# Order of the Sword & Shield

The Order of the Sword & Shield National Honor Society (OSSNHS or ΟΣΣ) is an international honor society for undergraduate students, graduate students, and professionals in the fields of homeland security, intelligence, emergency management, and all protective security disciplines.

## History

The Order of the Sword & Shield was established in 2010 at St. Johns University by Professor Jeffrey Grossmann. The organization was created to be the first national honor society dedicated exclusively to homeland security, intelligence, emergency management and all protective security disciplines. Grossman serves as its executive director. Its headquarters are in Coram, New York. It has chartered more than 100 collegiate chapters.

## Symbols

The National Honor Society is also known by its Greek designation Omicron Sigma Sigma (ΟΣΣ). Its colors are gold and blue. The official motto in Latin is Ex scientia pax which means "Out of knowledge comes peace". Its core values or pillars are excellence, knowledge, ethics, and peace.

## Membership

In order to qualify, undergraduate students must have a 3.25 overall grade point average or higher (on a 4.0 scale) and have completed 50 percent of their overall program if they are majoring in a field within the honor society's charter. For graduate students to qualify, they must have a 3.5 overall GPA or higher (on a 4.0 scale) and must also have completed over 50 percent of their program to apply for membership. In addition, a letter of recommendation and an unofficial transcript is required. Professionals who have demonstrated significant achievement in a homeland security, intelligence, emergency management, or security-related occupation may also apply. They must have five years of experience and submit a letter of recommendation and resume.

