A Remarkable Feat of Survival Off the Carolina Coast

Louis Jordan
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A senior security consultant with Verizon Communications, Emblez Longoria focuses on ensuring that company assets are safeguarded at all times. Passionate about hiking and camping, Emblez Longoria maintains an interest in all aspects of wilderness survival.

One of the most remarkable survival stories of 2015 involved the rescue of Louis Jordan, who set off from Conway, South Carolina, on a routine fishing trip only to capsize at night, amid stormy weather. When he was rescued more than two months later by a German ship, he was still clinging to his upturned vessel, approximately 200 miles off the North Carolina coast.

Mr. Jordan was fortunate in many ways: with his vessel still afloat, he was in a region of the Pacific that receives abundant rain. Collecting rainwater as it fell, he drank about a pint each day. An experienced fisherman, he was able to procure a steady supply of fish. He was also fortunate to be found drifting in relatively warm Gulf Stream-fed waters, a distance out from the colder Carolina coast. Rescuers were surprised to see that Mr. Jordan displayed few signs of malnutrition, sunburn, or dehydration when found.

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Royal Mint Honors 150 Years of Salvation Army History with New Coin

Royal Mint Honors 150 Years of Salvation Army History with New Coin
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A security and law enforcement professional with over 25 years of experience, Emblez Longoria serves as a senior security consultant for Verizon Communications in Basking Ridge, New Jersey. Outside of his professional pursuits, Emblez Longoria works to give back to the community through his support of organizations like The Salvation Army.

In a recent press release, The Salvation Army announced that Great Britain’s Royal Mint is issuing a special commemorative £5 coin in celebration of The Salvation Army’s sesquicentennial anniversary. Designed by Royal Mint designer Laura Clancy, the coin will feature the Army’s well-known shield and laurel wreath logo and will be minted in two metals: cupro-nickel and sterling silver.

Collectors and other interested individuals will soon be able to purchase both forms of the coin on the Royal Mint’s website. The cupro-nickel version will cost £13 and the sterling silver version, which will be released in a limited run of 1,500 coins, will sell for £80. More information about the coin can be found at http://www.thesalvationarmy.org and www.royalmint.com.

ASIS International’s Certified Protection Professional Credential

Certified Protection Professional
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Following a long career with the New Jersey State Police, Emblez Longoria joined Verizon Communications, where he has served as a senior security consultant for over 10 years. An active member of the field, Emblez Longoria holds membership in several organizations and maintains a number of certifications, including the Certified Protection Professional (CPP) credential.

Offered through ASIS International, the CPP designation provides security managers with a way to validate their professional knowledge, experience, and competency. To be eligible for the credential, an individual must have either at least nine years of professional security experience or an undergraduate degree and seven years of related experience. Although one does not have to have managerial or supervisory experience to apply, eligibility guidelines also require that at least three years of the applicant’s career were spent as an authority in charge of a specific security function.

Individuals who meet these requirements can apply to receive approval to take the CPP examination, which consists of 225 multiple-choice questions on a broad range of topics related to security management. Though those who pass the exam receive their CPP designation, recipients must submit qualifying continuing professional education credits every three years in order to maintain the credential.

Three Tips for Reducing the Potential for Security Breaches

Reducing the Potential for Security Breaches
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A Certified Protection Professional (CPP), Emblez Longoria plays a vital role in managing risk as a senior security consultant at Verizon Communications. Emblez Longoria reduces loss by implementing measures that reduce the potential for employee misconduct, acts of sabotage, and security breaches.

Those measures include the following:

1. While experience in the information technology sector is useful, a company should consider establishing relationships with colleges to train the next generation of security experts. Creating internship and training programs for new professionals is an opportunity to groom young employees to handle future responsibilities.

2. In addition to data-loss-prevention technologies, an employer should invest in a system monitoring program that evaluates insider behavior. In doing so, a company can create rules to block content from leaving internal networks.

3. Instead of conducting vulnerability assessments once a quarter, a business should perform them once a week. This alerts management about potential internal and external network breaches, so they can take precautionary measures to reduce the risk sooner.

ASIS International PSP Certification

After retiring from law enforcement, Emblez Longoria joined Verizon Communications as a senior security consultant. He is tasked with safeguarding company assets as well as instilling best practices for improving security measures to reduce loss. Demonstrating his knowledge in risk management and security systems, Emblez Longoria holds a certified protection professional (CPP) certification from ASIS International.

Individuals holding CPP certification dedicate themselves to protecting property, information, and personnel. They have successfully completed the ASIS International examination, which tests comprehension in of all the major security domains. This certification is aimed at individuals seeking competency in security management or for those serving in responsibility in charge rolls. It is one of the most coveted security certifications in the industry.

The examination contains 200 multiple-choice questions as well as 25 questions that have no bearing on a person’s final score. Candidates must register to complete the test at an approved Prometric testing location. At that time, they are given the option to take the exam on a computer or by pencil and paper for a reduced fee.

More details about the CPP certification is available at www.asisonline.org.

Wilderness Survival Tips

A senior security consultant for Verizon Communications, Emblez Longoria is an outdoorsman who enjoys fishing, hiking, and backcountry camping in his spare time. Throughout his adventures, Emblez Longoria has gained a wealth of knowledge in wilderness survival skills.

Outdoorsmen must adapt to their surroundings and possess comprehensive knowledge of survival skills in order to tackle new environments. The following are survival tips to consider when faced with tough conditions and emergency situations.

