Identifying knowledge demands and professional skill sets for employment within the aviation security environment: a qualitative inquiry of aviation security professionals

摘要

As the world observed the morning of September 11, 2001, it witnessed an event that changed the world. This event introduced the world to asymmetrical warfare, as a relatively small number of committed individuals transformed four U.S. commercial airplanes into missiles and committed mass murder of innocent people in America’s homeland. These attacks, universally, focused the need for better security practices in order to mitigate the risks of those intending to do harm to the aviation industry. In order to improve security practices in the field of aviation security, this research study sought to identify a body of knowledge or common skill sets that can assist the aviation security professional in the effectiveness of mitigating security threats in the U.S. civil aviation network. This qualitative study conducted detailed personal interviews with ten aviation security professionals in the private and governmental sectors to identify knowledge demands and essential professional skill sets needed for employment in the aviation security environment. The analysis of the data identified seven different knowledge demands or skill sets. These seven knowledge demands or skill sets included: behavioral profiling, risk management, leadership, critical thinking, terrorism, airport environment, and aviation law.