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Veteran Finds Sacramento Success In Security Management Career

Security and safety are growing concerns for businesses around the world as well as in Sacramento. Facility security management can be complex and is vital for the success of many organizations. The career path typically requires higher education in criminal justice and organizational security, like the degree programs offered by University of Phoenix. Employment Development Department labor statistics project a 15.1 percent increase in jobs for operations specialty managers in Sacramento during the period from 2012 – 2022. Security management job openings in the region have been posted recently by companies including Quest, NWN Corporation and VSP Global.

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(Photo Courtesy of Scott Peck)

Scott Peck earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in Organizational Leadership after retiring as a master sergeant after 20-years in the U.S. Air Force. During his military career, Peck's positions included being a security forces flight chief, the information/personnel/industrial security program manager for Travis Air Force Base, and the security manager for international arms control inspections. He has top-secret security clearance, and his post-military positions include being the chief of counterintelligence for Advantage SCI and doing security management for Health Net and Sierra Nevada Corporation. The energetic and upbeat Peck recently completed a security management contract with USfalcon and is welcoming new challenges.

Peck says education, both during and after the military, has been transformative for him. "The freedom of thought," and opportunity to hear and respectfully express differing opinions was powerful. He received an Associate of Arts degree in criminal justice, and felt a great sense of accomplishment after later earning his bachelor's degree.

"When I completed my B.A., I thought, 'Wow, I can do this,'" and decided to continue on to get his master's in Organizational Leadership. The latter program "really stretched me as a person," he says, adding that taking human resource classes helped him gain a new perspective on leading and managing people in his chosen field. Higher education was both fascinating and enlightening for Peck, who says he "never felt like I was going to class just to check off a box. It really is part of a journey."

Valerie Heimerich is a freelance writer out of Sacramento. She typically covers animals and community issues. She has volunteered and worked for many organizations helping animals and people. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.

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