WC Iowa News

Des Moines Area Community College issued the following announcement on July 21. 

Gerald Goebel Becomes Latest TSA Employee to Earn Criminal Justice Degree from DMACC 

• TSA employee Gerald Goebel recently earned an online degree in criminal justice from DMACC while working full-time at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport
• TSA pays for tuition and textbooks for eligible employees to participate in the certificate program
• Goebel joins a growing list of TSA employees who have earned degrees or are working toward degrees at DMACC

While working full-time as a Transportation Security Inspector for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Gerald Goebel started taking online classes through the DMACC TSA Associates program, which are free to eligible TSA employees.

But Goebel doesn't work at the Des Moines International Airport -- or anywhere in Iowa. He works at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG).

In May of last year, Danielle Nicol of Columbus, Ohio, became the first TSA employee to earn a Criminal Justice degree through the DMACC TSA Associates program. This May, Goebel of Hebron, Ky., joined a growing list of TSA Associates Program Students to obtain a DMACC degree in Criminal Justice with a Homeland Security emphasis.

In 2017, TSA expanded its partnership with DMACC to provide for credit Homeland Security courses to TSA employees in 36 states and the District of Columbia, encompassing approximately 292 airports across the northern half of the United States. A short time later, DMACC was offering classes to TSA employees nationwide and at all federal airports.

“This program afforded me an incredible opportunity to earn a degree which is directly applicable to my profession, at no cost to me, and will make me more effective in my position with TSA," Goebel said.

DMACC Criminal Justice Professor and Homeland Security Certificate Program Chair Steve Barger said this program offers employees like Goebel the opportunity to work toward a DMACC Homeland Security Certificate.

“Through the TSA GRAD program, eligible students can also work toward earning an Associate's Degree in Homeland Security or a related field," Barger said.

The DMACC Homeland Security Certificate Program, as delivered as part of the TSA Associates Program, offers three core courses focusing on the best practices and latest techniques to deter terrorists including:

• Introduction to Homeland Security
• Intelligence Analysis and Security Management
• Transportation & Border Security

The Certificate Program is open to all full- and part-time TSA employees who have been employed at least six months. TSA pays for the tuition and textbooks of employees eligible to participate. Once the TSA employee successfully completes the nine-credit certificate, he or she may have the opportunity to participate in other TSA funded courses or to pursue a two-year DMACC Criminal Justice degree with a concentration in Homeland Security or related field as part of the TSA GRAD Program. Some students, like Goebel, worked toward and/or earned degrees prior to the inception of the GRAD program. 

“We congratulate Gerald on his initiative and motivation to earn his Criminal Justice Degree and commend the TSA for making this investment in their employees to help them reach their goals," Barger said.

DMACC continues to work to expand partnerships with the TSA and offer expanded opportunities for students to meet their educational goals in the most efficient and cost-effective manner.

To learn more, visit www.dmacc.edu/tsa.

For more information, contact: Steve Barger, (515) 721-0063, sgbarger2@dmacc.edu

Original source can be found here.