Embry-Riddle Answers the Call for Homeland Defense


Man WalkingBy Arturo Weiss

The world is becoming a very dangerous place. Recent events have made security a serious concern for everyone, and aviation is no exception. While most people associate aviation security with the ever-present airport screening stations, much more is being done out of sight to make air travel secure.

For example, in many regions of the world, corporate executives are a valuable commodity. The kidnapping of a top-level executive from a prominent corporation can yield a hefty ransom for the abductors. For this reason, business aviation is relying increasingly on aviation security professionals to secure aircraft and their valuable payloads.

Popular Concentration Now a New Degree
Before September 11, 2001, Embry-Riddle was already a step ahead in its focus on security issues. Since 1997, when it introduced a bachelor's degree in science, technology and globalization (STG), the university has been giving students on the Prescott, Ariz., campus a comprehensive preparation for the fast-paced, vital world of security and intelligence.

The STG program offered a concentration in security and intelligence that has been so well received Embry-Riddle is spinning it off into a separate degree. The new degree, a bachelor of science in global security and intelligence studies, will begin this fall semester in Prescott. (See related article.)

Like the concentration once offered by the STG program, the new degree will prepare students to work in military and federal intelligence, corporate intelligence, law enforcement, and legislative work, analyzing security issues and drafting bills. Graduates may also choose pre-law studies and eventual specialization in security and intelligence law.

"This program is unique because of its aviation-specific concentration. But while the core focus is on aviation security and intelligence, the program study stretches well beyond that," says Richard Bloom, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Prescott and one of the creators of the STG program. He joined the university following a 20-year military career specializing in clinical psychology, intelligence, special operations planning, and crisis-response management.

Bloom says Embry-Riddle's program is geared toward developing well-rounded students with the skills needed to succeed in the intelligence and security fields. Graduates will walk away with the ability to work in areas such as intelligence analysis, data collection, covert operations, and counterintelligence. "We want to develop good analytical thinkers," he explains.

To help prepare students for the workforce, the university has internship programs and cooperative relationships with several government agencies and private corporations. These include Embry-Riddle's ROTC program and a cooperative program with the National Imagery and Mapping Agency, which uses mapping products to develop intelligence analyses.

Moving into the Workforce
Despite the STG program's focus on aviation, its graduates have access to many different career opportunities in security and intelligence. "The threat of terrorism affects the spectrum of corporate America," says Phillip Jones, director of the new global security and intelligence studies degree program. Before joining Embry-Riddle as associate professor of arts and sciences, Jones was a consultant and CIA analyst specializing in religious militancy, terrorism, corporate security, intelligence, Islam, and South Asia.

Embry-Riddle graduates are well represented in the security and intelligence field, performing a wide variety of jobs in the government and the private sector.

  • Corporate Security Officers handle a company's security concerns, such as the securing of property, corporate espionage, employee background checks, information technology, and protection during travel.
  • Diplomatic Security Officers protect U.S. diplomats and dignitaries from threats.
  • Foreign Affairs Officers serve a vital liaison function between the State Department and American embassies and consulates around the world. Secretary of State Colin Powell recently called these professionals "the core of the foreign relations effort" and stressed the need to hire many more personnel.
  • Homeland Security Product Officers develop and promote technology that serves homeland security needs.
  • Intelligence Officers work in three areas. Analysts examine gathered intelligence information and assess its authenticity and relevance to national security. Counterintelligence specialists gather information about other governments and work to prevent these entities from gathering intelligence about their own organization. Covert action operatives pursue a wide range of missions such as gathering intelligence and training foreign forces.
  • International Law Enforcement Officers deal with international crimes and terrorist threats. Agents may work for the FBI, Interpol, and state and local law enforcement agencies.
  • Military Officers, many of whom were in Embry-Riddle's ROTC program, work in combat units and in intelligence work.
  • Risk Managers review information from threat analysts and develop a plan to deal with the situation and implement programs to monitor and guard against threats.
  • Threat Analysts search out and assess information that could indicate where a threat might originate.
Looking Ahead
The career opportunities in the security and intelligence field are many and growing. In the face of a new threat, government agencies, corporations, and even small businesses are learning that security is now a primary concern. For this reason, Embry-Riddle continues to offer a wealth of valuable coursework through its new degree in global security and intelligence studies. As the global threat develops, the university constantly analyzes the industry's staffing and technical needs. Unfortunately, the threat of terrorism is expected to loom for the foreseeable future.

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