Homeland Security Officer: Duties & Job Market

by Dawn Papandrea

To protect and serve doesn't just apply to police officers anymore. With the complicated 9/11-world we live in, the nation needs dedicated professionals who can protect and serve in a variety of functions to ensure that we are prepared to deal with emergencies, disasters, and potential terror threats. Enter the relatively new but growing field of homeland security.

Duties of a homeland security officer
From natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina to potential terror attacks, the field of homeland security has become a necessary part of our society, and as a result, the job demands are high. Specific jobs can focus on duties such as emergency preparedness, disaster relief, information security, intelligence analysis, border patrol, customs, law enforcement, and/or military.

Where to find homeland security officer jobs
From federal, state, and local government to corporations in the private sector, homeland security personnel have become an important asset. On the federal level alone, the Department of Homeland Security employed about 183,000 workers in 2006, making it one of the largest federal agencies.

Homeland security officer programs
When seeking homeland security officer degree programs, be aware that nearly 100 institutions are designated National Centers of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security, thus giving them more clout in the field. Coursework will include things like basic domestic and international law, customs and border protection, ethics, emergency planning and response, information analysis and infrastructure protection, science and technology and management.

Demand for homeland security officer jobs
While the Bureau of Labor Statistics lists each individual homeland security occupation separately, they do all have one thing in common: Job openings are expected to keep increasing over the next few years. With so many agencies and private corporations offering employment, the career track possibilities are wide open.