Joseph P. Koontz Petitions Board To Recognize Information Assurance Engineering As A Separate Discipline In Texas

At the request of a petition made by Joseph P. Koontz, CISSP, PMP, Texas’ Board of Professional Engineers agreed to send to the licensing committee a proposal for accepting Information Assurance Engineering as a separate discipline. Presently, anyone, regardless of education or experience, can be certified on any forensic software application and begin advertising themselves as digital forensic examiners or information assurance consultants, without consequence should their actions harm the personal, financial or security of the citizens of the State.

Mr. Koontz recognized the need for a higher level of professionalism in these fields, because less experienced individuals can be quite dangerous, especially in criminal proceedings and the investigation of computer crimes. At last week’s board meeting, Mr. Koontz petitioned the Board of Professional Engineers to consider these concerns. The board recognized the need for licensure in the areas of information assurance and the topic was sent to the licensing committee. We should have the committee’s recommendation by the next board meeting, in October.

If the licensing committee recommends to the full board that Information Assurance Engineering be classified as a separate discipline, Texas will require anyone who practices information assurance to be licensed as a Professional Engineer, (PE) (IAE). This will raise the level of competency in the industry and practice of Information Assurance Engineering. As a licensed discipline, all individuals and entities requiring services related to Information Assurance will receive greater protection from unscrupulous or inexperienced individuals offering such services.

Mr. Koontz is Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of Houston-based Forensic & Security Services Inc. Forensic & Security Services, founded in 2005, is an international security and computer crime investigation company that works with government and private industry organizations in the area of Information Assurance Engineering and computer crime investigation. Mr. Koontz has a long history in the field of engineering and has developed innovative and cost-effective proprietary processes in the areas of computer forensics, network security, cryptography, data security and information assurance practices.

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Carolyn Vines-Garrison

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Forensic & Security Services, Inc.

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