NCS⁴ NEWS June 24, 2025

We look forward to seeing everyone in San Antonio!

The 2025 conference theme, Setting the Standard, focuses on defining and implementing the highest levels of safety and security practices for sports and special events. This year's conference seeks to inspire a proactive approach to advancing safety and security programs through the convergence of people, processes, and technology. Attendees will explore how to create a culture of safety, build trust with stakeholders, and respond effectively to emerging threats, all while striving to set a new standard for excellence in safety and security.

Conference Agenda Highlights

Join us at this year's conference to be a part of this groundbreaking session led by Jim Ammons, Director of Insider Threat, NFL Security Department.

During this session, Bill Squires, Chief Venues and Operations Officer, FIFA Men’s World Cup 2026 NY/NJ Host Committee, will cover working with stakeholders to plan and execute an event that will have attendees visiting from all across the world, safely.

This session will include brief presentations from NCS⁴ Research Affiliates on topics affecting the sport security community. The goal is to discuss industry trends, issues, and solutions while bridging the gap between academia and the profession of sport and special event safety and security.

This workshop, led by John Sullivan, will provide an overview of drone (small Uncrewed Aerial Systems or sUAS) threats to stadiums and public venues. It will recount the results of three papers that reviewed threat potentials through the lens of a 2021 Astroworld event as a proxy for an actual attack or incursion.

2025 AWARD RECIPIENTS

2025 Emerging industry leader recipients

Eight professionals will be recognized for their leadership in addressing safety and security issues during this year's conference. The Emerging Industry Leader Award recognizes a young professional who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in addressing safety and security issues. In addition to the enhanced safety and security of their venue/event, the recipient’s contributions have set an example for others to follow.

2025 professional of the year recipients

A total of nine professionals will be recognized for their leadership in addressing safety and security issues. The Professional of the Year Award recognizes a member of management in the field who has, over the past year, demonstrated outstanding leadership in addressing safety and security issues. In addition to the enhanced safety of their venue/event, the recipient’s contributions have set an example for others to follow. This award is sponsored by Prevent Advisors, a risk management advisory and implementation service, providing holistic security solutions focused on safekeeping the entire sports, live entertainment, and dynamic public assembly facility ecosystem.

mark camillo

2025 lifetime achievement award recipient

Mark Camillo will be recognized with the Lifetime Achievement Award. The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes the long-term accomplishments and contributions of an individual who has earned the respect and admiration of professional colleagues in the sports safety and security community. The award was developed to commemorate exemplary talents and contributions as demonstrated by the nominee’s dedication, loyalty, ability, and integrity. The award is sponsored by Meridian Rapid Defense Group, LLC - Vehicle Barriers, which provides SAFETY Act Certified barriers for major sporting events across the U.S.

Thank you to our Sponsors and Exhibitors

Summer 2025 Issue of GAMEDAY SECURITY Magazine Released

This issue covers the online harassment of athletes as more people participate in legalized sports betting, the potential return on investment for venue operators applying for DHS SAFETY Act designation and certification status, and the success of a recently implemented biometric credentialing system at all NFL venues. We also highlight the tremendous impact the NCS⁴ continues to have on the industry.

NCS⁴ Staff Published in Global Sports Business Journal: Professional Sport Venue Threats, Security Measures, and Technological Solutions

Several incidents involving large crowds have led venue security directors to adopt preventive strategies. Venue organizers should foster a safe and secure environment, which requires assessing risk levels, recruiting and training staff, exercising plans and protocols, and leveraging technology solutions. The purpose of this study is to explore professional sport venue threats, security measures, and technology utilization. Security directors (n=52) from five major sports leagues in the United States (MLB, MLS, NBA, NFL, and NHL) participated in the study. Key findings focus on staffing, training and development, fan behavior, and facility operations.

The Global Crowd Management Alliance Publishes "Words Matter: The Language of Crowds"

An open resource for professionals, public bodies, and the media in using accurate, responsible language when discussing crowd dynamics and incidents. This free to download guide provides:

• Definitions of terms such as crowd crush, surge, collapse, and Showstop: a planned intervention to prevent harm, reflecting the principle that no show is worth a life
• Distinguishes clearly between crowd management and crowd control
• Explains how terms like "panic" and "stampede" can be misleading and suggests words to use instead

NCS⁴ LEARN Course Highlight

frontline staff foundational skills

This course introduces frontline staff members to the skills necessary for providing guests with a safe and enjoyable experience.

To learn more about eLearning opportunities, visit NCS⁴ LEARN or contact us at NCS4Learn@usm.edu.

NCS⁴ eLearning Options

The NCS⁴ eLearning platform, NCS⁴ LEARN, provides opportunities for individuals and organizations to access asynchronous professional development opportunities. Current offerings include the following:

• Frontline Staff Foundational Skills
• Crowd Manager Fundamentals
• Venue Staff Training: Security Awareness
• Senior Leader Course: Sports and Entertainment Security

Please visit the website or contact us at NCS4Learn@usm.edu if you have any questions or would like to inquire about bulk registration.

Click one of the links above or the button below for details or to register.

Fundamentals of Crowd Safety Course

NCS⁴ and GKStill International have partnered to jointly offer the Fundamentals of Crowd Safety online eLearning course to address capability gaps in crowd behavior and sciences. Professor Dr. G. Keith Still, Visiting Professor of Crowd Science at the University of Suffolk, developed this certified, accredited course. The course offers an 8-hour online interactive experience designed to teach the essential elements of crowd safety and crowd risk analysis. The course is especially valuable to event organizers, as it ensures that those who complete it are compliant with the NFPA 101 - Life Safety Code — specifically, the areas of section 12 of the code that require a venue to provide a crowd manager trained in crowd management techniques for occupancies exceeding 1,000.