Orlando, FL – Valencia Community College has been contracted to participate in the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) training program, which offers educational opportunities to Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) already employed by the agency.
“Valencia is looking forward to launching this important partnership with TSA to train critical front-line personnel so vital to national security,” said Gaby Hawat, Valencia’s special assistant to the president for strategic initiatives and executive dean for economic development.
Valencia will deliver TSA training courses on-site at the Orlando International Airport. The college is one of 32 selected to partner with airports throughout the United States – and is the only partner in Florida.
The TSA is responsible for security checkpoints at all U.S. airports, with OIA being one of the busiest. In 2009, the airport saw more than 33 million travelers, with a record-breaking total of 2,977,920 of them traveling internationally.
TSOs who complete the training program will receive a TSA Certificate of Achievement. They will also receive college credits for the training courses, which they will be encouraged to apply toward an associate degree from Valencia. The college hopes to develop a homeland security associate degree program in the future.
The first training course that will be offered is Introduction to Homeland Security, which will start fall 2010.
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