1. Even with the best preparation, hikers are still susceptible to injuries when exploring the wilderness. Whether suffering a sprained ankle or broken bone, hikers should remain calm by breathing deeply, collect their thoughts, and determine the severity of the issue. If leaving the location is impossible, they should focus on setting up shelter and then plan an escape by building a signal fire. Most importantly, injured hikers must stay focused on accomplishing one task at a time to ensure they do not become overwhelmed with anxiety. This gives them a better chance of surviving.

2. Learning how to identify edible plants can be lifesaving when food is not available. Clovers, for instance, are much like spinach. The three-leaf green can be consumed raw or steamed for nutrients. Likewise, pine tree leaves offer a source of vitamin C, while its pollen is rich in protein. Other consumable wilderness plants include daisies, yucca, and cattail.

3. If lost, hikers can use the moon to place them back in the right direction. A first-quarter moon shines brightly on the side facing west. Conversely, a last-quarter moon illuminates on the east. This method works particularly well when stars are not visible.

How to Turn Ice and Snow into Water

Experienced security professional Emblez Longoria specializes in implementing protective measures for Verizon Communications. He strives to maintain a secure workplace by raising awareness of proper security procedures and coaching key individuals. An avid backpacker, hiker, and hunter, Emblez Longoria spends as much of his spare time as possible outdoors.

Wilderness living often implies an ability to convert ice and snow into water properly. When attempting to melt snow, do not fill the heating pan to the top, as you could burn a hole in the bottom of the pan on account of snow’s insular properties. Instead, heat but a small amount, adding additional small amounts over time. If you are concerned about the possibility of germs in the melted water, boil it for at least 10 minutes.

To melt snow without the benefit of a heat-proof pan, improvise with, for example, a t-shirt to create a porous container. Support this container over the fire with sticks or skis so that it will melt into a collection container.

If you have no heating fuel, look on dark rocks where snow and ice are likely to melt from the heat of the sun. Listen for the sound of running water. Collect the water in bottles during the day, when it is more plentiful, and store them in your sleeping bag to prevent their freezing.

Avoid, if possible, sucking on ice or snow. Doing so lowers your core temperature and increases your risk of hypothermia.

How to Start a Campfire without Matches and Lighters

An expert in business, Emblez Longoria holds a master of science with a concentration in management. In 2004, he joined Verizon Communications as a senior security consultant. Emblez Longoria continues to serve the company today, and he concentrates on deploying enterprise-level solutions to protect company assets. He fills his leisure time with numerous hobbies, including trout fishing and wilderness camping.

Even the most prepared campers sometimes forget necessities such as matches and lighters. Fortunately, a number of other instruments make starting a campfire simple. One method involves a nine-volt battery and steel wool. Hold the steel wool in one hand, and rub the tips of the battery against it with the other until the wool catches fire.

Aside from rubbing two sticks together, a tinderbox presents the most basic method of starting a fire. A tinderbox should include flint, a small slab of steel, several pieces of cloth, and a snarl of twine. Before using the tinderbox, prepare the fire site with kindling and fuel. The easiest way is to place the cloth over the flint and hold it in one hand, lining up the edge of the cloth with the edge of the flint.

Take up the steel and strike the flint’s edge until sparks appear and catch the edge of the cloth. Carefully remove the cloth, place it in the snarl of twine, and blow until the fire grows. Finish by placing the twine in the fire site.

Emblez Longoria: About Trout Fishing Equipment

A corporate security consultant by profession, Emblez Longoria enjoys spending much of his free time outdoors. An avid trout fisherman as well as a backpacker and hiker, he is trusted as an equipment tester and reviewer.

While trout fishing is known as one of the most accessible hobbies of its kind, many beginners experience difficulties caused by poor equipment choices. For example, many anglers choose a line that is too heavy for trout fishing. The preferred are monofilament constructions and weigh no more than four pounds in clear water. The line may weigh up to six pounds if the water is cloudy.

Furthermore, successful trout fishers use hooks that are less obtrusive. Single hooks frequently help the fly look more natural and are more humane. Choosing the best fly is equally important, because the visibility of the fly is altered by the water condition. Unlike the hook, the fly should be easily visible to the fish. Many anglers recommend an orange or yellow fly, particularly if the water is less than clear. In this case, the fly should be at least two inches long, although smaller flies may be more suited to clearer waters.

Emblez Longoria Shares Hunting Tips

The United States offers a wide variety of game for experienced hunters and beginners alike. In Pennsylvania alone, you can hunt squirrel, rabbit, pheasant, turkey, black bear, elk, deer, bobcat, and other animals. While there are hunting tactics specific to each animal, there are a few basic rules to follow. Below are some general tips for novice hunters:

1. Gun Safety
Avoid accidental injury and even death on the hunt by keeping the gun unloaded until you are ready to use it. On that same note, keep the safety mechanism engaged and your finger off the trigger. In addition to those precautions, keep your firearm pointed in a safe direction away from yourself or anyone else in your hunting party at all times.

2. Keep it Legal
This might sound obvious, but remember to have the proper hunting license before heading out. Know exactly where you can be, when you can be there, what you can shoot, and how much you can take out.

3. Smell and Look Neutral
The only way you will bag a kill is if you manage to outsmart your game and stay hidden. Many animals’ senses of smell are much more powerful than a human’s, so be sure you do not eat, smoke, or do anything else that will leave a distinctive, unnatural scent while wearing your hunting gear. More importantly, understand your surroundings, and you will be able to blend into them.

Security expert Emblez Longoria is an avid outdoorsman and hunter in his home state and abroad. He serves as Senior Security Consultant for Verizon Communications, Inc., a position he has held since 2004.