At a regular Board Meeting held Feb. 21, the Brownsville Navigation District Board of Commissioners approved a five-year memorandum of understanding between Sam Houston State University College of Criminal Justice Institute for Homeland Security for education and training services focused on Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP).

CIP includes proactive activities for protecting critical infrastructures such as the people, physical entities, and cyber systems that are necessary for national security, economic stability, and public safety.

As the leading maritime port for the Rio Grande Valley, the Port of Brownsville is a critical infrastructure asset vital in the facilitation of global trade. Activity at the port is responsible for adding more than $2 billion to the regional economy, $3 billion to the Texas economy, and the creation of more than 51,000 jobs statewide.

The training program aims to provide executive level training to protect critical infrastructure with the necessary skills and knowledge to enhance security risk management operations and understand compliance requirements.

“The Port of Brownsville’s commitment to safety and security cannot be overstated. With over 270 companies at the port relying on the integrity of our operations, we strive to meet the highest standards,” said Interim Port Director and CEO William Dietrich. “We are proud to partner with Sam Houston State University College of Criminal Justice Institute for Homeland Security to bring these training opportunities to our community so that we may continue to provide essential security services in a robust business environment without interruption.”