The graduates of the program spent their time in the classroom and in visiting area
emergency operations centers, exchanging insights with local and national law enforcement
leaders and first responders.Emergency operators, whether in Saudi Arabia or Sarasota, face the same challenges in the job: They must keep their cool, work as a team and rely on their training in the midst of chaos when lives are on the line.
That鈥檚 why a group of 15 Saudi Aramco emergency operations personnel spent part of December receiving training at USF Sarasota-Manatee in the second year of an effort to build world-class skills among emergency operations personnel at the world鈥檚 largest energy company.
The two-week training program brought Saudi Aramco emergency operators to Florida for advanced instruction in emergency management, crisis response and operational readiness in high-risk, high-consequence environments. The program was facilitated by USF鈥檚 Security Training Collaborative, USF鈥檚 Office of Corporate Training and Professional Education, and .
Through classroom lectures, guest speakers and visits to local emergency services providers, the students were led by instructors from the Sarasota Police Department, Sarasota County Fire Department, Manatee County Sheriff鈥檚 Office, representatives from the FBI office in Tampa and campus police. The emergency professionals trained for a wide range of scenarios, ranging from drone attacks and hostage negotiations to more routine emergencies such as fire and injuries.
Abdullah AlShemaly, Director of Security Operations for Saudi Aramco
Luke Bencie, Managing Director of Security Management International
Aramco maintains its own well-equipped emergency response teams and facilities, including fire departments with over 1,500 highly trained, internationally certified first responders and a centralized emergency communication system staffed by specialized operators and dispatchers. The Sarasota ceremony was attended by Abdullah AlShemaly, Director of Security Operations for Saudi Aramco.
"The partnership with Saudi Aramco reflects the university鈥檚 expanding role in global workforce development and professional training." 鈥擩ay Riley
鈥淭his training was a beginning for you, it wasn鈥檛 an end,鈥� said , the global security expert and managing director of Security Management International, USF鈥檚 partner in providing the training. 鈥淭o remain capable, adaptable and reliable, you must keep working. You must keep studying. You must keep drilling. 鈥� Because when the call comes in 鈥� and it will as you all know 鈥� you don鈥檛 have time to hope. You will only have had your training, and your training must be enough.鈥�
In a video message, USF President Rhea Law highlighted USF鈥檚 long-standing relationship with Saudi Arabia, noting dozens of faculty members have engaged in research, business and academic initiatives in Saudi Arabia. USF Network Saudi Arabia鈥檚 membership is thriving with more than 650 alumni and 50 currently enrolled students. At least 30 USF alumni work for Saudi Aramco.
The partnership with Saudi Aramco reflects the university鈥檚 expanding role in global workforce development and professional training, said Jay Riley, who serves as director of business outreach and community engagement in the Office of External Affairs at the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus. Organizers also signaled plans to grow the program, with the goal of offering similar training within Saudi Arabia in the months to come. 鈥淲e're hoping to expand, and not just across the U.S., but across the globe with this training,鈥� Riley said.
Yazeed Alshammari participated in the training and now wants his daughters to attend
University of Sarasota-Manatee when they are ready for college.Graduates received certificates during the ceremony to mark the completion of the program and a special challenge coin from the Sarasota Police Department signifying the unique bond between the Sarasota community and the trainees who found the community welcoming and supportive.
鈥淚t is so important to the Sarasota Police Department, one of our goals, to collaborate with all aspects of the community,鈥� said Sarasota Police Capt. Ken Rainey. 鈥淭hrough USF, you have made this collaboration truly international. It was incredible for us, and we are so honored to be a part of this collaborative effort.鈥�
Yazeed Alshammari of Yanbu, a major port city on the Red Sea coast in western Saudi Arabia, said the time spent in Sarasota training gives the emergency operators new confidence in their skills. The training was the third time Alshammari has visited Florida, and USF Sarasota-Manatee made such an impression on him that he now wants to eventually send his daughters, ages 15 and 11, to school here once they reach college age.
鈥淭he last two weeks have strengthened our understanding of emergency management, enhanced our capabilities, and reminded us of the importance of collaboration,鈥� Alshammari said.