The National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA) is pleased to announce the formation of the NTOA Academy, created in partnership with the International Academy of Public Safety (IAPS). The NTOA Academy, “An Investment in Innovation, Education and the Future,” is an internationally blended and comprehensive educational program designed to prepare today’s tactical officers and policing leaders to succeed in a high-risk, ever-changing professional environment and to effectively meet the challenges of the future.

Scheduled to launch in mid-2016, the NTOA Academy is a dynamic learning experience using online, resident and experience-based tactical learning modules to introduce new concepts, refine the tactical team members’ understanding of application, and then to use those skills to resolve some of the most complex, challenging and high-risk incidents involving their communities. Additionally, the NTOA and IAPS will be working collaboratively with state and regional tactical associations to build 21st Century, state-of-the-art education opportunities leading to national certifications for operators, instructors and command staff personnel. The curriculum will be based on best practices and designed to ensure that graduates are prepared to meet the dynamic challenges of modern policing.

The NTOA is incredibly excited to partner with Dr. Mitch Javidi, CEO of IAPS, on this project. NTOA’s Executive Director Mark Lomax states, “We recognize it is a very challenging task. Yet, we are confident that with Dr. Javidi’s extensive and unique experiences, coupled with the membership of the state and regional associations and the NTOA, the cooperative efforts with IAPS will help guide this mission to success.”

The NTOA prides itself in providing quality training and focused education to the tactical law enforcement community. We are acutely aware of the challenges facing our profession today and sincerely believe that we have a moral obligation to expand our training and educational opportunities to meet the growing demand for contemporary knowledge and skills. The NTOA Academy will provide all law enforcement personnel access to a learning environment designed to ensure they receive the most contemporary information and skills necessary for applying the gained knowledge. It will be the most robust education and certification program available to law enforcement to date. This endeavor is in keeping with the NTOA’s goal of providing an avenue for a continuum of training and education of the highest quality.

“We feel privileged to be a partner in this timely, 21st Century educational undertaking with the NTOA and compliment the association for its shared vision and commitment to international policing,” said Dr. Javidi.