When considering which area of homeland security you might like to work in, it is helpful to get to know the types of job opportunities. Take a look at the following possibilities:
Emergency Management Director
When a disaster strikes, whether it is a gas main explosion, tornado or terror attack, emergency responders and disaster recovery specialists know exactly what to do and how to coordinate resources. This is because they follow blueprints developed by emergency management directors. It is the job of an emergency management director to think proactively about what might happen and then to develop plans and procedures for a coordinated, results-oriented response.
Emergency management directors lead the collaborative planning between elected officials, the multiple levels of government, public safety officials, private businesses and nonprofit organizations (such as the American Red Cross). Emergency response plans are developed with the aim of minimizing casualties, quickly moving resources to where they are needed and reducing disruptions in services to the surrounding areas. If you decide to pursue a career as an emergency management director, you might spend your days doing any of the following:
- Assess the potential for various hazards and formulate response plans to minimize harm to people and damage to property
- Evaluate the resources available in a jurisdiction, including equipment, staff and volunteers
- Work toward securing better resources, and develop resource sharing agreements with emergency planners in neighboring jurisdictions
- Organize emergency response training efforts for both staff and volunteers
- Periodically review emergency response plans and revise them as needed
- Leading your agency, jurisdictional or regional efforts for identifying gaps and creating action steps to close gaps, prior to an emergency.
- Apply for federal funding to support emergency responses and disaster recovery efforts
In addition to proactively planning for emergency responses, emergency management directors may lead the response from the scene of a disaster or from an emergency operations center (EOC). Leading an emergency response and coordinating all disaster relief efforts requires the emergency management director to oversee plans are implemented properly.
Disaster Recovery Specialist
When a disaster strikes, people and businesses feel the impact. People suffer injuries and need medical assistance. Businesses are impacted and need assistance before owners lose everything. Businesses risk losing their invaluable data, and it is the job of a disaster recovery specialist to support the rapid re-opening of businesses and restore them back to normal functioning.
To do their job properly, these professionals must consider all possibilities, including both natural and human-made disasters ranging from floods, cyberattacks and pandemics. After identifying the possible threats, the disaster recovery specialist develops proactive technical recovery plans that businesses use as a road map for reopening. They may also put together business continuity plans that spell out the exact order of reestablishing specific business functions to return to normal. Some of the specific job duties are:
- Evaluate the available resources for technical recovery, including the possibility of using offsite data storage to protect sensitive information
- Develop and implement procedures and policies to ensure the safety of data, information systems and technology
- Assess damage, execute recovery plans and coordinate the work of staff to restore the business’ technology and normal functioning in the wake of a disaster
- Support business identification of essential services that are needed to support operations and the community even in the event of a disaster
As you can see, the role of a disaster recovery specialist requires knowledge in two major areas: homeland security and cybersecurity. Individuals who wish to pursue this line of work might consider a double major or a major and a minor to obtain the qualifications in both areas.
Immigration Officer
Many people who earn a homeland security degree decide to go into emergency planning or disaster recovery. Others opt to specialize in law enforcement. An immigration officer is a federal law enforcement official who works in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. These officers may work for either the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) or the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Both agencies are in the DHS.
The ultimate goal of all immigration officers is to maintain the integrity of the immigration system and enforce national security laws. However, not all of them perform the same duties. The specific responsibilities of an immigration officer depend on the type of officer. The following are the most common types:
- FDNS immigration officer: These individuals work for the Office of Fraud Detection and National Security, a department within the USCIS. They investigate immigrants who are alleged to have falsified information on applications for citizenship, asylum or visas.
- Immigration enforcement agent: These uniformed ICE officers primarily investigate people alleged to have entered the U.S. illegally. Once they identify individuals who do not have a legal basis to be in the U.S., ICE officers apprehend and detain them.
- Immigration information officer: These professionals work for the USCIS. Their main job is to assist individuals who are applying for visas, asylum or citizenship. Immigration information officers review petitions, verify the accuracy of the information provided and decide whether petitions should be approved.
A homeland security degree provides a strong academic framework to pursue any of these careers. Individuals can increase their qualifications by learning a foreign language, such as Spanish. Bilingual and multilingual immigration officers have an easier time interacting with immigrants, and they may be more likely to secure higher-level positions.
Import Specialist
Global trade is the backbone of the U.S. economy. All shipments brought into the U.S. must abide by applicable federal, state and local laws, as well as the requirements of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency. It is the job of the import specialist to arrange and monitor shipments arriving at U.S. ports.
This job might seem straightforward, but it has unique challenges. Import regulations can change frequently, so import specialists must keep up with the changes. They must also have a solid working knowledge of international trade laws and regulations.
Import specialists can work for businesses, such as import/export firms, or for government agencies. Employees of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection work at more than 300 ports of entry around the country. They are responsible for physically inspecting goods and reviewing import documentation to ensure that each shipment is compliant. If they discover violations, an import specialist can seize the shipment or levy fines.
Import specialists who work for businesses are responsible for ensuring the compliance of all transactions. This is a time-sensitive line of work, as shipments are often under tight deadlines to reach their destinations. In addition, the work of a commercial import specialist is under constant scrutiny by government import specialists.
