October, 2011– On October 18, 2011, the Texas Skill Standards Board (TSSB) extended its recognition of the Homeland Security Support Specialist Skill Standards.  These skill standards address areas of job opportunity as diverse as network security, data warehouse administration, and critical infrastructure security.

The Homeland Security Support Specialist occupational area encompasses jobs in law enforcement, private industry, public utilities, and government as well as non-profit agencies. It addresses not only response to terrorist threat but also response to natural disasters.

 TSSB policy requires that skill standards be reviewed and, if necessary, updated every five years at a minimum. These skill standards were originally developed and validated in 2007 by a national panel of subject matter experts that included representation from law enforcement, government agencies, and private industry. The development project was facilitated by Lamar Institute of Technology (LIT). 

LIT’s industry advisory group reviewed the skill standards and requested the extension of their recognition based on the standards’ ongoing validity and use in curriculum.