10 Types of Homeland Security Careers Worth Considering

02/21/2024

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) works to improve and strengthen national security through a range of different efforts. It was established when more than 20 distinct federal agencies integrated into one unified department — agencies related to customs, border patrol, immigration enforcement, antiterrorism, cybersecurity, emergency disaster relief and more.

Each department plays an integral role contributing to the vital mission of the DHS: to secure the nation from the many threats it faces.

With so many critical agencies and departments operating under the DHS umbrella, there are multiple unique career paths you could pursue. If you’re passionate about the prospect of using your knowledge and skills to aid in national security efforts, you might consider one of the following homeland security careers.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection building exterior

10 Types of Homeland Security Jobs

Each department within the DHS offers up its own variety of possible career paths. Employees of Homeland Security help accomplish an assortment of important tasks, such as securing national borders, airports, seaports and waterways; researching and developing the latest security technologies; responding to natural disasters or terrorist assaults; and analyzing intelligence reports.

Among the 22 distinct sectors of the DHS, many of the most common homeland security careers fall into these ten component agencies:

1. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) leads strategic efforts to strengthen the security and resilience of the nation’s cyber ecosystem. Employees within this sector of the DHS work to detect and mitigate any evolving threats to our critical infrastructure.

There are a handful of different career opportunities within the CISA:

Cybersecurity/IT jobs, such as cyber instructional curriculum developers, cyber policy and strategy planners, and IT program auditors.
Emergency communications jobs, such as telecommunications managers and specialists, program analysts, telecommunications project managers, and electrical engineers.
Infrastructure security jobs, such as chemical security inspectors, chemical engineers, facility operations specialists, critical infrastructure specialists, and business support coordinators.
National risk management jobs, such as security and risk analysts, as well as specialists in supply chain security, election security and 5G.

There are also CISA career opportunities related to stakeholder engagement, integrated operations and mission support.

Image of a public affairs specialist being interviewed on camera in front of several flags

Learn more about certificate and degree programs related to these jobs:

2. Citizenship and Immigration Services

As the federal agency that administers immigration benefits for the country, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) aims to help uphold America’s promise as a nation of welcome and possibility with fairness, integrity and respect for all it serves.

By assisting people around the globe who seek to immigrate to the U.S. in hopes of gaining family connection, humanitarian protection, and/or employment and business opportunities, the daily work of USCIS employees impacts millions of lives.

Consider the following career paths within USCIS:

Analysis jobs, such as immigration services analysts, operations research analysts and statisticians.
Financial, contracting and accounting jobs, such as accountants, business operations specialists, contract specialists, economists and financial program/cost analysts.
Fraud detection, intelligence and security jobs, such as immigration analysts, immigration officers, intelligence research specialists, investigative specialists and security specialists.
Immigration benefits jobs, such as adjudications officers, appeals officers, asylum officers, refugee officers and congressional liaison specialists.
Legal jobs, such as general attorneys, government information specialists, FOIA/PA assistants and paralegal specialists.

There are additional USCIS career opportunities for IT specialists, human resources professionals, and program and project managers.

Learn more about certificate and degree programs related to these jobs:

3. Customs and Border Protection

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency is one of the world’s largest law enforcement organizations. It operates with the goal of facilitating lawful international travel and trade, while focusing on counter terrorism and transnational crime.

CBP takes a comprehensive approach to border management and control, combining customs, immigration, border security and agricultural protection into one coordinated effort. The organization is made up of multiple different departments, each of which offers its own suite of career possibilities:

Air and Marine Operations agents safeguard the country and our communities from terrorist attacks and unlawful movement of drugs, contraband and people. Specific job roles include pilots, mariners and surveillance operators.
U.S. Border Patrol agents work to reduce the likelihood that dangerous people and capabilities reach the U.S. through the ports of entry.
Office of Field Operations agents secure the border and prevent drug smuggling while enforcing immigration laws, protecting agriculture and ensuring trade compliance.
Office of Trade professionals help facilitate legitimate trade and enforce U.S. laws to protect the American economy, as well as consumer health. Specific job roles include attorney advisors, auditors and economists.
Office of Professional Responsibility professionals assist in investigating allegations of employee misconduct and criminal activity with the goal of maintaining public trust and accountability of the CBP workforce. Specific job roles include criminal investigators, investigative analysts and mission support specialists.

