UF Business Affairs Announces New Physical Security Dept; Joseph Souza Named Director

Joseph Souza

The University of Florida announced a new department in Business Affairs named Physical Security and has appointed Joseph Souza to lead it.

The department was created to enhance campus safety and security in relation to a campus study that was conducted 2015-2017.

In the campus safety study, the addition of a physical security department was recommended in addition to initiatives that will keep campus safe and secure. In the next five years this department will create security policies, procedures and standards for UF, which will help the department carry out the Security Master Plan.

Implementation of new security initiatives within the Security Master Plan will begin Fall 2019.

Souza has 28 years of industry experience. Previously, he was the Assistant Director of the Department of Security at the University of Central Florida, where he planned, designed and oversaw construction of UCF’s first Global Security Operations Center. Souza upgraded and maintained video surveillance as well as access control management.

In his new role, Souza will oversee security software for cameras, enhance the coverage of security cameras across UF, and put automated electronic access controls on buildings.

Souza will also assist UF Police by installing Automated License Plate Readers on campus and upgrade the Gator1 card technology to add features such as encryption and proximity-based access controls.

ON DEMAND: In this webinar, Regina Lester, Vice President of Security & Safety Operations at Toledo Zoo, will share her insights on implementing security technologies in the entertainment sector and the challenges all organizations face — large and small — when it comes to balancing budget and security.