National Cargo Security Council Unveils Newly Expanded Certification Program for Cargo Professionals Combating Terrorism in the Air, Truck, Maritime and Rail Industries.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Long-Heralded Certification Program to Help Supply-Chain Security Officials Fight Cargo Crime Adds "Anti-Terrorism" Training Following Year-Long Planning

The culmination of a year-long initiative to expand a certification program for cargo-security professionals from the entire transportation spectrum was unveiled today by the chairman of the National Cargo Security Council, David Jones, CPP, Corporate VP-Security & Loss Prevention for Tommy Hilfiger, USA Inc., Cranbury, N.J.

"Cargo theft and now terrorism are the twin threats to the safety and security of world commerce, requiring an ever-increasing level of sophistication, education and technology. NCSC has led cargo-security improvement efforts for more than three decades. We are continuing this tradition by formalizing training and certification to combat terrorist activities. We're offering this to the interdependent global transportation community, including professionals involved in commercial transportation, government and academia," Jones said.

"Our concept for certification is international in scope and embodies best-practices and technology seminars, collaboration with the 26 private-sector and government associations with whom we partner, university and non-traditional education sources and continuing our partnerships with C-TPAT and GMATS programs. Completion of the comprehensive training program varies depending on the participant's level of experience and commitment, ranging from one to six-plus years," said Jerry Zellars, CPP, who is chairman of NCSCs 11-member Certification Committee and vice president -- Sales & Marketing, One ID.

"NCSC, now 1,100 members strong, has been the voice of cargo-security for 36 years, and education and training have been key priorities. Our nation still takes a $15-billion annual hit by cargo thieves, and globally there's more than $50 billion of cargo theft. With the added terrorist threats following 9/11, we are proud to offer a formal, comprehensive and timely plan to give members and others the opportunity to be named a Certified Supply Chain Protection Professional (CSCPP)," Zellars added.

He continued: "A corollary goal is to help centralize and coordinate security management. Security elements like physical security, IT and risk management are generally organized in distinct silos; also, too few companies have or plan to appoint a Chief Security Officer. Earning the CSCPP award entails interface with government and association partners, global private-sector security managers, academia, earning CEUs and college credit, testing and evaluation.

"The certification's venue will be classrooms (college/university and conventions/seminars) and on-line. Core competencies will include: business processes, federal regulations, management, IT, investigation, technology, quality assurance and emergency response, each tailored to a specific transportation mode -- air, truck, sea, etc. -- all this and more will elevate senior-management perception of the cargo-security function and the professionals who manage it," Zellars said.

Jones added: "Much credit goes to the 11 members of our Certification Committee and its chairman, Jerry Zellars. This group, a subcommittee of our Education Committee, briefed our directors on the plan at NCSC's annual conference in June 2003, and the Board approved the certification architecture the following month."

For more information, contact NCSC at #3 Church Circle -- Suite 3, Annapolis, MD 21401-1933; phone [phone]; fax [phone]; Email: [e-mail]; or log on to www.cargosecurity.com.

About NCSC

The National Cargo Security Council, based in Annapolis, MD, is a professional association of cargo transportation and security professionals from the entire logistics spectrum: air, truck/rail, maritime and intermodal. NCSC members are committed to assuring the safe and secure movement of the nation's commerce.