Focus on a Chartered Security Professional Edward Wurster CSyP, MSyL, Consultant, Countermeasures Assessment & Security Experts (CASE)

I  began my security career in a suburban hospital and this helped me to learn the importance of team building, with both the security professionals employed by the facility and stakeholders, including staff and local law enforcement.

This community setting allowed me to interact with those I was helping to protect and although I eventually moved to larger settings where getting to know everyone was nearly impossible, those early experiences helped me “put a face” on those I was responsible for protecting.

I contribute much of my success to the support of my wife, Karen.  She not only endures many weeks alone, she also has a strong knowledge of security and is able to provide valuable feedback.

I have worked at many organisations, and two pivotal ones are: leading the public safety training for Bucks County Community College in Pennsylvania and serving as Training and Exercise Chief for the South-eastern Pennsylvania Regional Task Force.  Both experiences provided me with my first interactions in a global capacity, working with responders in Canada, South Korea, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.

In 2012, I joined PPL Corporation (one of the top investor-owned utilities in the United States) to develop their business continuity and emergency management strategies. I rose through the ranks to Chief Physical Security Officer.

I am now a consultant at Countermeasures Assessment and Security Experts (CASE).  In this role, I have reviewed security, safety, and emergency plans for a number of transit agencies across the United States, and helped them develop or revise the plans and their associated programs before conducting tabletop exercises. I was part part of a team that completed an assessment and report on on security, safety, and emergency planning capabilities for El Metro de Panama, the first metro rail system in Central America.

It was while on an assignment for CASE that I had the opportunity to interact with a well-respected security professional who introduced me to The Security Institute and suggested I evaluate obtaining the Chartered Security Professional designation.  After conducting research, I agreed with his assessment of the value and prestige of being a CSyP and started the process.

I found the entire process challenging and very rewarding.  The application, specifically the competency demonstration, provides an opportunity to evaluate real-world experiences against standards that are current topics facing the industry, such as sustainability. I like that the chartering process is thorough and requires demonstrated competence in areas that are essential for a security professional.

The interview and presentation, conducted with proven security professionals, is also a strength of the process as it gave me an opportunity to discuss my experiences, yet required me to do so in within a time -limited manner.

The benefit of being a CSyP is not only the credibility it brings, but also the community of professionals that is at its foundation and the wealth of information available through interaction with peers.  Organisations served by a CSyP can be assured that the individual has met a high standard and endured a process that evaluated knowledge, skills, and abilities based on actual work experiences and activities.

Since joining The Security Institute and obtaining chartered status, I have enjoyed the collaboration with peers and look forward to supporting the community however possible, including talking with colleagues here in the United States and recommending the CSyP process. It is incumbent of security professionals to give back to the community and continue to ensure its growth to meet the current and emerging challenges. In doing so, we must also embrace diversity, equity, inclusion, and sustainability within a profession that has provided great career opportunities.

For more information on becoming a Chartered Security Professional see: Becoming a Chartered Security Professional.