Occupation · SOC 55-3015
Command and Control Center Specialists
Operate and monitor communications, detection, and weapons systems essential for controlling air, ground, and naval operations. Duties include maintaining and relaying critical communications between air, naval, and ground forces; implementing emergency plans for natural and wartime disasters; relaying command center information to high-level military and government decisionmakers; monitoring surveillance and detection systems, such as air defense; interpreting and evaluating tactical situations and making recommendations to superiors; and operating weapons targeting, firing, and launch computer systems.
Median wage
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Projected growth
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Annual openings
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per year
Employed (US)
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Job Zone —
Core skills
Active ListeningSpeakingCritical ThinkingMonitoringSocial PerceptivenessReading ComprehensionJudgment and Decision MakingCoordination
Knowledge areas
Public Safety and SecurityEnglish LanguageLaw and GovernmentCustomer and Personal ServiceEducation and Training
Technology & tools
Data base user interface and query softwareSpreadsheet softwareOffice suite softwareElectronic mail softwarePresentation software
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Inmate count procedures — follow and execute under direct supervision during scheduled periodic counts in a correctional facility.Institutional rules and regulations — read and review to build foundational knowledge before independent application in the command center.Radio and communication equipment — operate under guidance to relay routine status updates across assigned facility sectors.Post orders and facility protocols — locate and reference when determining correct response to routine situations on the floor.Incident observation — recognize and report unusual inmate behavior or potential security threats to a supervising officer.Database user interface software — enter basic inmate tracking data under direct oversight using facility management systems.Active listening skills — apply during shift briefings to accurately retain instructions and assignments from senior specialists.Control center monitoring equipment — observe camera feeds and alert panels with guidance to identify normal versus abnormal activity.Office suite and word processing software — complete standardized shift logs and basic documentation templates with supervisor review.Emergency signal recognition — identify audible and visual alarm indicators and notify supervisory staff according to established protocol.
developing
Periodic inmate counts — conduct independently and reconcile discrepancies against roster records during routine and unscheduled counts.Order and discipline standards — enforce within assigned areas with reduced oversight, applying institutional rules consistently across daily operations.Facility policy compliance — monitor personal and peer adherence to institutional procedures and flag deviations to shift leadership.Emergency response actions — execute initial response steps for incidents such as escape attempts or disturbances following established contingency plans.Inmate behavioral patterns — assess using social perceptiveness to anticipate escalating situations and apply de-escalation techniques proactively.Shift documentation — prepare accurate written and electronic reports of significant events using word processing and database software with minimal errors.Inter-agency communication — coordinate information exchanges with law enforcement or medical personnel during multi-unit incidents within the facility.Spreadsheet software — maintain and update inmate movement logs and assignment schedules to support operational tracking needs.Critical thinking in ambiguous situations — evaluate incomplete information and apply deductive reasoning to determine the appropriate course of action.Inmate rights and legal obligations — apply working knowledge of law and government regulations when making decisions affecting inmate management.
proficient
Complex inmate count reconciliation — identify and resolve counting errors or unauthorized absences autonomously, initiating lockdown procedures when warranted.Full-scope security management — maintain order and discipline across all assigned sectors without supervision, adapting tactics to non-routine security scenarios.Policy interpretation and enforcement — apply institutional regulations to novel situations, exercising sound judgment to resolve edge cases not explicitly covered by written procedure.Emergency command coordination — lead initial on-scene response to escapes, riots, or medical crises, directing personnel actions until senior command assumes control.Psychological situational assessment — synthesize behavioral cues, inmate histories, and environmental factors to proactively prevent security breaches in high-tension environments.Electronic surveillance systems — monitor and interpret multi-channel camera and sensor feeds across an entire facility to detect, document, and respond to threats in real time.Comprehensive incident reporting — author detailed after-action reports using office suite software that satisfy administrative, legal, and investigative requirements.Cross-functional coordination — synchronize efforts among correctional officers, medical staff, and external agencies during compound incidents requiring multi-disciplinary response.Staff performance observation — identify skill gaps in junior specialists during operations and provide immediate corrective guidance to uphold safety standards.Technology utilization optimization — leverage database query and email software to streamline inmate tracking, reduce reporting latency, and improve command center situational awareness.
advanced
Institutional security strategy — develop and implement facility-wide command and control policies that align operational procedures with regulatory mandates and organizational mission.Emergency response framework — design, test, and refine contingency plans for high-severity incidents including mass escapes and civil disturbances across the entire correctional complex.Policy and regulatory leadership — author and revise institutional rules, ensuring continuous compliance with evolving law, government standards, and public safety requirements.Workforce training architecture — design and deliver structured training programs that advance junior and mid-level specialists from foundational skills to independent operational proficiency.Organizational culture of integrity — model and institutionalize standards of dependability, self-control, and ethical conduct that define unit-wide performance expectations.Cross-agency partnership management — establish and maintain formal coordination agreements with law enforcement, judicial, and emergency management agencies to strengthen facility security.Technology modernization leadership — evaluate, procure, and integrate advanced command center technologies including upgraded surveillance, database, and communication systems at the organizational level.Data-driven security analytics — direct analysis of inmate incident data and operational metrics using enterprise software to identify systemic vulnerabilities and drive policy corrections.Command center performance oversight — set measurable standards for count accuracy, response times, and documentation quality, and hold unit leaders accountable through systematic review.Strategic risk and crisis communication — brief executive leadership, oversight boards, and interagency partners on facility security posture, incident trends, and remediation initiatives.
Also known as
117 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Intelligence OfficerCyber Warfare Operations Craftsman (Air Force 1B471)Emergency Management Journeyman (Air Force 3E951)Cyber Warfare Operations Helper (Air Force 1B411)Cyber Warfare Operations Apprentice (Air Force 1B431)Electronic Systems Operator (Navy 003742)Communications Operator (Navy 001215)Interface Control Officer (ICO) (Navy W24A)LCS-1 (Freedom Variant) Operations Specialist (Navy W25A)Sensor OperatorCyber Warfare Operations Superintendent (Air Force 1B491)ASW/ASUW Tactical Air Controller (ASTAC)Combat Control Manager (Air Force 1Z200)HARPOON (AN/SWG-1A) Engagement Planning Operator (Navy 702B)Defense AnalystOperations Management Apprentice (Air Force 3E631)All-Domain Command and Control Operations Manager (Air Force 1C300)Global Command and Control System Common Operational Picture/Maritime (GCCS COP/M) OperatorTransmissions Chief (Marine Corps 0629)Tactical Air Defense ControllerIntelligence AnalystJoint Terminal Attack Controller SpecialistWarfare Operator (Navy 003740)Air Defense Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence Tactical Operations Center Enhanced Operator/MaintainerDirect Support (DIRSUP)/Ships Signals Exploitation Equipment OperatorStrike Planning ApplicationsOperations Management Journeyman (Air Force 3E651)National OPELINT AnalystJoint Fires Observer (Marine Corps 0873)Electronic Warfare Specialist (Army 17E)All-Domain Command and Control Operations Superintendent (Air Force 1C391)Supervisory Air Intercept Controller (Navy W17A)ASW/ASUW Tactical Air Control (ASTAC) LeadershipWeapons and Tactics Instructor - Air Command and Control (Marine Corps 7277)Navy Command and Control System (NCCS) Ashore System/OperatorCombat Control SpecialistField Artillery Senior Sergeant (Army 13Z)LAMPS MK III Air Tactical Control OperatorAerospace Control And Warning Systems, Manuel SystemsTactical Air Control Party (TACP) Superintendent (Air Force 1Z391)