Joe Cooper

Founder and President

 

Joe Cooper is the President of Special Aerospace

Security Services, Inc. (SASSi) and SCIF Constructors,

LLC. He founded SASSi in 1988 after a 13 year career

in industrial security and 6 years as an US Army

Counterintelligence Officer.  His military assignment

included CI and Special Forces in Panama, Security

Officer for the 46th Special Forces Company in SE Asia (during the Vietnam conflict), and as a Defense Investigative Service (DIS) field officer chief in Tampa, Florida.  He left active duty in 1975 but remained in the Army Reserves for another 16 years retiring in 1991 as a Major. 

 

Joe began his industry career as a SSO at Harris Corporation in Melbourne, Florida working his way up to manager of all Special Programs for the company.  He left in 1985 to become the Director of Security for Ultrasystems.  When that company was sold 3 years later, Joe started SASSi.  He now manages SASSi, a professional security training company, and SCIF Constructors, a turn-key SCIF construction company that recently completed their 1,000 SCIF.  He remains an active instructor in 3 of the 18 courses offered by his company.

 

His security affiliations include:

• Charter member of the Industrial Security Working Group (ISWG)

  • Past member of Board of Directors on 2 occasions for ISWG

  • Past Chairman, Physical Security Committee three times

• Active member of NCMS

  • Past President of the Florida Chapter

  • Past Treasurer of the Washington, DC Chapter (2 times)

• Active member of ASIS

• Former Industry Representative for DNI Physical and Technical Expert Security Working Group (PTESWG)

• Former co-chair of the Physical Security Committee NISPOM development team.

 

Joe is an avid pilot, boater, and former skydiver with over 1500 jumps.  He has a BS degree in Psychology from University of Tampa, and a MS in Security Management from Rollins College, Winter Park, FL.