The International Foundation for Protection Officers (IFPO) and Security Magazine recently announced Saudi Aramco – Industrial Security Operations Academy as the recipient of the 4th annual Bill Zalud Memorial Award for Professional Excellence.

The Bill Zalud Memorial Award was established in 2017 to recognize professional excellence or outstanding service in the security profession.

“Saudi Aramco – Industrial Security Operations Academy is one of those organizations that is a strong advocate of professional excellence and has been an exceptional resource of professional development for employees” said Sandi Davies, the IFPO’s Executive Director.

For almost two decades, Saudi Aramco – Industrial Security Operations Academy has made IFPO, ASIS International, and various other educational programs available to its officers. The company has implemented a combination of hands-on, practical, and written assessments to measure training efficacy, including a 360-degree feedback mechanism from the trainees, instructors, mentors, and supervisors implemented during and after each program is delivered.

The academy’s efforts have produced a diversity of over 6,000 male and female security professionals, who play crucial roles in protecting Saudi Aramco’s assets and people across Saudi Arabia.

“As a premier security training institution in the Middle East, Saudi Aramco – Industrial Security Operations Academy is fully committed and couldn’t be prouder of our staff and mutually beneficial partnerships, such as with the IFPO, that have helped achieve such a big success” said Kevin Brown, Senior Trainer/Subject Matter Expert.

Davies said the IFPO is very proud to have a continued partnership with Saudi Aramco – Industrial Security Operations Academy.

"Their long dedication and outstanding service to our organization and the industry has made a significant and measurable difference because of the strategic direction they strive for in becoming a world-class security academy," she said.

Saudi Aramco – Industrial Security Operations Academy will be featured in an upcoming issue of Security Magazine. In addition, the IFPO will host a special place for the company on the IFPO website as well as in the IFPO Digital Newsletter – IFPO INSIGHTS. A plaque designating this achievement will be presented along with a complimentary, three-year annual IFPO corporate membership.

Plans are already underway for the 5th Annual Bill Zalud Memorial Award for Professional Excellence. Nomination applications will be available on the IFPO website by March 1, 2021. The deadline for applications will be October 31, 2021.

“We are very proud to have had Bill serve on the IFPO Board of Directors for more than a decade," Davies said. "His long and outstanding service to our organization made a significant difference. Bill gave strategic direction and vision to the Foundation. As an industry insider, his leadership was instrumental in making the foundation the success it is today."

ABOUT BILL ZALUD:

Zalud began his career in the U.S. Army, and in 1987 Zalud became the editor of Security Magazine and SDM Magazine. He spent over three decades covering and shaping the security industry. His knowledge of the industry, what he learned from his readers, and the products and services offered by his advertisers all contributed greatly to Bill’s success at Security Magazine.

In 2009, Zalud became the Editor Emeritus working with then-Editor Diane Ritchey. He continued to do research, writing insightful articles, columns and blogs. He wrote the Zalud Report, a popular column about technology and industry trends. The archives of his column are available online at securitymagazine.com

ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR PROTECTION OFFICERS:

Founded in 1988, the International Foundation for Protection Officers is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Naples, Florida. The organization was established to successfully develop a comprehensive training and examination process to professionally certify security officers and security supervisors globally. The IFPO provides numerous distance-delivered and traditional classroom training programs that can result in professional certification if completed successfully. Through advocacy, partnerships, promoting training standards and providing accessible training, education and certification opportunities, the IFPO’s professional certifications have been and are the de facto international standard for all line-level security officers as well as security supervisory personnel since 1988.

To date, the IFPO has credentialed more than 62,000 individuals as Certified Protection Officers and has credentialed another nearly 28,000 individuals as being Certified in Security Supervision and Management. Both certification programs were recently recognized and awarded college credit by a major accredited U.S. University. For more information, contact The International Foundation for Protection Officers at (239) 430-0534 or on the web at www.ifpo.org.

Mission Statement: The International Foundation for Protection Officer is committed to the support and professional development of protection officers. Through advocacy, promoting training standards, and providing accessible training, education and certification opportunities, IFPO seeks to enhance the professional status of protection officers, as well as increase and diversify the value of the vital services these officers provide.

ABOUT Saudi Aramco – Industrial Security Operations Academy:
The Industrial Security Operations Academy is Saudi Aramco’s premier security training organization that provides security training and professional development to security professionals within and outside the Company. With internationally-accredited programs, state-of-the-art training facilities, and highly skilled instructors, we offer the best security training experience in the region. For more information on operations, and to inquire about training courses, please contact Saudi Aramco – Industrial Security Operations Academy at G-ISO-ACADEMY@Exchange.Aramco.com.sa