There are also a number of behind-the-scenes CBP career opportunities for IT specialists, budget analysts, engineers, international relations specialists and more.

Learn more about certificate and degree programs related to these jobs:

4. Emergency Management Agency

Employees in the Emergency Management sector of the DHS comprise a team of leaders who support people and communities by providing critical assistance before, during and after disasters. These dedicated emergency management professionals work collaboratively to share experiences and resources to better equip the U.S. to respond to and recover from the nation’s greatest moments of crisis.

There are fifteen different sectors of federal emergency management work, with a range of distinct career possibilities in each. Those departments include:

Transportation
Communications
Public works and engineering
Firefighting
Information and planning
Mass care (emergency assistance, temporary housing, and human services)
Logistics
Public health and medical services
Search and rescue
Oil and hazardous material response
Agriculture and natural resources
Energy
Public safety and security
Cross-sector business and infrastructure
External affairs

Because of the range of responsibilities covered by this sector of the DHS, the expertise maintained by emergency management professionals is vast. Individuals may work in collaboration with professionals in other fields to help support the country’s critical infrastructure and protect key resources. For that reason, those in emergency management may be trained in the following areas:

Critical manufacturing
Dams
Defense industrial base
Energy
Financial services
Food and agriculture
Health care and public health
Information technology
Nuclear reactors, materials and waste
Transportation systems
Water and wastewater systems

In addition to permanent full-time positions, there are many emergency management roles open to contractors, with both public and private sector opportunities.

Learn more about certificate and degree programs related to these jobs:

5. Federal Law Enforcement Training Center

The core purpose of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC) is to prepare the community agents and officers who are charged with safeguarding America’s people, property and institutions. The organization provides career-long training to law enforcement professionals so that they’re able to fulfill their federal responsibilities safely and proficiently.

The FLETC is committed to a collaborative, comprehensive and responsible approach to administering this critical training. As such, there is an assortment of instructor roles throughout the department in specialty areas like:

Behavioral Sciences
Computer and Financial Investigations
Counter Terrorism
Driver Training
Enforcement Operations
Firearms
Forensics and Investigative Technologies
Legal
Marine Training
Physical Techniques

Additionally, the FLETC seeks out skilled professionals to fill specialist roles in training admissions, contract compliance and human resources.

Learn more about degree programs related to these jobs:

6. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

Those who work for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) commit to the mission of protecting America from cross-border crime and illegal immigration in an effort to preserve national security and public safety. The agency focuses on legal, safe immigration enforcement, terrorism prevention and combating transnational criminal threats.

There are numerous career opportunities for law enforcement agents within ICE, but you can also consider the following opportunities:

Enforcement and Removal Operations jobs, such as deportation officers, detention officers and ICE Health Service Corps professionals.
Homeland Security Investigations jobs, such as criminal analysts, criminal investigators, seized property specialists and technical enforcement officers.
Management and Administration jobs, such as management and program analysts and mission support specialists.
Office of the Principal Legal Advisor jobs, such as attorneys, legal assistants and mail and file clerks.
Office of Professional Responsibility jobs, such as inspections and compliance specialists.

ICE also employs professionals in management and administrative positions, including mission support specialists and program analysts.

Learn more about certificate and degree programs related to these jobs:

Undergraduate Certificate in Emergency Management

7. Transportation Security Administration

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was created to protect the nation’s transportation systems, ensuring freedom of movement for people and commerce. The agency originated as a response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks in an effort to prevent similar threats from impacting America in the future.

