The state of Nevada contains one of 64 metropolitan areas across the United States that has been designated by the U.S. Justice Department as having a high threat for terrorism: Las Vegas. Homeland security jobs in Nevada may be based out of Las Vegas or anywhere in the state. In addition to the three fusion centers contained in the state, Nevada may offer potential for many homeland security jobs at the federal, state, and local government levels, as well as through private industries that do contract work for government agencies.
Fusion centers in Nevada are great examples of how local law enforcement meshes with government agencies to protect the citizens of Nevada and of the United States as a whole. Fusion centers that are contained in Nevada include:
- Northern Nevada Counter-Terrorism Center in Reno- collects and analyzes intelligence to contribute to homeland security and protection, and is part of the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office
- Southern Nevada Counter-Terrorism Center (SNVCTC) in Las Vegas- part of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and generates intelligence through the casino industry working with homeland security
- Nevada Threat Analysis Center (NTAC) in Carson City- part of the Nevada Department of Public Safety’s Investigative Division, processes and coordinates all homeland security threats in the state of Nevada
Education for Homeland Security Jobs in Nevada
Prior to taking any homeland security jobs in Nevada, candidates need to be well prepared through education. Schools in the state and online may offer associate’s, bachelor’s, and graduate degrees in homeland security, or even certification programs in homeland security to augment existing degrees.
Coursework may vary from one institution to another depending upon a particular concentration, but classes that are common to most educational programs in homeland security in Nevada include:
- Crisis and emergency management
- Administration in homeland security
- Urban affairs
- Communication
- Criminal justice
- Emergency response
- Threat management
Homeland Security Agencies with a Presence in Nevada
Nevada offers those with homeland security degrees or certification a bounty of career opportunities, at the governmental levels as well as in the private sector. Some examples of potential employers of Nevadans with homeland security education include:
- Nevada Division of Emergency Management, Carson City
- Nevada Threat Analysis Center, Carson City
- Nevada Department of Public Safety, Carson City
- Nevada Office of Homeland Security, Carson City
- FBI Resident Agencies in Reno and Elko, Field Office in Las Vegas
- United States Secret Service , Reno and Las Vegas
- Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, Reno
- USAO District of Nevada U.S. Attorney’s Office, Las Vega
- Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Las Vegas
- Las Vegas Financial Crimes Task Force, Las Vegas
- DownRange Global Solutions Inc., Las Vegas
- SOC, Inc., Minden
- Sierra Nevada Corporation, Sparks
- SpecTIR LLC, Reno
- JT3 LLC, Las Vegas
- National Security Technologies, LLC, North Las Vegas