Industry loses longtime training advocate

I just learned that one of the leading advocates of education in the security industry has passed away.

Paul Baran, 58—who was actively involved with the Electronic Security Association's Education Committee for 16 years and was the committee's longtime co-chairman—died suddenly Nov. 23 at his home, according to a posting today on ESA's web site.

ESA announced Baran's loss with “profound sadness.”

Charles “Dom” D'Ascoli, president of ESA, said in a statement, “Paul's work on the Education Committee impacted the association and industry on many levels. Under Paul's chairmanship, ESA adopted new National Training School (NTS) guidelines and expanded course offerings to include topics like CCTV, residential integration and business skills courses.”

On a personal note, D'Ascoli continued, “He was also a great guy that cared about his work, his friends and his family. Personally, Paul exemplified one of the many reasons why I am a member of ESA - he was always willing to help fellow members on technical issues and give guidance to those of us who, at some time in our careers, needed it.  He will be greatly missed by me and his many ESA friends.”

Baran, a security consultant who was married with three sons and was a lifelong resident of Bensalem, Pa., also was chairman of the education committees of both the Pennsylvania Burglar & Fire Alarm Association and the New Jersey Burglar & Fire Alarm Association, the ESA site said.

In 2006, the National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association, as ESA was then known, presented Baran with a Sara E. Jackson Award.

D'Ascoli said Baran won the award “because of his outstanding contributions as a committee chairperson.”

Baran began teaching in 1987 and since then was actively involved in many ESA committees, and held various subcommittee chair seats on the fire section and membership committees.

In 2009, Baran did an interview with SSN TV News at the Electronic Security Expo (ESX) in Baltimore, explaining what NTS is and the training options it offers.

The industry has lost a passionate education advocate.