Articles

What effective approaches are being made to improve Maritime Domain Awareness? What are the latest technologies being used to secure the border in US ports and harbors? Dr Julie Pullen, DHS National Center of Excellence in Maritime Security, Stevens Institute of Technology discusses the Center for Secure and Resilient Maritime Commerce’s (CSR) layered and integrated approach to Maritime Domain Awareness. She also shares some success stories of new technologies, including passive underwater acoustics technology, that have been introduced to the harbors of Miami and New York/New Jersey. Read more

How significant are biometrics for border safety? What does increased biometric accuracy mean for Customs Border Protection Officers? Gary Wheeler, FBI, Criminal Justice Information Services Division discusses the role of biometrics in determining the potential threats of individuals, and the benefits of new technological developments in the shift away from the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System to the Next Generation Identification System. Read more

How is robotic reconnaissance mitigating risk in tunnel detection? What challenges are involved in detecting tunnels? Amy Clymer, Operational Manager, Rapid Reaction Tunnel Detection Joint Capability Technology Demonstration (JCTD) explores these issues and discusses NORAD-US Northern Command’s approach to tunnel detection technology. Read more

Curtis Levinson, Cyber Subject Matter Expert and U.S. Liaison, NATO – explores the term ‘Advanced Persistent Threat’ and how this applies to the US Government. The following interview, conducted by IDGA’s @DefenseInsider, Chris Archer, asks Levinson to highlight common mistakes being made within government and industry with regards to the security of cyber networks, and to discuss the technologies which are pivotal to maintaining the security of sensitive information and networks. Read more

“There’s no way to have enough resources to be fully prepared at every state and local level for every contingency, so that’s a huge strength of the Incident Command System” says Brigadier General Michael Stone, Assistant Adjutant General, Michigan National Guard. In an IDGA exclusive interview Brig Gen Stone examines the main strengths and weaknesses of the ICS and highlights the ways in which the Michigan National Guard prepares for potential cyber attacks and deals with the issue of surge capacity Read more

The LATEST Satellite imagery from April 10 shows the full force of final preparations of North Korean launch complex at the Sohae Satellite Launching Station (more commonly known as Tongchang-dong Space Launch Center) for its planned April rocket launch. Work to prepare the launch pad for stacking the Unha-3 satellite launch vehicle (SLV) is finally completed. The mobile launch pad is seen sitting on tracks next to the gantry tower. All the work platforms have been folded back and the crane on top is at a 45 degree angle relative to the pad, indicating that equipment was loaded onto the gantry. At the base of the gantry there are numerous small objects on the pad and several operations people. There is also a plate under the mobile launch stand to cover the entrance into the flame trench that is still in place and will be removed prior to launch. A crew appears to be cutting brush away from the concrete in the brown dirt area that extends from in front of the pad up the right side. This activity has been ongoing since late March of 2012 when previous imagery was available. Read more

Law enforcement personnel detaining possible suspects in the field are often faced with the daunting challenge of not knowing who they're actually dealing with. Mobile Biometrics can help solve the problem. An IDGA Q&A with Chris Aldridge of Sandia National Laboratories. Read more

“We will never relent in our efforts to bring criminals to justice.” Mexican Drug Trafficking Organizations are the most significant operational threat in Arizona. An IDGA Q&A with Doug Coleman, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Phoenix Division. Read more

The 9/11 Act requires 100% of U.S.-bound cargo containers to be scanned by this year. As the deadline nears, it’s clear that requirement will not be met. Should it be? What can be done to make the 100% requirement more feasible? An IDGA Q&A with Stephen L. Caldwell, Director of Maritime Security and Coast Guard Issues, Homeland Security and Justice Team of the US Government Accountability Office. Read more

IDGA speaks with Fire Chief (Ret.) Eddie Burns, Dallas Fire Rescue, Texas Task Force II, FEMA, about the current state of SAR communications technology, including how different organizations have different communications requirements, challenges to effective communications, and developments on the horizon. Read more

Despite the best efforts of numerous state-sponsored government agencies, search and rescue operations in the face of large-scale disasters may still be inadequate, according to Lois Clark McCoy, the Founding President of The National Institute for Urban Search & Rescue. Read more