We live in exciting times. The long-term effects of the Arab Spring are not well known. There is a civil war raging in Syria; Africa is becoming a hotbed of terrorism; North Korea is acting ever more belligerent, and China is rising to challenge United States (U.S.) hegemony in the Pacific.

The U.S. is still involved in the war in Afghanistan, and as the Boston Marathon bombing showed, there is the ever-persistent threat of terrorism on the U.S. mainland.

Though the U.S. is still the sole remaining superpower, there are many threats to its national security, both at home and abroad. Since the terror attacks of 9/11, there have been over 50 terror attacks foiled by the U.S. intelligence community. There is a need for the nation to remain ever vigilant and to have a cadre of professionals within the strategic security industry as an integral component of maintaining the nation\’s readiness to deter, prevent, respond to, and recover from terrorist attacks.

There are threats not only to U.S., government interests worldwide, but to U.S. corporate executives as well. U.S. corporations are often \’softer\’ targets than U.S. government entities, and nefarious groups overseas, such as Somali pirates operating around the Horn of Africa, and South American gangs, favor kidnapping Americans. Subsequently, there is a market demand for strategic security industry professionals.

The strategic security industry encompasses the areas of intelligence, counterterrorism, and executive protection. There are several exciting opportunities within the industry, in both government and corporate civilian sectors. Within the government sector, these individuals often serve as intelligence analysts or counterterrorism analysts in an agency within the Intelligence Community (IC), or as executive protection personnel in agencies such as the U.S. Secret Service or the U.S. State Department\’s Diplomatic Security Service. There are also opportunities available in the law enforcement community that utilize strategic security industry professionals as intelligence analysts analyzing trends in crime patterns and methods to assist with the allocation of law enforcement resources, and as protection professionals protecting dignitaries at major public events.

Within the civilian sector, there are opportunities available to such personnel as corporate security officers responsible for analyzing threats and making appropriate recommendations to corporate management for measures needed to take to mitigate the potential or actual threat. There are also opportunities available in the civilian sector for individuals who are executive protection professionals that are used by companies and corporations to serve not only corporate executives traveling abroad, but also celebrities, and members of royal households.

The most effective method for one to enter this exciting industry is to have a record documenting completion of strategic security courses, such as courses in intelligence, counterterrorism, and executive protection. Several colleges and universities offer strategic security courses, both online and in a traditional classroom setting. However, few colleges specialize in Strategic Security, whose curriculum of strategic security courses culminates in a Strategic Security degree. Fewer still, are nationally accredited online colleges and universities that specialize in Strategic Security and offer strategic security courses and degrees entirely online.

Dan Sommer works for Henley-Putnam University, a leading educational institution in the field of Strategic Security. For more info on Henley-Putnam University, strategic security industry, strategic security courses, call 888-852-8746 or visit us online at http://www.Henley-Putnam.edu

Dan Sommer works for Henley-Putnam University, a leading educational institution in the field of Strategic Security. For more info on Henley-Putnam University, strategic security industry, strategic security courses, call 888-852-8746 or visit us online at http://www.Henley-Putnam.edu

Author Bio: Dan Sommer works for Henley-Putnam University, a leading educational institution in the field of Strategic Security. For more info on Henley-Putnam University, strategic security industry, strategic security courses, call 888-852-8746 or visit us online at http://www.Henley-Putnam.edu

Category: Education
Keywords: strategic security industry,strategic security courses