FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 30, 2003
CONTACT: Roland Ruiz, St. Philip's College Director of Community and Public Relations
210.531.4851

ST. PHILIP'S COLLEGE TO OFFER HOMELAND SECURITY TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES BEGINNING THIS FALL

St. Philip's College, in partnership with the San Antonio-based American Institute of Homeland Defense (AIHD), will begin offering certified training and education in homeland security and anti-terrorism preparedness beginning in August. Through a collaborative agreement, AIHD has designated St. Philip's College as its Homeland Security Regional Center of Excellence for the San Antonio area, offering practical and dynamic instruction in various aspects of homeland security. All courses to be offered are certified and will be taught by expert veterans of national intelligence and military organizations such as the CIA, NSA and Special Forces. "Our cadre of dynamic instructors has delivered practical and relevant homeland security courses to some 15,000 government, military and corporate learners around the country, and we look forward to providing the same caliber of training to the greater Bexar County region," said Kenneth Holshouser, AIHD CEO. "It truly is an honor to welcome St. Philip's College as the Homeland Security Regional Center of Excellence for the San Antonio-area."

The St. Philip's College Center's initial offerings will cover more than 60 courses and six certificate programs carrying continuing education credit. The curriculum is designed for first responders (law enforcement, fire, emergency medical personnel, etc.), military personnel, emergency managers, health professionals, business leaders, private security personnel, volunteers and concerned citizens.

"As a community college, much of what we do is based on our ability to come together with partners to deliver education and workforce training programs that meet the needs of the community," said Angie S. Runnels, president of St. Philip's College. "We are excited to be able to work with a partner with the expertise and resources of AIHD in order to serve our local community with training that is highly relevant to today's global climate." The Homeland Security curriculum will debut next month at St. Philip's College with a special two-week session of a Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) training certificate program offered Aug. 18-29. The courses, taught by experts in nuclear, biological and chemical weapons who have trained thousands of military personnel and first responders across the world, will cover issues such as the characteristics of various types of lethal and incapacitating agents; their detection and handling; the strategy behind the use of these weapons; and tactics in responding to them.

Beginning in the fall, the Center will offer a broad range of courses along with customized training, workforce development and consulting to local organizations. In addition to training, the Center is expected to serve as a community resource on homeland security topics and will also offer courses for college credit in the future through an agreement with the Lamar Institute of Technology in Beaumont and AIHD.

Among certificate programs to be offered are: Understanding and Combating Terrorism; Investigating, Preventing and Surviving Terrorism for Law Enforcement; Homeland Security Intelligence Operations for Law Enforcement; Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD): Anticipation, Preparation and Prevention for Law Enforcement and First Responders; Emergency Management; and the General Certificate in Homeland Security.

AIHD, a private company, is the leader in homeland security certified training and accredited education. The company is headquartered in San Antonio, with operations in Washington, D.C., and Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Its Web site may be found at: www.americanihd.com.

St. Philip's College, one of the Alamo Community Colleges serving the greater Bexar County region, is a comprehensive community college designated as both a Historically Black College and a Hispanic Serving Institution. St. Philip's College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.