules themselves but the perspective behind them. Good Aviation Security also means imagining what a potential attacker might do while maintaining a strong network with authorities and partners.

When the rules pause
Aviation Security is about following rules and paying close attention. Tap dancing is almost the opposite, at least at first glance. “There’s no compliance in dancing,” he says with a smile. “Anything goes that’s fun and connects with the audience.” That contrast is exactly what makes it such a perfect balance for him. That he would one day perform on stage himself was never planned. “Dancing was something other people did. I’d maybe dance at a wedding, if anything.”

The turning point came at a visit to the Swiss Championships in western Switzerland. Roman was in the audience to watch his daughter perform with her tap group. As shoes clicked across the stage, something unexpected happened. “That’s when it clicked,” he recalls. “I didn’t just want to go on that stage. I had to.”

A year later, he did. Months of practice followed, first in the basement of his home, step by step in front of the mirror, then with the studio’s tap group, where his two daughters also train.

A family passion
Today, tap dance is a shared family passion. Practices, performances, and competitions bring them together. “It’s really strengthened our bond,” Roman says. Everyone understands each other because they share the same enthusiasm.

He learns as much from his children as they learn from him. From them, he takes the joy of simply trying something new. They benefit from his structured approach, especially when organizing performances or competitions. What continues to fascinate him is the special connection between music and movement. 

Many are surprised to learn that Roman tap dances. For most people, a creative stage hobby doesn’t immediately fit with someone from the world of security. But it’s precisely this contrast that gives him balance: the precision he develops at work helps him in competitions, while dance brings a sense of lightness to his everyday life. When the rhythm kicks in, for a moment nothing matters but the next step, accompanied by the steady click-clack of his shoes on the stage.

For Roman, tap dancing is more than just a hobby. It’s a message: it’s never too late to discover and pursue a passion. What started as a small spark grew into a fire, culminating in 2024 with a gold medal at the World Championships as part of the Swiss National Team. He tells this story in his book Suddenly a Tap Dancer, published in summer 2025. “My book is meant to show that anyone can live their dream,” he says. “Having the courage to take a risk, to follow your spark, no matter the field, and give it the chance to become a fire can change everything.”