A Day in the Life of a Security Officer

This is part of a series of posts highlighting the diversity of our Jovian Concepts team. Check back throughout the year to glimpse snapshots of other members, or search our site for more.

One of the few people working in the headquarters of Jovian Concepts is our Security Officer. Central to the work of Security is the idea of helping others. Guiding employees through the often-confusing security process, providing an extra hand to her neighbors, and balancing work and life with a professional attitude, our Security Officer exemplifies the Core Values of Jovian Concepts.

Ever wonder what a Security Officer does? A recent day is shared here, in the words of our Security Officer at Jovian Concepts:

5:00 a.m. No alarm needed, just a body clock that wakes me up between 5 and 5:30 every day. Shower, dress, and out the door.

6:00 a.m. Normally one of the first in the building: unlock, log in, check email, make coffee.

9:00 a.m. Answer emails from contingent hires who are working on security paperwork. This is normally a process that takes from a couple days to a few weeks. It involves many emails back and forth, reviewing forms, sending forms back, asking for corrections, and checking all documentation that needs to accompany a packet.

10:00 a.m. Drive completed security packets to where they need to be submitted. Traffic is better this time of day after rush hour slows down.

11:30 a.m. As the unofficial gardener in the office, I check the plants to make sure they have enough water.

12:00 p.m. Usually I bring a lunch, but today I walk with a coworker to a nearby deli. We sit with some others we know at a big table and eat together.

2:00 p.m. Attend a staffing meeting with all the folks in the front office. We go over all contingent hires and discuss staffing news, any changes, and other relevant information.

3:00 p.m. Work with prime security folks on start dates, indoc dates, forms, etc. Continue work with our contingent hires to get their security packets ready. Assist some employees with periodic re-investigations and security questions. Check on the security needs of other current employees, such as security education and requirements.

4:00 p.m. Most interviews are scheduled in the afternoons. An interviewee sees me first so I can do a complete pre-screening and security system database check. When complete, they then visit Human Resources for a briefings talk.

5:00 p.m. Attend the monthly meeting of the Industrial Security Awareness Council.

6:00 p.m. Babysit the grand babies until my son gets home from coaching. When babysitting isn’t needed, I’ll help some community members who are overwhelmed with housework, kids, and adulting. I met them through the web site of a local organization.

7:30 p.m. Take a walk around my neighborhood lake.

8:00 p.m. Cook dinner for my husband, who gets home late today.

About Jovian Concepts, Inc.

Jovian Concepts, Inc. provides unique on-site consulting services to agencies of the United States government. Founded in 2009 by Richard Scheper, Ph.D., Jovian Concepts is based in Maryland. For more information, visit www.jovianconcepts.com.