Security conference set at Cal U
“The most important tool in the war against terrorism is to educate the public,” said Dr. Michael Hummel, the chairman of the Department of Justice, Law and Society at Cal U. Hummel said that the more the public is aware of the potential risks around them and how to respond to them, the easier it is to live without fear.
“It helps us continue to live our lives normally,” Hummel said.
There are 125 people registered to attend this year’s conference, including 50 Cal U students and 75 professionals working in various areas of law enforcement and corporate security.
“We have a theme every year and we try to pick a theme that’s a hot button issue that’s going to be useful to law enforcement in the public arena,” Hummel said. “This year because of all the kidnapping and assassination attempts taking place, we thought we’d talk about executive security. Next year we’re going to look at school security.”
This year’s speakers include James F. Powers Jr., Pennsylvania’s director of homeland security; Brian R. Feser, the president of CSS USA Protection Group, an international security company; Anthony Ricci, president of Advanced Driving and Security Inc.; Lt. Col. John R. Brown, the deputy commissioner of administration and professional responsibility for the Pennsylvania State Police; Sy Alli, an executive protection team leader for Limited Brands Inc. of Columbus Ohio; and Robert L. Oatman, president of R.L. Oatman and Associates Inc., who is a security consultant and author specializing in executive protection operations.
Hummel noted that all of the speakers are among the top people in their field and are giving their presentations at the daylong seminar without cost to the university.
“They volunteer their time for the students,” Hummel said. “We feed them and give them a plaque and thank them.”
Hummel noted that Oatman will be speaking at the American Society for Industrial Security ASIS) international conference in Atlanta, Ga., the week after the seminar at Cal U.
Hummel said that in today’s global economy, corporate security is more than security cameras and guards. Corporate executives may be targeted by terrorist groups, Hummel said.
“Good corporate security requires people who understand complex planning and management,” Hummel said. “Criminals don’t only go after CEO’s, they target their families. Sometimes they feel it creates more fear and response to demands if they kidnap or kill their loved ones.”
Hummel said Cal U has offered a degree in Justice, Law and Society for the past six years, responding to the market demand for security experts. There are currently about 500 undergraduate students in the major, with graduates obtaining jobs in numerous fields.
“We have some that work with border security, the Capitol police, the Secret Service, the Postal Service the Pennsylvania State Police, Homeland Security, corporate security,” Hummel said
Others go on to law school or work in corrections, the Transportation Safety Administration or private or government security, Hummel said.