## Chapters
### Collegiate chapters

Following is a list of the Order of the Sword collegiate chapters. Inactive institutions are indicated in italics.
| Charter date and range | Institution | Location | Status |
| 2010 | St. John's University | New York City, New York | Active |
| 2013 | Adelphi University | Garden City, New York | Active |
| 2015 | Angelo State University | San Angelo, Texas | Active |
| November 2023 | Pennsylvania State University | State College, Pennsylvania | Active |
| | Anderson University | Anderson, South Carolina | Active |
| | Albertus Magnus College | New Haven, Connecticut | Active |
| | American Military University and American Public University | Charles Town, West Virginia | Active |
| | Augusta University | Augusta, Georgia | Active |
| | Bellevue University | Bellevue, Nebraska | Active |
| | Brevard College | Brevard, North Carolina | Active |
| | Calhoun Community College | Tanner, Alabama | Active |
| | California State Polytechnic University, Pomona | Pomona, California | Active |
| | Campbell University | Buies Creek, North Carolina | Active |
| | Coastal Carolina University | Conway, South Carolina | Active |
| | Collin College | McKinney, Texas | Active |
| | Columbia Southern University | Orange Beach, Alabama | Active |
| xxxx ?–2020 | Daniel Morgan Graduate School of National Security | Capitol Heights, Maryland | Inactive |
| | Davis Technical College | Kaysville, Utah | Active |
| | DeSales University | Center Valley, Pennsylvania | Active |
| | Dillard University | New Orleans, Louisiana | Active |
| | Eastern Kentucky University | Richmond, Kentucky | Active |
| | Elizabeth City State University | Elizabeth City, North Carolina | Active |
| | Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University | Daytona Beach, Florida | Active |
| | Emmanuel College | Boston, Massachusetts | Active |
| | Fairleigh Dickinson University | Madison, New Jersey | Active |
| | Fayetteville State University | Fayetteville, North Carolina | Active |
| | Florida Southwestern State College | Fort Myers, Florida | Active |
| | Franklin University | Columbus, Ohio | Active |
| | Georgia Southern University | Statesboro, Georgia | Active |
| | Grand Canyon University | Phoenix, Arizona | Active |
| | Hilbert College | Hamburg, New York | Active |
| | Immaculata University | East Whiteland Township, Pennsylvania | Active |
| | Jefferson Community College | Watertown, New York | Active |
| | Johns Hopkins University | Baltimore, Maryland | Active |
| | Keiser University | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Active |
| | Kennesaw State University | Kennesaw, Georgia | Active |
| | LeTourneau University | Longview, Texas | Active |
| | Liberty University | Lynchburg, Virginia | Active |
| | Long Island Business Institute | New York City, New York | Inactive |
| | Louisiana State University Shreveport | Shreveport, Louisiana | Active |
| | MacMurray College | Jacksonville, Illinois | Inactive |
| | Marian University | | Active |
| | Marymount University | Arlington County, Virginia | Active |
| | Marist College | Poughkeepsie, New York | Active |
| | Medaille College | Buffalo, New York | Active |
| | Mercyhurst College | Erie, Pennsylvania | Active |
| | Millersville University of Pennsylvania | Millersville, Pennsylvania | Active |
| | Mitchell College | New London, Connecticut | Active |
| | Monmouth University | West Long Branch, New Jersey | Active |
| | National University | | Active |
| | National American University | Rapid City, South Dakota | Active |
| | New Jersey City University | Jersey City, New Jersey | Active |
| | Northeastern University | Boston, Massachusetts | Active |
| | Northeastern State University | Tahlequah, Oklahoma | Active |
| | Notre Dame College | South Euclid, Ohio | Active |
| | Oakland City University | Oakland City, Indiana | Active |
| | Oklahoma Christian University | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | Active |
| | Pacific Union College | Angwin, California | Active |
| | Palm Beach State College | Lake Worth Beach, Florida | Active |
| | Paul D. Camp Community College | Franklin, Virginia | Active |
| | Point Park University | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Active |
| | Purdue University | West Lafayette, Indiana | Active |
| | Purdue University Global | | Active |
| | Rabdan Academy | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | Active |
| | Robert Morris University | Moon Township, Pennsylvania | Active |
| | Saint Leo University | St. Leo, Florida | Active |
| | Saint Louis University | St. Louis, Missouri | Active |
| | Sam Houston State University | Huntsville, Texas | Active |
| | San Diego State University | San Diego, California | Active |
| | Sheridan College | Ontario, Canada | Active |
| | Slippery Rock University | Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania | Active |
| | Southeast Missouri State University | Cape Girardeau, Missouri | Active |
| | Stevens Institute of Technology | Hoboken, New Jersey | Active |
| | State University of New York at Albany | Albany, New York | Active |
| | State University of New York at Canton | Canton, New York | Active |
| | State University of New York at Farmingdale | East Farmingdale, New York | Active |
| | State University of New York at Potsdam | Potsdam, New York | Active |
| | Tiffin University | Tiffin, Ohio | Active |
| | The Citadel | Charleston, South Carolina | Active |
| | Thomas Edison State University | Trenton, New Jersey | Active |
| | Thomas Jefferson University | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Active |
| | Cooley Law School | Lansing, Michigan | Active |
| | Tidewater Community College | Virginia | Active |
| | Towson University | Towson, Maryland | Active |
| | Tulane University | New Orleans, Louisiana | Active |
| | University of Alabama at Birmingham | Birmingham, Alabama | Active |
| | University of Alaska Fairbanks | College, Alaska | Active |
| | University of Central Arkansas | Conway, Arkansas | Active |
| | University of Central Florida | Orlando, Florida | Active |
| | University of Detroit Mercy | Detroit, Michigan | Active |
| | University of Findlay | Findlay, Ohio | Active |
| | University of Lynchburg | Lynchburg, Virginia | Active |
| | University of Maryland, College Park | College Park, Maryland | Active |
| | University of Mississippi | University, Mississippi | Active |
| | University of New Hampshire | Durham, New Hampshire | Active |
| | University of Phoenix | Phoenix, Arizona | Active |
| | University of South Florida | Tampa, Florida | Active |
| | University of Texas at El Paso | El Paso, Texas | Active |
| | University of the District of Columbia | Washington, D.C. | Active |
| | Vincennes University | Vincennes, Indiana | Active |
| | Walden University | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Active |
| | Waldorf University | Forest City, Iowa | Active |
| | Coalinga College | Coalinga, California | Active |
| | Western Governors University | Millcreek, Utah | Active |
| | Westminster College | Fulton, Missouri | Active |
| | York College of Pennsylvania | Spring Garden Township, Pennsylvania | Active |
* 1 2 3 4 This is an online college.
* ↑ School closed on July 31, 2020.
* ↑ The institute closed on January 27, 2024.
* ↑ The college closed in May 2020.
* ↑ Chapter formed at West Hills College Coalinga, now called Coalinga College.

### High school chapters

| Chapter | Charter date | Institution | Location | Status | Location |
| HS Alpha | 2021 | Bob Jones High School | Madison, Alabama | Active | |
| | | James Clemens High School | Madison, Alabama | Active | |

### Professional chapters

| Institution | Location | Status |
| Disaster Recovery Institute International (DRI) | Dearborn, Michigan | Active |
| International Society for Preparedness, Resilience, and Security | | Active |
| Loss Prevention Foundation (LPF) | Mooresville, North Carolina | Active |