First Responders
In response to evolving terror threats, the U.S. House of Representatives approved bills on Tuesday to enhance federal efforts to protect against vehicular terrorism and to establish a federal laboratory to develop new technologies for use by law enforcers and first responders.
U.S. Rep. Dan... Read More »
BAE Systems was awarded a $198 million contract by the U.S. Marine Corp to deliver 30 Amphibious Combat Vehicles (ACV).
The contract also includes an option for a total of 204 vehicles which could be worth up to $1.2 billion.
“We are well positioned and ready to build the future of... Read More »
The Air Force recently highlighted the ability of Eagle Vision, technology that is capable of processing satellite imagery in near real-time, to assist in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts, including those the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico.
First deployed during... Read More »
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) has made a number of improvements to its Watchtower mobile application, which connects to wearable technology that tracks the location and vital signs of first responders on a mission.
Released in February,... Read More »
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is partnering with BAE Systems to develop software aiding military planners in understanding and addressing dynamics driving world conflicts.
Through a $4.2 million Phase 1 contract awarded by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), the... Read More »
Laredo Sector Border Patrol Agents recently joined forces with the Government of Mexico to interrupt a human smuggling effort resulting in 24 arrests.
Officials said agents assigned to the Laredo Sector Intelligence Unit received information regarding a large assembly at a residence in Nuevo... Read More »
Civilian and military bomb squad teams from across the country will take part in Sandia Labs’ 12th annual Western National Robot Rodeo this week, a competition that uses simulated scenarios to test the ability of first responders to use robots to complete hazardous tasks.
Ten bomb squad teams... Read More »
The Chicago Field Office (CFO) for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) employs 32 canine teams – each consisting of a dog and its handler – to detect drugs at airports, post offices, and other border entry locations.
The dogs are typically one of three breeds -- Belgian Malinois, German... Read More »
Swanton Sector Chief Patrol Agent John Pfeifer has retired from the U.S. Border Patrol, closing out a career that spanned 31 years.
“It has been my honor to serve as the Chief Patrol Agent for the past seven years,” said Pfeifer, who began his career in Uvalde, Texas, after entering on duty... Read More »
FLIR Systems has been awarded a $2.6 million order from the United States Army for airborne video surveillance units.
Specifically, FLIR will provide its Black Hornet Personal Reconnaissance Systems (PRS), which is used by soldiers for surveillance and reconnaissance.
The FLIR Black Hornet... Read More »
A four-day training course coordinated by federal and territorial agencies in Puerto Rico last week culminated in a practice scenario that tested the ability of first responders and health care workers to respond to a simulated traffic crash that resulted in the release of chlorine gas.
The... Read More »
U.S. Marines along with members of the British army Commandos concluded their Red Dagger training exercises last week.
This year's exercise is the fifth iteration of the bilateral training program, which took place at Fort Indiantown Gap (FTIG), Pennsylvania, May 12-25. The exercise featured... Read More »
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently recommended that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) facilitate better collaboration among first responders during emergencies.
After Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and the Gulf region in 2005, Congress passed a law... Read More »
FLIR Systems, Inc. introduced last week three new radar and thermal imaging systems that can be used by militaries and government border patrol agencies to detect objects on land and in the air, including microdrones.
The FLIR Ranger R8SS-3D and R8SS radars can provide mid-range detection... Read More »
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that New York was awarded hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding to enhance security preparedness and anti-terror activities through grant programming in fiscal year 2018.
New York City will receive $178 million under the... Read More »
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced this week that it is working with the Government of Puerto Rico to train emergency and healthcare workers to respond to mass casualty incidents.
FEMA’s Center for Domestic Preparedness is running a four-day training course from May 29 to... Read More »
Marines and first responders with Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF), the Provost Marshal’s Office, and MCAS Miramar Fire Department recently conducted an exercise that simulated a bioterrorism attack at MCAS Miramar, California.
