First ever DoD Security Professional Education Development Certification awarded at WPAFB

  • Published
  • By Bill Hancock
  • 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  Mr. William Davidson, Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force and Air Force Senior Security Official conferred the first ever DoD Security Professional Education Development (SPēD) certification to 46 Security Professionals here April 19.

"I am very pleased to be here," said Mr. Davidson, who was present as the ceremony's distinguished guest speaker "This ground breaking ceremony certifies these individuals as having completed the required skill standards approved by the Department of Defense Security Training Council. They have proven themselves to be the cream-of-the-crop."

The SPēD program is a DoD initiative to professionalize the security workforce across the Department. Certification, once awarded, is maintained only by completing approved continuing professional development units and being an employee in good standing.

Wright-Patterson Air Force Base served as one of 20 Beta testing locations across DoD and it the only computerized Beta test location.

"This is truly a trailblazing effort," said ceremony attendee Mr. A. Reese Madsen, Jr., DoD Intelligence Chief Learning Officer, "Based upon established skill standards and job competency requirements, validated within the DoD Security Training Council and assessed through testing, this program certifies pride and professionalism within the security profession."

The SPēD Certification Program ensures security practitioners can demonstrate proficiency in a common set of security competencies such as: Personnel Security, Industrial Security, Information Security, Physical Security, and General Security Practices. Thus benefiting the Air Force by, a more prepared and knowledgeable security workforce, more objectivity in promotion selection and career progression, creating common bonds and terminology between security professionals across DoD, portability between DoD agencies & the Intelligence Community, eliminates internal career track "stove piping," and elevates the 0080 career field to "professional status" similar to the acquisition profession and others.

"The certification acknowledges an individual as having completed and demonstrated the specific level of knowledge and competence appropriate for their profession," stated Mr. Daniel McGarvey, Director, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, Information Protection Directorate, who was also on hand for the ceremony, "This program makes security professionals more competitive and comparable to other like professions within DoD and the Air Force, it establishes the certificate owner as one of the best in the busines.s"

Current implementation seeks to establish the USD(I) Security Certification Program certificate as the AF "minimum baseline" requirement for promotion consideration or lateral (within grade) duty assignment appointments and has a future goal of turning the associated training into academic credits.

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