One of the easiest ways to get your foot in the door to a national security career (and a clearance for that matter) is by becoming a field investigator. But your security career certainly doesn’t end there, and the fact of the matter is, whether physical or information, security careers are exploding in our sector.
Mike Runyan assumed the role of Director of Risk Management in 2020 with nearly twenty years of experience within the Securitas family of companies.
He joins the podcast to dish on everything related to security cleared careers.
Beginning his career with Pinkerton, Mike served in several roles including an assignment abroad in the Jakarta, Indonesia office and ultimately as Managing Director for the Washington, DC office before joining Paragon’s parent company, Securitas Critical Infrastructure Services (SCIS), in 2014. In his most recent role as the National Account Director for SCIS, Mike was responsible for managing operations countrywide for multiple large clients. This included coordinating the use of PRM solutions and expertise to enhance traditional physical security programs.
With over 14,000 professionals, Paragon and SCIS are the leading provider of specialized security, fire, investigations, inspections, cybersecurity, risk management, and mission support services to the U.S. Federal Government and other critical infrastructure clients.
LOOKING TO GET INTO A SECURITY CAREER?
There are a lot of options and avenues if you’d like to get into the security career field. Whether that’s physical, protecting assets, both online or tangible, personnel security, or information security, the Department of Defense and Intelligence Community have many opportunities depending on your interests.
RISK MANAGEMENT
Risk Management is identifying vulnerabilities and providing solutions to prevent those negative scenarios from happening. At Paragon, it is a variety of solutions including: Risk Advisory, Security Management, Industrial Security, Protection, Emergency Response, and Intelligence. These specialized solutions ensure the government is secure while providing comprehensive program capabilities for emergency or one-time events and long-term dedicated personnel.
PHYSICAL SECURITY
These security officers observe and report activities and incidents at assigned client sites, providing for the security and safety of client property and personnel. These important individuals preclude unauthorized access to facilities, and the conversion, theft or intentional destruction of physical assets, while responding to unusual or emergency situations.
SECURITY MANAGER / FSO
Industrial security, or facility security officers, are a critical role for defense contractors to maintain security cleared talent. They also provide important training to employees, manage insider threat programs for their company, and ensure their organization is in compliance with all government rules and regulations.
Control Center Operation / Dispatch Management
This part of the workforce is responsible for the management of security / fire alarm monitoring systems, operating/monitoring communications equipment, logging shift activities, monitoring surveillance monitors and camera systems, processing required reports and making appropriate notifications.
Case Review Officers / Background Investigators
Case Review Officers have knowledge great of the DCSA contracts, review reports of investigation for accuracy and completeness, provide advice and guidance to investigators regarding investigative requirements, and monitor pending security clearance cases to ensure compliance with timeliness expectations and tracks submission of investigative leads.
Cybersecurity Roles
There are certainly careers that are in abundance related to database administration, software engineering, networking, and helpdesk. Information and cybersecurity continue to be hot areas in any industry, but especially under Department of Defense contracts.
