KCTCS NEWS RELEASE – for immediate release
Contact: Brendan Lehane, (859) 246-3305
KCTCS develops Homeland Security program
LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 1, 2004) - In response to the ever-increasing education and training demands of the nation’s Homeland Security preparations, KCTCS has established its own Homeland Security training program.
The program, coordinated through a steering team led by Hazard Community and Technical College President Jay Box, will provide specialized training across the state to meet the current and emerging education needs for operational security.
KCTCS also is participating in a national initiative called “Prepare America,” a network of America’s community colleges who have offered to assist the Department of Homeland Security in the training of First and Second Responders and providing other preparedness programs.
The nation’s community colleges are asked to train first responders, high-visibility workers and employees in high customer service venues in ways that reduce vulnerability and exploitation.
“With the massive overhaul and reorganization of Homeland Security functions, new and increased education and training venues are needed to meet the challenges of this effort,” said Box. “KCTCS has the capability to become a gateway through which Kentucky can obtain access to state-of-the-art technologies and enhance Homeland Security efforts.”
The program will focus on three major initiatives: physical security, first responder, and information and communication technologies security. For each initiative, a specialized workgroup will focus on programming and training.
The Physical Security Project Team, led by Bowling Green Technical College President Jack Thomas, will focus on internal security such as property and personnel.
Gateway Community and Technical College President G. Edward Hughes is chair of the First Responder Project Team. This team will focus on first response training such as fire and rescue and emergency medical.
The State Fire Commission/Fire Rescue Training, a division of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System, currently offers First Responder Training classes throughout the state.
“We are beginning to see an increase in requests for awareness courses in terrorism and weapons of mass destruction as well as Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training,” said Ronnie Day, director of the State Fire Commission. “In the past year, we have delivered Hazardous Materials and CERT classes to approximately 700 fire, rescue and emergency medical service personnel throughout the Commonwealth.”
Pam Stafford, Maysville Community College, leads the Information and Communications Technologies Security Project Team. This workgroup will focus on issues such as cyber security.
“While the state’s universities are focused on research, KCTCS is the primary training provider for Kentucky,” said Box.
As part of the Homeland Security program, the KCTCS Kentucky Information Technology Center (KIT Center) will begin conducting regional “train-the-trainer” workshops that will teach basic security principles and introduce components of cyber security.
The workshops will provide hands-on training to community and economic development coordinators, academic faculty in Information Technology, and college IT staff. The participants will then be able to train others within their organization and their community security principles for business and personal computers.
“This is another important step in providing the maximum amount of protection for the people and for the economy of the Commonwealth," said Box. “Since KCTCS has such a strong presence throughout the state, we are able to increase awareness through forums and training sessions such as these.”
The initial workshops are slated to begin in February and will be held at Hopkinsville Community College, Madisonville Community College, and Owensboro Community and Technical College.
For additional information, please contact Jay Box, president and CEO, Hazard Community and Technical College, (606) 487-3100.
KCTCS colleges change lives by providing academic and technical associate degrees; diploma and certificate programs in occupational fields; pre-baccalaureate education; adult, continuing and developmental education; customized training for business and industry; and distance learning. For more information, visit www.kctcs.edu .