TSA Workers Complete Homeland Security Program at GPC

Jan. 13, 2012
Georgia Perimeter College issued the following news release: Author: Leon Bracey Thirty employees of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) received honors and commendation from TSA and Georgia Perimeter College at a ceremony praising them for their achievements and professional development.

Georgia Perimeter College issued the following news release:

Author: Leon Bracey

Thirty employees of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) received honors and commendation from TSA and Georgia Perimeter College at a ceremony praising them for their achievements and professional development.

The TSA officers based at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport completed three courses in a homeland security education program aimed to help them further their education. Students of the program earn college credit that can be applied towards an associate degree in Homeland Security and Emergency Management at Georgia Perimeter College. The first thirty students to complete the program received certificates at an achievement ceremony on January 11 at the Centers for Disease Control.

"The fact that you are in this ceremony says a lot about you as individuals," said Wally Weihe, director for the Georgia Perimeter College Center for Organizational Development. "You recognize the importance of your education and that learning is a life-long endeavor and you are willing to work for the opportunity to improve your chances for advancement in your careers."

More than 2,500 participants throughout the nation have enrolled in the courses at 76 airports in the country. GPC is one 70 colleges nationwide that have partnered with TSA for the associate degree program.

"Our goal is to create an engaged and informed workforce," said Michael Novak, assistant administrator of Training and Workforce Engagement for the TSA. "With your achievements, we are making the TSA known as a risk-based, highly-effective anti-terrorism organization."

Participants in the program started in fall 2010. TSA pays for the classes that were taught onsite at Hartsfield-Jackson.

In the classes, students learned components in the fields of homeland security and emergency management. The courses provide an overview of these fields including historical events, policies, and practices that have provided the need for the development of homeland security and emergency management as a profession.

Instructors also discuss the importance of the agencies associated with Homeland Security and their interrelated duties and relationships. The class explores state, national and international laws impacting Homeland Security, and examines the most critical threats confronting Homeland Security.

Additional courses will be introduced in fall 2012 and more TSA employees are expected to participate.

"You serve as a marketing tool for other TSA officers at Atlanta Airport as an example of continuing success," said Gina Nightengale, director of Learning and Development for the TSA Office of Training and Workforce Engagement.

The Georgia Perimeter College Center for Organizational Development offers customized professional development, training and consulting services to businesses, government agencies and community organizations. Training classes are designed to meet the needs of businesses and organizations. Both onsite and online courses are available. For more information, please visit www.gpc.edu/orgdev.

Contact: Leon Bracey, 678/891-3021

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