Watch Commander

Overview

Join Chenega & NASA as a Watch Commander at NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View, CA, leading security operations, emergency response, and personnel supervision in support of one of NASA’s premier research facilities. This leadership role serves as the senior on-duty security representative, ensuring site safety, regulatory compliance, and mission readiness.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate all security operations, including emergency response, mobile patrols, access control, inspections, crowd management, and contingency post activities.
• Supervise, schedule, and manage security personnel, ensuring adequate staffing, qualifications, and operational readiness for routine and special events.
• Serve as the senior on-duty security representative during non-duty hours and act as Incident Commander during security-related emergencies when required.
• Monitor security communications and deploy resources effectively in response to incidents, threats, or operational needs.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, local, NASA, contract, union, and company policies, procedures, and regulations.
• Review security reports, coordinate shift turnover communications, and maintain situational awareness of all site operations and security activities.
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Must be at least 21 years of age with a high school diploma or equivalent.
• Minimum of six (6) years of law enforcement supervisory experience or two (2) years as a NASA Security Police Officer (SPO).
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license and be able to obtain and maintain NASA Federal Arrest Authority (FAA) certification.
• Must successfully complete required NASA, POST, ICS/NIMS, and First Aid/CPR (or BLS) certifications and training requirements.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret Clearance, pass background investigations, drug screening, psychological evaluations, and meet all NASA physical qualification standards.
• Successfully pass background and drug screening

Preferred Qualifications:

• Associate’s degree in a related field.
• Honorably discharged military veteran (if applicable).
• Experience with the Federal Law Enforcement Training Accreditation (FLETA) process.

Estimated Salary/Wage