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Online Sports Security Management Certificate Program to Begin Feb. 4

Fri, 01/11/2013 - 11:05am | By: Vanessa Molden

The National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security at The University of Southern Mississippi will offer an online Sports Security Management Professional Certificate beginning Feb. 4 through April 15.

The Sports Security Management Professional Certificate Program provides effective management planning, prevention, response and recovery standards, and procedures in sports security. This comprehensive program uses techniques that fulfill the standards and procedures of the National Incident Management Systems set forth by the Department of Homeland Security.

“As a federal agent engaged in protection of military members around the world, I found the Sports Security Management Program extremely beneficial in understanding crowd management and the Incident Command Systems. The University of Southern Mississippi is a pioneer in the sports security industry and gave me a unique understanding and skills which I could not gain elsewhere,” said Scot Walker, special agent, Department of Homeland Security, U. S. Coast Guard. “I recommend this program to any military members who are interested in enhancing their military career with a distinctive skill or are interested in a sports security career after retiring from the military."

Topics to be covered within the program include an overview of terrorism and the examination of domestic and international threats at sporting events, including natural disasters and crowd management issues; basic legislation and operations of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security; sport venue risk assessment methodologies; and mitigation and preparedness strategies.

Individuals who will benefit from this program include sport facility managers and operations staff, emergency management agency personnel, emergency medical service personnel, law enforcement officers, public safety communicators, and security professionals.

“At the completion of this program, current and future sports and entertainment professionals will be provided with the specialized capabilities and knowledge needed to meet the management challenges of safety and security issues in a sports environment,” said Dr. Stacey Hall, program director and associate professor school of human performance and recreation.

For more information or to register, call Professional Development and Educational Outreach at 601.266.4186 or go online at www.usm.edu/training.