By John Robert Morton, Student and Alumni Affairs Liaison, and Michael Harting, APU Graduate
Campus security and emergency preparedness remain important priorities for students, parents, faculty, staff and school administrators. Behind the effort to create safer educational environments are emergency management and safety professionals who work every day to prepare communities for the unexpected.
Michael Harting, a graduate of American Public University part of American Public University System (“APU”), has dedicated his career to protecting the communities he serves. From his time in the U.S. Marine Corps to more than three decades working in school safety and emergency management, Michael has built a career centered on one goal: keeping people safe.
Gaining a Foothold in the Emergency Preparedness Field
Michael has been a volunteer firefighter since 1986. However, he did not initially expect emergency management to become his primary career focus.
After graduating from high school in Rockville, Maryland, Michael joined the U.S. Marine Corps. He served four years on active duty and then spent another eight years in the Marine Corps Reserve while working in security for his local school system.
Working for his local school system introduced Michael to the field of school security and emergency preparedness. It also gave him an opportunity to help protect students, faculty, and staff as they pursued their educational goals, and it also helped shape the direction of his own career.
Seeking a Degree
Although he did not initially envision college as part of his career path, that changed in his early 20s.
“I realized if I didn’t want to drive around all night patrolling the county schools looking for bad guys, I needed to do something to better myself. The classes were online, and I realized I really loved to learn,” Michael says.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in fire science from the University of Maryland University College (UMUC), now known as the University of Maryland Global Campus. With his education complementing his professional experience, Michael began preparing for a career focused on emergency and safety management.
As he looked for opportunities to continue his education, he discovered American Public University’s academic programs. “In the APU graduate catalog, I found a master’s program in criminal justice which also offered me the chance to take emergency and disaster management courses. And I thought, ‘That’s exactly what I want to do!’”
Michael enrolled in APU and earned his master’s degree in criminal justice in 2025.
Maintaining a Work-Life Balance
Michael credits his experience with American Public University as an important part of his continued professional development. He says, “My experience was outstanding: great professors, good student population to work with, and all around a good experience.”
The online format of APU was particularly helpful as Michael balanced his online education with the demands of his career and family life. “The classes were online, and I realized I really loved learning. Plus, the online environment allowed me to log in to my courses after midnight when I got off work, so I could complete some schoolwork.”
Seeking Another Position in Emergency Preparedness and Management
Michael spent 32 years working in security for Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS). He’s been an Electronic Detection Section Supervisor, a supervisor for the MCPS Department of Systemwide Safety and Emergency Management, and a Cluster Security Coordinator. He retired from MCPS in 2022.
Retirement, however, did not mark the end of Michael’s commitment to emergency management. He began looking for another opportunity to put his experience to work.
“I went looking for a career in emergency management and found an opening as the Emergency Management and Outreach Coordinator at Montgomery College, a local community college. It was a brand-new position for them, and I have been able to grow in it over the last three years.”
“While working in school security, I learned a lot about active shooter response protocols, bomb threats, severe weather responses, evacuations, and everything else related to school safety. So, I decided to pursue my passion.”
Advice to Future Emergency Management Professionals
Michael has some advice for the next generation of emergency management professionals.
“Know the field. Know what jobs are out there in the market. Don’t just look for jobs as an emergency manager,” he advises. “There are a lot of other similar job titles, but if you only search for emergency manager, you might be missing out on a lot of opportunities.”
He also encourages aspiring professionals to use the resources available to them. “Use your resources. Talk to friends and family. Stop by the local fire department, a business office or a government agency that have their own emergency managers. Most Fortune 500 companies do. We love to talk about our job.”
Research is equally important, Michael adds. “Research, research, and research. Check social media groups, including LinkedIn®, to see what people are saying about the job and current trends.”
Finally, he recommends taking advantage of free professional development opportunities to build knowledge and strengthen a resume. “Take as many free courses as you can to build your resume. FEMA is great for this. Start with classes on Incident Command, then work your way up to more in-depth ones.”
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About the Author
John Robert Morton is a Student & Alumni Affairs Liaison and has been with the University for 17 years. His bachelor’s degree in European history is from Troy University in Troy, Alabama. He also completed master’s degrees in political science and sports management from American Military University. As a liaison, John Robert enjoys helping students and alumni achieve their personal and professional goals.
About Our Department
The AMU and APU Alumni Affairs Office is dedicated to sustaining lifelong relationships with university alumni by providing engaging opportunities to stay involved and connected. We work closely with various stakeholders to strengthen the alumni experience and offer numerous benefits, services, activities, and events throughout the year.
As a team, the Alumni Affairs team works to build and sustain relationships with alumni along their personal and professional journeys. We actively look for ways to recognize and showcase alumni, telling their stories to motivate and encourage students to pursue their goals.
If you are an alumni community member and looking for ways to remain actively involved, please get in touch with alumni@apus.edu and speak with a team member.
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