CECOM security specialists pass new security certification test

By Ms Andricka Thomas (CECOM)June 27, 2011

CECOM security specialists pass new security certification test
Members of the CECOM Intelligence and Security/G2 team attend the Security Fundamentals Professional Certification awards ceremony at the Pentagon June 15, 2011 for meeting certification requirements. Pictured front row left to right – Renee Crouse, ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUNDS, Md. " Security and Intelligence Specialists from the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command received their Security Fundamentals Professional Certification during a recent awards ceremony hosted by the Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, G2, James T. Faust, at the Pentagon in the Hall of Heroes.

“The CECOM group made me proud in this historic first certification exam,” said Jim Lint, CECOM G2/Intelligence and Security director. “It shows the quality of the post BRAC [Base Realignment and Closure] workforce is up to the highest quality standards.”

The certification is earned after completion of the Security Professional Education Development, or SPeD, Certification Program, a program designed to provide Department of Defense security professionals with DoD-level credentials recognizing the knowledge, skills and abilities of qualified personnel and provides a clear pathway for security professionals to aim for in developing career milestones and outlines DoD expectations for security professionals in the future, according to program guidelines.

“This certification program has been in the works since 2004,” said Derrick Coleman, chief of the Security Branch, CECOM Intelligence and Security/G2. This was the first time Department of Defense personnel participated in the Beta assessment certification test. The Beta test is meant to provide a benchmark to measure the current state of the security workforce as it relates to security training and workforce development. The results of the assessment will help determine the final certification program requirements for security specialists DoD wide. The program is scheduled to be fully incorporated as a new requirement of security professionals in 2013.

“We encourage our personnel to strive for excellence in education and training,” said Coleman. “It serves our mission here at CECOM and provides the Army with some of the most qualified security specialists in DoD [Department of Defense].”

This professional development program dictates professional standards approved the Defense Security Training Council and is aligned with Intelligence Community Directive security competency requirements. With four certification levels, certification prerequisites include successful completion of the Security Fundamentals exam.

“We’re proud of our personnel for volunteering to participate and take an active interest in the development of our security specialist career program,” said Coleman. He also stated this certification will eventually become a requirement for all security specialists across DoD. Training courses are offered to interested personnel in preparation for the certification exam.