Hiram Libby's ePortfolio

At the bottom of this page is a link to my Reflection Essay.  It provides a glimpse into my journey through this master's program.  The program was informative, enriching, and enlightening.  There were many moments of learning along the way, and I have had the pleasure of working with very high-caliber classmates and the privilege of learning from top-notch instructors.  The classes and the material were engaging and challenging.  It was worthwhile, from start to finish.  

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The reflection essay describes my reflections on my participation in the master's program, but the coursework specific to the master's program is only part of the story.  For me, the immediate lead up to the master's program was the earning of a bachelor's degree in strategic security and protection management.  That, itself, was the outgrowth of my completion of several Henley-Putnam certificate programs in strategic security, intelligence management, and terrorism/counterterrorism.  The certificate programs were an excellent starting point.  These certificate programs allowed for progressive achievement and ongoing engagement.  Each certificate provided its own sense of achievement and accomplishment and, in many cases, naturally led to or built upon other certificates.  

 

As I make this particular reflection on the certificate program, I think this may have been the most valuable part of my Henley-Putnam journey; the certificates kept me engaged while I was learning material from disciplines that were related, and upon completion of the certificates, I was so far along on my way to a bachelor's degree that the transition to the bachelor's program felt natural.  For anyone who would inquire whether they were part time or full time working or a student or any combination thereof, it would be my strong recommendation that they pursue certificate programs as part of their education.

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Even before my enrollment in Henley-Putnam and National American University, I had completed other coursework that gave context to my Henley-Putnam coursework.  Several years prior, I had earned my associate's degree in administration of justice from Evergreen Valley College.  That coursework, which included the completion of a full police academy, provided a foundation upon which to build, and to this day, I continue to see the coursework at Henley-Putnam through the lens of public safety.  Much of my work at Henley-Putnam likely reflects that, and I invite readers of my papers to view the work through that prism.  

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Concurrent to my participation in the Henley-Putnam programs, I have also engaged in other related learning.  I have earned several certificates and credentials along the way.  There have been many outside training courses that I have pursued.  Among those, Armour College, a vocational school directed at public safety disciplines stands out as a place that has provided a good companion learning program for me.  The earning of Armour College certificates in areas such as active shooter response and church security have provided opportunities to showcase Henley-Putnam-related knowledge and apply lessons learned.  Of specific importance in my pursuit of Armour College certificates were the earning of my Combined Certified Protection Specialist 1 and 2 program and my Certified Asset Protection Program training.  The programs' focus on vocational material was a good complement to some of the Henley-Putnam material, which has what I perceive as a more academic focus.  Though challenging at times to manage coursework at both schools simultaneously, I am glad to have done it, and I would encourage others to take a similar path.

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Shaping all of this, throughout the entire journey, and even before the journey began, my ongoing professional experience in the private security field has been formative of my view on the coursework, the body of knowledge with which I have become familiar, and my application thereof.  All along, but especially as I have move through the coursework in my bachelor's and master's program, I have increasingly sought means by which to apply what I have learned.  Some of the projects in the Henley-Putnam coursework have availed me of the opportunity to examine where and how security programs have performed in the past, successfully and unsuccessfully, and that, alone, has been educational.  Other projects in my Henley-Putnam coursework have provided the opportunity to design such programs or make recommendations to modify or amend such programs; this has been highly beneficial, and it is one of the aspects of the Henley-Putnam coursework that I would highlight to any prospective Henley-Putnam students.

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I am also reflecting on what the future holds.  Two important aspects of this come to mind for me.  The first is the matter of where my continued path as a lifelong learner will lead me next.  The second is the matter of how I might refine my application of learned material to my professional life.  In terms of the former, I am exploring learning paths that would keep me engaged and perhaps earn some additional credentials.  Toward this end, I am seeking additional certificate programs wherever they can be found to evaluate them against the backdrop of my profession.  The other matter involves applying my learning to future professional endeavors.  I intend to use the knowledge gained in my education at Henley-Putnam  to inform the professional development of myself and my employees.  I also intend to use it to better my performance and the quality of work that my company provides.  In this area, although it might sound cliché to say that "the sky is the limit", that sentiment rings true for me, and I see myself continuing to pursue this avenue of constant refinement indefinitely.

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My reflection here would be incomplete if I did not include heartfelt gratitude to those around me who helped me get here.  My classmates have been excellent sources of feedback and collaboration; I have truly enjoyed our exchange of ideas, and I hope to continue contact to incorporate their ongoing input and advice.  Outside of school, many of my friends come from the professional realm of public safety and security; I have sought their advice and input on various subjects, and they have served as a de facto "wisdom council" for me at times, helping direct my research and conceptual processes, and I am thankful for their input.  It would be hard to overstate the contributions that my professors made to my academic journey.  I have been absolutely honored to have been the student of outstanding professors from whom I have learned much; these professors encouraged me to go beyond the coursework and to explore the relevant matters, issues and concepts more thoroughly on my own, even making recommendations on sources by which I could accomplish that.  It has been a privilege to be their student.  Finally, as I reflect on how my family has been supportive, I am having an uncharacteristic loss for words that would describe my reflections on this.  My wife and daughter have supported me along the way, picked up the slack when I was engaged in coursework that was often daunting, even overwhelming, and showed patience and understanding as I have made this pursuit.  I am truly grateful to them, and I know I could not have done this without their assistance.

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The future holds so much potential.  I am greatly looking forward to applying what I have learned and seeking to add to it to make the best contribution to the world that I can.  

Hiram "Guy" Libby