Four Professionals to Be Awarded Friends of NCS4

Thu, 06/04/2026 - 09:00am | By: NCS⁴ Staff

Four professionals will be recognized for their contributions to NCS⁴ during the 2026 National Sports Safety and Security Conference and Exhibition on June 23-25 in Palm Desert, Calif. The event is presented annually by the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS⁴) at The University of Southern Mississippi.

The Friends of NCS⁴ Award recognizes professionals whose contributions have been invaluable to the advancement of the Center. The NCS⁴ staff nominate individuals who have been integral to the Center’s mission, playing an invaluable role in its training, research and outreach programs.

Individuals receiving the award include:

• Akmal Ali, J.D., founder & chief executive officer, Aluma & inOrbit
• Rick Findlay, deputy chief of police (ret.), Salt Lake City PD
• Joe Monroe, chief of police, University of Kentucky
• Nick Nicholson, chief operations officer, Aslan Leadership Strategies, LLC.

“We are grateful to each of these recipients for the invaluable leadership and assistance they provide,” said Lauren Cranford, MPH, CHES, NCS⁴ director of operations. “They have each gone above and beyond in helping us to further the mission of NCS⁴.”

The awards will be presented at the awards luncheon during the conference. The luncheon is sponsored by Evolv Technology, which provides weapons detection systems for security screening.

For more information about the conference or to register, visit the conference website. For more information about the awards, visit the awards recognition website.

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About the 17^th Annual National Sports Safety and Security Conference and Exhibition
The National Sports Safety and Security Conference and Exhibition will be held June 23-25, 2026, at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort and Spa in Palm Desert, Calif. The conference will attract over 500 attendees and 70 exhibitors representing professional sports, intercollegiate athletics, interscholastic athletics, marathon and endurance events, sports and entertainment facilities, and those who provide safety and security products and services to the industry. Visit the conference website for more information.

About NCS⁴ 
Established in 2006, the NCS⁴ is the nation’s only academic center devoted to the study and practice of sports safety and security. The NCS⁴ is partially underwritten by grants from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The NCS⁴ mission focuses on three key pillars - Training and Education, Research, and Outreach. Click here for more information about NCS⁴ or call 601.266.6183.