Exclusive Content

IDGA are delighted to announce that our Biometrics for Government and Law Enforcement Summit is returning on November 19-20, 2025, at the Sheraton Reston Hotel in Reston, VA. 

Join us to hear from top biometrics leaders, including:

• Matthew Lightner, Supervisory Assistant Chief, Classification Branch Systems Division, U.S. Border Patrol
• David Patrick, Assistant Administrator, Requirements and Capabilities Analysis, Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
• Kristin Ruiz, Deputy Chief Information Officer, Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
• Warren Harris, Chief, Identity Intelligence Division (I2D), Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence & Security (OUSD(I&S)), Department of Defense
• Maceo Franks, Chief, DoD Law Enforcement Policy Division, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence & Security (OUSD(I&S)), Department of Defense
  

View the 2025 agenda to find out what you can expect at this year's summit >>>

While the average person is accustomed to using biometric technologies in airports, banks, and hospitals and to access their smartphones, one place we rarely think of needing biometric identification solutions is in correctional institutions. However, as biometrics have become more widely used in our everyday lives, they are also becoming a key resource to the US carceral system.

Whether as a resource to monitor prisoner and staff activities, assist release procedures, identify visitors, or improve inmate health and wellness, biometrics are used in correctional facilities.

This report will look at each of those uses, analyze the latest news in correctional biometrics, and assess how biometrics are beginning to have an impact on inmate safety.

IDGA's Biometrics for Government and Law Enforcement Summit is returning on November 19-20, 2025 at the Sheraton Reston Hotel in Reston, VA. To give you a deeper insight into who will be joining us onsite, we are pleased to release an early 2025 attendee snapshot.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) states the core uses of biometrics are for identity assurance, meaning the ability to verify an individual’s identity for the US government, and quality of life and security, meaning protecting US citizen's personal identities and safety.

In this article, we will explore the organizations within DHS overseeing biometrics tools to deliver on these core uses. Those organizations include:

• Office of Biometric Identity Management (OBIM)
• Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
• Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
• US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
• Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Delivered by Shonnie Lyon, Director of the DHS Office of Biometric Identity Management, at our 2024 Biometrics for Government and Law Enforcement Summit, this presentation delves into evaluating the trends in biometrics.

Download to find:

• A detailed overview of DHS biometrics
• DHS's biometrics 'triad' for interagency data sharing
• Trends, challenges, and opportunities in biometrics
• Contactless biometrics modalities with their benefits and challenges
• DHS's commitment to responsible use of facial recognition and face capture
• How the DHS is protecting privacy for citizens and visitors

Biometric technologies are playing an increasingly vital role in modern law enforcement and government operations, offering enhanced capabilities for identity verification, border security, and criminal investigations. As these technologies evolve, understanding the practical challenges, strategic priorities, and operational readiness of agencies and organizations becomes essential. To explore these dynamics, IDGA sent a “Biometrics for Government & Law Enforcement” survey to our network of biometrics professionals.

In this mini survey of 27 respondents from a diverse group of participants, including representatives from state and local law enforcement agencies, government employees, industry professionals, federal law enforcement, consultants, educators, contractors, and retired officials.

This report analyzes responses to key survey questions spanning biometric modalities in use, areas needing improvement, perceived threats, AI integration, organizational preparedness, and future priorities.

To continue the conversation on the future of biometrics, register for IDGA’s Biometrics for Government and Law Enforcement Summit taking place this November 19-20 at the Sheraton Reston Hotel, in Reston, Virginia. The two-day summit will allow attendees to explore the latest technological developments, dive into the challenges facing your peers, and hear directly from the key decision-makers driving biometric innovation across agencies.

Watch Matt Gilkeson of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Evan Bays of IDEMIA as they discuss how to bring security and transparency to the AI used in biometric algorithms.

By watching the webinar you'll gain the following:

• An overview of DHS and IDEMIA's commitment to developing fair and ethical technologies
• Case studies sharing real-world improvements to AI algorithms
• An understanding of AI security and regulatory requirements
  

Supervisory Assistant Chief (SASC) Matthew Lightner has 18-years of experience at U.S. Customs & Border Protection. In that time, he has become one of the agency’s leading SMEs in biometrics. Currently as SASC in the Systems Division of the U.S. Border Patrol Headquarters’ Strategic Planning and Analysis Directorate, SASC Lightner plays a pivotal role in overseeing the US Border Patrol’s biometrics and various enforcement systems technologies utilized by front-line agents. On top of his years of experience for the border security agency, SASC Lightner holds a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice Leadership and Management and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy in Criminal Justice-Homeland Security.

In the latest interview from IDGA, SASC Lightner sat down to discuss biometrics solutions CBP is seeking, data interoperability across federal agencies, and much more.

Glenn Krizay is the former Director of the Defense Forensics and Biometrics Agency (DFBA), an Army agency responsible for developing and implementing strategic biometric plans and concepts for the DoD. Prior to his role with DFBA, (DHS), he served as the Executive Director, Information Sharing and Safeguarding Executive Staff and Deputy Undersecretary for Plans, Policy and Performance Management in the Department of Homeland Security. He also retired from the Air Force with 26-years of honorable service. In total, Krizay has over four-decades of experience in biometrics and identity intelligence that ranges across the DHS, DoD, and other key federal agencies.

In 2024, Krizay officially left the federal government, and he has since been named chairman IDGA’s Biometrics for Government and Law Enforcement Summit, set to take place this November 19-20 in Reston, Virginia. In his role as chairman, Krizay will facilitate engaging conversations on stage, and has already taken leading role in shaping this year’s agenda.

Before arriving in Reston this winter, Krizay sat down with IDGA to discuss the evolution of biometrics, and what he’s looking forward to at this year’s conference.

Ahead of IDGA's Biometrics for Government & Law Enforcement Summit (November 19-20, 2025 | Reston, VA), IDGA have created the 'Biometrics Bundle', a handpicked collection of expert insights, real-world case studies, and must-read interviews, designed to give biometrics leaders the clarity, foresight, and strategies to lead with confidence in an evolving landscape.

Download to read: 

• A Guide to Biometrics in Correctional Facilities
• How the 'One Big Beautiful Bill' is Reshaping Biometric Capabilities at U.S. Borders
• The Role of Biometrics Across DHS Agencies
• Leveraging International Collaboration as Biometric Technologies Evolve