Officials working in the homeland security field in Maryland are faced with the daily challenge posed by organized crime, international and home-grown terrorism, and major cross-border infractions. Homeland security officials know they are not signing up for an easy and stress-free job; they are signing up for one of the toughest challenges of their lives, though a challenge that when overcome can be tremendously satisfying.
Homeland security careers in Maryland involved in high-profile operations include:
- Undercover Ops Team
- Surveillance Team
- Wireless Communication Experts
- Intelligence Analysts
- Electronic Monitoring Specialists
- Internet Detectives
- Cyphers and Cryptologists
- International Correspondents
- Detectives
- Foreign Bureau Agents
- Intelligence Analysts
Homeland Security Degrees and Certification in Maryland
Homeland security degrees in Maryland as well as professional certification are prerequisites for many positions in the field. A wide range of programs are available across the state to meet the requirements of the many career opportunities. Available across the state at public and private institutions alike, there are a number of options for obtaining a homeland security degree in fields of study that include:
- Criminal Justice
- Law Enforcement
- Homeland Security
- Business Administration
- Legal Studies
- Public Administration
Maryland Terrorist Plots and Defections
Homeland security officials recently arrested a man on charges of attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction and attempted murder. A lengthy investigation and undercover sting operation carried out by officials working in the homeland security sector culminated in the arrest of the man, after he parked an SUV he thought was filled with explosives in front of a Cantonsville military recruiting center.
Undercover agents drove him to a vantage point where the suspect attempted to detonate the device, but was instead arrested. Attentive homeland security officials were able to disrupt the plot after discovering the suspect on the internet, which began the process of a lengthy undercover operation.
Thanks to the detective work of officials working in the homeland security sector, a Laurel man was arrested and charged in connection with his attempt to provide material support to a known terrorist organization. The suspect was detained by Kenyan officials as he tried to make his way to Somalia to join the local branch of al Qaeda, put on a plane back to Maryland, and arrested upon arrival in the Old Line State.
Investigating agents discovered that more alarmingly, the terror suspect used to be a soldier in the U.S. Army and had training in cryptology, weapons, and intelligence. This would be a major success for homeland security officials who will have prevented a highly skilled former Army officer from joining the ranks of al Qaeda.
This case also demonstrates that inter-agency cooperative homeland security training in Maryland could not be more pertinent, as agents successfully worked together at the local and federal levels, as well as with Kenyan police.