Marines with... Read More »
The U.S. House of Representatives approved four bills last week that would take steps to enhance protections for law enforcement officers through stricter penalties, additional resources and improved collaboration with local communities.
The Protect and Serve Act, H.R. 5698, aims to prevent... Read More »
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is calling on students and young professionals from around the world to offer new ideas regarding communication around nuclear and radiological emergencies.
Calling the effort the “Young Innovative Communicators Competition,” participants must... Read More »
In the wake of being recently tapped Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Port Director at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Raymond S. Polley is embracing his new post.
“Houston is a great place to be,” Polley said. “I am very happy to be here and look forward to working with the... Read More »
The Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs is conducting a training exercise from May 15-17 in the state simulating a long-term mass power outage.
The training exercise, known as Dark Sky, will take place in Brown, Calumet, Dane, Fond du Lac, Milwaukee, Outagamie, and Winnebago Counties. It is... Read More »
A professional services and technology firm has been awarded a contract to provide combat-ready equipment to Marines worldwide.
KBR, Inc. officials said the contract calls for a modification by the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) to provide prepositioning and logistics support services for the USMC... Read More »
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) staff recently developed virtual reality environments designed to support industry in designing user interfaces for use by first responders.
These interfaces could include visual indicators, sounds or voice commands that could be embedded... Read More »
A regional basic training course offered by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in Panama from April 23-27 allowed first responders from Latin America and the Caribbean to improve chemical incident response capabilities.
Organized jointly by OPCW and the Panamanian... Read More »
U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) recently led a letter to Senate Armed Services Committee Chair John McCain (R-AZ) and Ranking Member Jack Reed (D-RI) urging the continuation of funding for modernizing Stryker A1 Vehicles in the fiscal year 2019 National Defense Authorization Act.
The funding would... Read More »
The U.S. House of Representatives recently advanced the Disaster Recovery Reform Act (DRRA), which proposes broad reforms at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
DRRA, introduced by U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta (R-PA), was included in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, H.R. 4.
DRRA... Read More »
After U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions called the opioid epidemic the “deadliest drug crisis in our nation’s history” during an address to members of Montana law enforcers on Friday, U.S. Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) called for support of legislation he introduced to continue critical anti-drug... Read More »
A bipartisan coalition of senators introduced legislation on Friday that would reauthorize the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program through fiscal year 2023 to help law enforcement agencies at all levels hire new personnel and provide training and technical assistance.
In fiscal... Read More »
The U.S. Secret Service’s National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC) would be expanded to include a national program that conducts research and provides resources on school violence across the country.
Named for Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School’s mascot, the Eagles Act, S. 2759, would... Read More »
The 526th Intelligence Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base (AFB), Nevada, recently hosted an Artificial Intelligence and Design Thinking seminar at AFWERX Vegas, which more than 100 Airmen, contractors, and Department of Defense employees attended.
AFWERX Vegas, a branch of DEFENSEWERX, is a... Read More »
More than 1,000 private-sector stakeholders recently took part in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Cyber Storm VI training exercise featuring a simulated cyber crisis.
The multi-sector training scenario enabled stakeholders to vet cybersecurity training, policies, procedures,... Read More »
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials in Philadelphia have developed some innovative partnerships and processes to reduce the damage of pests on perishable produce coming into the United States.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, invasive species cause $138 billion... Read More »
The 14th annual Heads of National Central Bureaus (NCBs) Conference held this week focused on the role NCBs play in supporting technological and strategic innovation in law enforcement.
Attending the three-day meeting, 295 senior police officials from 145 countries explored the theme “NCBs:... Read More »
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is recommending the Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps reevaluate fighter pilot squadron requirements.
Officials said the GAO’s assessment and recommendation stems from the Air Force, Navy Marine Corps having gaps between the actual numbers of fighter... Read More »
A mobile, laptop-based intelligence program created by the Raytheon Company has become the focus of the U.S. Army, in an effort to give soldiers greater battlefield information collection and access.
The program is commercially available currently, but the Army wishes to see the FoXTEN system... Read More »
