In the summer of 2004, a group of BIA employees would often gather during breaks, sharing a common concern: “Someone” should do more for the Tribes. More training, more guidance, and more support were needed to help Tribal communities implement the Indian Child Protection regulations—a critical, yet often overlooked, area impacting the well-being of Native communities.
Those conversations, born from a shared sense of responsibility, eventually inspired one of us to take a leap of faith. I resigned from my position as a Security Specialist with the BIA and founded a small training company with a mission to provide the very support we had all agreed was needed. Personnel Security Consultants, Inc. (PSC) was established September 4, 2004.
Now, as PSC marks twenty years in business, it’s incredible to reflect on how that mission has evolved and expanded. How I went from the only PSC employee to as many as 35 employees to ten awesome employees in 2024. Over 10,000 Tribal employees have received training in areas ranging from basic fingerprinting techniques to the complexities of establishing a Tribal Background Investigation program.
Our offerings have grown from single-day training sessions to comprehensive programs, including the annual Adjudicator’s Professional Conference. We are proud to manage the logistics for the U.S. Indian Police Academy’s annual Law Enforcement and Correctional Officer training forum, a testament to the trust and respect we’ve earned over the years. We’ve also expanded our services to include fingerprinting services for over 150 Tribes, online background screening, and full background investigative and adjudicative services.
Background and Adjudication training which was first delivered in November 2004. It has now grown into the Tribal Adjudication Professional (TAP) Training Certification, developed in partnership with NNAHRA and endorsed by the Society for Human Resource Management. By the end of 2024, over 200 participants will receive their TAP Certification.
As I look back on the last two decades, it’s the relationships that stand out the most. The dedicated, hardworking individuals I’ve met across Indian country have become not just colleagues, but family. The miles I’ve traveled to Tribal communities—from Hollywood, FL to Anchorage, AK, and nearly every community in between—are filled with memories that I treasure deeply.
I recall the snowstorms that extended my stays at Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Lummi Nation, and Bay Mills Indian Community. I remember getting lost on the dirt roads of the Rogue Mountains en route to Happy Camp, CA, to work with the Karuk Tribe. The sunflower fields of North Dakota on the way to New Town to train with the Three Affiliated Tribes are etched in my memory, as are the slippery backroads of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. All adventures as I worked toward my mission of training our Tribal professionals.
These journeys brought me more than just professional fulfillment; they offered moments of pure beauty and connection. Whether it was witnessing the dancers at the elders’ powwow in Yakama Nation, enjoying the fiddlers and jiggers at Turtle Mountain community school, witnessing the opening of the Lakota Nation Invitational or savoring the variety of fried bread, fish bakes, and potlucks across the country, these experiences have fed both my body and spirit. The landscapes of Indian country—Glacier Mountains, Canyon de Chelly, Niagara Falls, and so many more—never cease to inspire and ground me.
Perhaps my proudest moments are seeing the professionals I’ve trained grow from having no knowledge of Indian Child Protection requirements to becoming skilled Background Investigators and Adjudication Officials. Many now administer Tribally created Background Investigation Programs and Offices, a true testament to the power of education and dedication.
As I look to the future, I’m filled with excitement and curiosity. I don’t know where the next years will take me, but I know they will be filled with continued learning, sharing, and, of course, laughter. Thank you for being part of this journey. Here’s to the next chapter.
