Border Protector Michael J. Fisher - KMI Media Group

FRONTLINE NEWS
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced
it began testing new technologies designed to enhance TSA’s
ability to identify altered or fraudulent passenger identification
documents and boarding passes at Washington Dulles International
Airport. The technology will also be tested at Houston George Bush
Intercontinental Airport and Luis Muñoz Marín International
Airport in the coming weeks.
In October, 2011, TSA awarded limited contracts to BAE Systems
Information Solutions Inc., Trans-Digital Technologies LLC, and
NCR Government Systems LLC to provide pilot testing of fraudulent
document detection technology to a limited number of airports.
Each selected airport will receive a total of six detection units, two
units from each vendor. TSA will expand the deployment schedule
following successful implementation and testing in the selected
airport environments.
“The piloting of this technology is another milestone in TSA’s
ongoing risk-based security initiative,” said TSA Administrator
John S. Pistole. “The ability to efficiently and effectively identify
Compiled by KMi Media Group staff
TSA Announces Testing of Document Verification Technologies
Vendor Named For
Homeland Security
AT&T Government Solutions has been selected as a prime vendor under
the Tactical Communications Equipment and Services (TacCom) contract.
The TacCom contract, administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland
Security (DHS), is a multiple award contract with an overall value of
$3 billion and a base contract period of two years and three, one-year
options.
The TacCom contract provides DHS and its component agencies
a cost-effective contract vehicle to purchase a wide range of tactical
communications products, infrastructure and services to support public
safety communications for first responders. As a prime vendor, AT&T can
compete against other vendors for individual awards from DHS and its
component agencies. AT&T was awarded a position in all five functional
categories under the TacCom contract, including Subscriber Units,
Infrastructure, Infrastructure Services, O&M Services, and Test Equipment.
AT&T understands the critical role network assets and tactical
communication products and services play for public sector agencies,
especially in an emergency.
Recently, DHS announced that AT&T is the first private sector company
to attain certification under the Voluntary Private Sector Preparedness
Accreditation and Certification Program (PS-Prep). PS-Prep is a voluntary
program of accreditation and certification of private entities using standards
adopted by DHS that promote private sector preparedness, including disaster
management, emergency management and business continuity programs.
The standards were announced by DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano in
June 2010. The program is part of DHS’ implementation of recommendations
by the 9/11 Commission to improve private sector preparedness for disasters
and emergencies. AT&T achieved the certification following months of
rigorous audits that measured the company’s ability to manage and
maintain operations during emergencies.
fraudulent identity documents and authenticate boarding passes
has the potential to not only improve security but also the
checkpoint experience for passengers.”
This technology, known as Credential Authentication
Technology-Boarding Pass Scanning Systems (CAT-BPSS), will scan
a passenger’s boarding pass and photo ID, and then automatically
verify that the names provided on both documents match and
authenticate the boarding pass. The technology also identifies
altered or fraudulent photo IDs by analyzing and comparing
security features embedded in the IDs. This system supports TSA’s
efforts to enhance the passenger screening experience by moving
toward a more risk-based, intelligence-driven counterterrorism
approach.
TSA’s risk-based security measures focus its resources on those
passengers that it knows the least about. TSA began testing CAT-BPSS
at the TSA Systems Integration Facility in 2011 and continues to test
the latest technologies available—expanding efforts to address
evolving threats and improve the passenger screening experience.
NORAD and USNORTHCOM
Conduct Ardent Sentry
2012
The North American Aerospace Defense Command
and U.S. Northern Command conducted a major
exercise, Ardent Sentry 2012, focused on Defense
Support of Civil Authorities, May 2-9, 2012.
The exercise was primarily a command post
exercise, but there were field training events within
the exercise. Those events took place in North Dakota,
Oregon, Texas, Alaska, Connecticut and Nova Scotia
and involved United States and Canadian military
units.
• North Dakota: The Air Force Global Strike
Command responded to a simulated nuclear
weapons incident on Minot Air Force Base.
• Oregon: The Oregon National Guard worked with
state and local officials to respond to numerous
weather-related and security events.
• Texas: U.S. Army North deployed a task force to
work through the process of leading a military
response to a major hurricane.
• Alaska: Joint Task Force-Alaska conducted a
coordinated response to a major aircraft crash in a
remote area.
• Nova Scotia: Canadian and U.S. Naval forces
worked together to handle a security related event.
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