TSA offers employee training at DMACC; new homeland security emphasis available

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has selected Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) to provide federally-approved training to transportation security officers (TSOs) working security at the Des Moines International Airport and in other central Iowa locations.

DMACC also announced that it is launching a new homeland security emphasis in its Criminal Justice Program, which will start this fall.

“These are important extensions of DMACC’s criminal justice program,” said Bryan Burkhardt, TSA project liaison and director of DMACC’s Electronic Crime Institute. “DMACC is well positioned to educate and train people as the need continues to grow for greater security in our airports and transportation systems continues to expand. We have the resources, qualified educators and capacity to offer career development to TSA personnel and launch the new Homeland Security major.”

DMACC will offer three TSA-certified courses that focus on best practices and the latest techniques to deter terrorists. They include:

• Introduction to Homeland Security, Intelligence Analysis

• Security Management

• Transportation and Border Security

“Continuing Education contributes to career development and strengthening the layers of security. DMACC was ready when we were,” said Gina Nightengale, TSA’s Deputy Chief Learning Officer based in Washington D.C.

TSA associates who complete the coursework will receive a Certificate of Achievement and be strongly encouraged to continue their education.

The new DMACC Homeland Security emphasis will be open to all interested students next year.

“Homeland Security will build upon the principles, expertise and credibility of DMACC’s outstanding criminal justice program,” Burkhardt said.

Homeland Security will join three other DMACC criminal justice majors, including law enforcement, electronic crime investigation and corrections. Homeland Security will be a two-year degree program and taught by Professor Mike Wyatt, a retired FBI agent, and Program Chair Robert “Buzz” Hoffman. The new DMACC Homeland Security program is not associated with TSA.

Anyone interested in enrolling in the new DMACC criminal justice major may contact Professor Hoffman at (515) 964-6667 or rjhoffman@dmacc.edu.