National Security Technician Day 2024: Newcomer Experiences Some Serious Highs
Michael Packard reached the mountaintop–literally–early in his career as a security technician, but there’s much more ahead.
We kicked off our National Security Technician Day Q&A series with a conversation with Justin McCormack, 41, field technician for Midwest region at Security Pros, one of 10 Foundation for Advancing Security Talent (FAST)’s 2023 Security Technicians of the Year.
We’ll continue with a relative newcomer to the industry, Michael Packard, a technician with Stone Security who started his security career just a little more than two years ago. While his experience is short in the sector, he’s had no shortage of memorable experiences.
Let’s learn more about Packard, 31, and his path to Stone Security. We’ll tell more stories about some of the security industry’s unsung heroes before and after FAST celebrates National Security Technician Day on Jan. 23.
What’s one installation that made you particularly proud?
An install that I personally really enjoyed was Pikes Peak. It was an amazing experience just to be able to venture up the mountain, taking in the beautiful scenery on the way up, and after about an hour drive up, getting to the top and feeling like you are on top of the world!
At the top of Pikes Peak is a visitors center and we were tasked with installing a few new cameras. Two were to look at the historic cog railway platform at the top, and the other monitored the facilities parking.
Photo courtesy of Stone Security
The funny thing was, when we were installing the camera on the backside of the building, there was enough of hard-packed snow that we were able to make our own steps in the snow to the camera location so we did not need a ladder, all safely made of course.
We were also carefully supervised by a small group of mountain sheep.
The two cameras inside the visitors center are located about 40 feet high. We had to use a scissor lift inside just to pull the cable above the wood-slat ceiling. Getting the scissor lift inside was a task of its own not to mention using large plywood sheets to protect the flooring from from weight of the lift.
Fun fact: after we were done with the plywood, the Pikes Peak facilities personnel used it to cut out Bigfoot silhouettes and placed them along the Pikes Peak highway!
How did you get into the security industry? What’s your favorite part of being a security technician?
I started with Stone Security in November of 2021. Before that, I was an auto body technician for about eight years. Even though I’m new to the industry, I absolutely love it because every day is different. Sure, it might be the same as far as pulling cable, installing access control devices or cameras, but each site has its own unique challenges.
At the end of the day, you feel a sense of accomplishment when everything works and comes together the way the customer and our company envisioned it.
If you know a security technician who deserves to be recognized for their work before or after FAST’s National Security Technician Day celebration, please contact web editor Craig MacCormack at [email protected].
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About the Author
D. Craig MacCormack, Web Editor
Craig MacCormack is a veteran journalist who joined Security Sales & Integration in June 2023 as web editor. He covered AV, IT and security with SSI's sister publication, Commercial Integrator, from January 2011 to June 2021.
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