Building Better Security Professionals

President Bush wants better training for civil servants in national security positions. Yesterday, he issued an executive order requiring the development of a "National Strategy for the Development of Security Professionals" within 60 days. That strategy, Bush said, "shall set forth a framework that will provide to security professionals access to integrated education, training, and professional experience opportunities for the purpose of enhancing their mission-related knowledge, skills, and experience and thereby improve their capability to safeguard the security of the nation." After the strategy is approved, a steering committee headed by Office of Personnel Management Director Linda Springer and including the heads of several Cabinet departments and independent agencies is supposed to implement the plan.