Transportation security officers (TSOs) serve as the backbone of the TSA, representing the public face of the agency to millions of travelers daily. These officials are responsible for providing security and protection to travelers across all transportation sectors in a manner that is both courteous and professional. Additionally, TSOs may be tasked with securing high-profile events, important figures and/or anything that includes or impacts U.S. transportation systems.

There are also career opportunities within the TSA related to mission support and Federal Air Marshal services.

Learn more about certificate and degree programs related to these jobs:

8. U.S. Coast Guard

Most people are familiar with the U.S. Coast Guard as being one of America’s six armed forces; however, they may not know that it is the only branch that operates within the DHS. From search and rescue to law enforcement and coastal defense, Coast Guard missions are vital to national security and global humanitarian initiatives.

There are multiple career paths within this branch of the DHS, including the following:

Enlisted members gain experience in hands-on focus areas like aviation maintenance, cyber missions, maritime enforcement and marine science.
Officers fill leadership roles in areas like aviation, afloat operations, response, prevention and cyber operations.
Reservists train to activate for the Coast Guard’s most pressing needs while still pursuing their own goals in civilian life.

There are also a number of civilian careers that support the U.S. Coast Guard, including professional occupations like accounting, law and civil engineering. Additional administrative opportunities include roles like intelligence analysts, criminal investigators and security specialists. And there is a range of trade positions, such as aircraft mechanics, electricians, welders and materials handlers.

Learn more about certificate and degree programs related to these jobs:

9. U.S. Secret Service

The U.S. Secret Service operates with an integrated mission of protection and financial investigations to ensure the safety and security of its protectees, key locations and events of national significance. Additionally, the agency works to safeguard the integrity of the nation’s currency and investigate crimes against the U.S. financial system.

The organization is comprised of the following types of officials:

Special agents focus on protecting top U.S. and visiting foreign officials, while also investigating financial crimes.
Uniformed division officers protect facilities and venues secured for Secret Service protectees.
Technical law enforcement agents support special agents and uniformed division officers in their duties.
Civil service professionals support the overall protective and investigative missions, with roles like criminal research specialists, attorney advisors, financial management analysts and public affairs specialists.

Learn more about certificate and degree programs related to these jobs:

10. Federal Protective Service

As an organization, the Federal Protective Service (FPS) works to ensure safe and secure environments for federal workers in approximately 9,500 facilities nationwide. The agency is the premier provider of security and law enforcement services at U.S. government facilities, playing an important role in the protection of the nation’s critical infrastructure.

Federal Protective Service inspectors maintain a range of duties to accomplish this goal. They conduct security assessments and design security countermeasures to mitigate risks at federal facilities, and they provide visible law enforcement presence at such locations — at times overseeing contract security teams.

FPS inspectors may also lead special operations, such as explosive detection k-9 initiatives. And they are, at times, involved with criminal investigations regarding threats to federal employees.

With a presence in every state and territory, FPS professionals make it their mission to prevent, protect, respond to and recover from acts of terrorism and other hazards threatening the federal government’s essential services.

Learn more about certificate and degree programs related to these jobs:

Pursue Your Ideal Homeland Security Career

There are numerous homeland security careers you could pursue within the Department, and each operates according to the same overarching mission: to preserve the safety and prosperity of America and its people. If you can envision yourself dedicating your career to this pursuit, you might thrive in one of the many DHS careers listed above.

There is a wide variety of certificate and degree paths you could pursue in your quest to become qualified for one of these jobs. But if you’re unsure of the particular sector of homeland security in which you’d like to work, you can begin to build the foundation of knowledge and skills you’ll need by studying security and strategic intelligence.

At Saint Louis University (SLU), students study trends in intelligence-gathering surrounding critical topics like terrorism, homeland security and cybercrime while learning the industry best practices and critical thinking skills needed to be effective.

Learn more about the possibilities by visiting one of SLU’s dynamic program offerings:

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