Charles A. Sennewald CPP - Security Consulting, Fourth Edition

Security consulting had flourished by the mid-1980s, becoming an integral, necessary discipline within the security industry. Professionals engaging in consulting prior to the 1980s were few and far between. Notable among this group were such pioneers as Timothy Walsh, Philip Schiedermayer, Don Darling, Bob Curtis, Thad Weber, David Berger, Roy Wesley, and Steve Carlson.

The practice of consulting came of age in 1984 through the founding of its own professional organization, the International Association of Professional Security Consultants (IAPSC). That organization, in addition to creating a forum for communication among consultants, defined consulting, set certain standards, and developed a professional code of ethics. The principles of a speech I delivered at that organizations first meeting on February 11, 1985, in Clearwater Beach, Florida, still apply:

I hold the minutes of a meeting held at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York on September 20, 1972. The heading reads: First Organizational Meeting of Professional Protection Consultants.

In attendance were nine practicing consultants. They developed a constitution and came up with a name: the American Academy of Protection Consultants. They had expectations, but for whatever reasons, the Academy didnt fly. The time just wasnt right.

But the time now is right. We are re-gathered here, and we too have expectations, and we are already airborne. And we will grow. As the security industry continues in maturation and sophistication, so will the needs grow for professional guidance and counseling.

Let me take a look down the road, to focus on two long-range goals and one new opportunity.

The first goal is to reshape the image and reputation of the security consultant. We must take positive steps to legitimize that term and discourage abuse of that title by anybody who merely wants to call themselves a security consultant without earning the title.

The second goal is to create a better understanding among ourselves as to our real role as consultants. One of our problems, believe it or not, is that very titlesecurity consultant. Why? Too much emphasis is placed on the word security.

It should go without saying that we have expertise in the security field. But our orientation should be as professional consultants; we should be consultants first and security experts second.

How many have hung out their security consultants shingle, only to fail? Many failures could be attributed to a lack of consulting skills, not a deficiency in security knowledge.

A new opportunity exists in forensic consulting, which includes expert testimony. Theres a growing demand for security experts to assess the adequacy or inadequacy of security in a given setting and subsequently provide testimonial support for that assessment. No one other than a qualified expert is permitted the privilege of expressing an opinion in our judicial system.

And so, the time for the security consultant finally has come. We are few, but we are of good quality and we follow the highest standards. To live up to our worthy goals and new opportunities, we must at all times be responsible professionals.

Im proud to be a part of this new consulting field. To those who have played a role in making this a reality, we are all grateful. To those who join us for the first time, or those who are seriously considering entering this profession and to those who are new to this exciting profession of consulting, I welcome you.