Another Successful GovSec West is in the Books
GovSec West, CPM East and the Education Security Conference wrapped up Thursday at the Gaylord Texan resort in Dallas.
The expo during the event also featured more than 40 companies from across the country who exhibited the latest and greatest technology for security professionals.
Education breakout sessions during the conference focused on timely topics including battling cybercrime, crisis management, and border security.
Two keynotes also highlighted the events. On Tuesday, Air Force Colonel Alan R. Berry, commander of the 624th Operations Center discussed cyberwarfare and how to create digital warriors for the next generation.
Former Dallas Cowboy great Daryl “Moose” Johnston addressed conference attendees on Wednesday.
Johnston, currently an NFL color analyst for Fox Sports, gave the enamored crowd his thoughts on leadership and teamwork.
According to Johnston, compared to the security profession, the game of football is easy. Addressing the GovSec audience, he said, “I can only imagine the challenges you have, with all the different parts in your industry. For us, it was easy; we knew our goal was to win a championship. . . . A football team has three parts to deal with: the offense, the defense and special teams. Your group has many more parts. In football, all the time, you have 11 guys passing each other, going on or coming off the field. If it’s the offense coming off, we didn’t get it done, and as we pass the guys coming on we’re essentially telling them that, saying, ‘We are trusting you; we are turning the game over to you.’ It’s about being accountable to everyone on your team.”
Prior to Johnston’s speech, Security Products Editor-in-Chief Ralph Jensen announced GovSec had chosen to support a grassroots initiative called the Boot Campaign, and he introduced former Navy Seal Andrew Paul to tell those in the audience what the initiative is all about.
“Serving in the military goes to the heart of our country,” Paul said, after asking for a show of hands of anyone who was related to or knew of a current or former member of the service and then observing that every arm in the room was raised. “Part of the Navy Seal ethos is knowing that brave men have fought and died and not forgetting it. . . . I’m committed to helping my brothers returning from active duty, and the boot campaign leads the way in getting that done.”
With the slogan, “Wear the boots, support the troops,” the campaign is conceived as an easy and tangible way for people to show appreciation for past and present military members and to cultivate an awareness of the challenges they face upon returning from duty. Funds raised through selling combat boots are given to military programs designed to meet the physical and emotional needs service members face.
On the campaign’s website, the five Texas women who started the initiative say, “Flags and ribbons decorate houses and cars, but boots go where you go and tell the story of thankful Americans wearing their gratitude for the guardians of our freedom.” For more information, visit www.bootcampaign.com.
The event will return to the resort in November 2013. The Washington, D.C. edition of GovSec, featuring the TREXPO, will be held from May 13-15, 2013 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. For more information about that conference, visit govsecinfo.com.