Policy
Justice Department launches new hate crimes site, updates related prosecutions
In response to a series of violent hate crimes throughout the United States this year, the U.S. Department of Justice has updated its prosecution efforts and launched a new website to serve as a centralized port of resources for handling them. These resources include training materials,... Read More »
Florida delegation urges repairs of Air Force base damaged by Hurricane Michael
Florida’s members of Congress recently sent a letter to Defense Secretary Jim Mattis urging the government to provide funding and support for the repair of Tyndall Air Force Base that was damaged by Hurricane Michael. Tyndall is where airmen train to fly the F-22 Raptor, and it is home base... Read More »
Speaker Ryan appoints three to cyberspace commission
Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI), Samantha Ravich, and Frank Cilluffo were appointed this week by House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) to the Cyberspace Solarium Commission. The commission was established by the National Defense Authorization Act to develop a framework for U.S. cybersecurity... Read More »
OPCW aligns with UN peace, security initiatives
Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) member states said they are working in concert with the United Nations (UN) to achieve international peace and security through economic and technological development. OPCW officials said during the recently conducted third edition of... Read More »Facial comparison biometric tech at Port of San Luis leads to arrest
For the third time this month, a person attempting to cross the U.S.-Mexican border at the Port of San Luis was arrested by U.S. Customs and Border Protection after they were discovered to be an imposter by facial biometric technology. The technology helps agents detect impersonators more... Read More »
Strike force to target violence, drugs in Cleveland
A new Cleveland Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Strike Force will target violent crime and drug trafficking in the city. The force, scheduled to be operational by mid-2019, will be comprised of more than 200 local police, federal agents and prosecutors. Participating groups include... Read More »
DHS workshop looks at the future of airport security
Attendees of the second annual Aviation Security Futures Workshop held in Reston, Va., addressed the central question of what airport security screening will look like in 20 years. The workshop -- hosted by the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate Apex Screening... Read More »
Royal Australian Air Force completing aircraft upgrade
The Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF) effort to place its Hawk Mk127 fleet among the most advanced in the world is nearing completion, with an assist from BAE Systems Australia. BAE Systems Australia has inducted the final aircraft into its Williamtown maintenance facility as part of the... Read More »
Armed rebellion impedes Democratic Republic of the Congo’s response to Ebola outbreak
Continued attacks by rebels in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is keeping health officials from combatting the spread of an Ebola outbreak in the affected areas. With support from the World Health Organization (WHO), the Ministry of Health has been trying to contain the outbreak, which is... Read More »
Swanton Sector appoints new chief patrol agent
Robert Garcia recently was appointed chief patrol agent for the U.S. Border Patrol Swanton Sector along the U.S.-Canada border. Garcia replaces Chief John C. Pfeifer who retired. “It is a privilege to serve as the chief of Swanton Sector and to work alongside the dedicated and hardworking... Read More »
DOD opens new “Tatooine” cybersecurity facility in Georgia
The U.S. Department of Defense’s Defense Digital Service (DDS) is opening a new cybersecurity workspace in Augusta, Ga., called Tatooine, named after the fictional Star Wars planet. Tatooine is designed to house tech teams – including cyber soldiers and civilian technologists -- cultivate... Read More »
Industrial chemical incidents HazMat risks examined
A blog post written by Stephen Pike, managing director at UK-based Argon Electronics, recently examined the HazMat risks that accompany industrial chemical incidents. Pike maintains chemical manufacturing facilities present potential hazards that, if not properly addressed, could place workers... Read More »
Raytheon missiles successfully complete test during South Korean Navy exercises
Five SM-2 surface-to-air missiles built by Raytheon Co. recently completed five test flights successfully in exercises conducted at sea by the Republic of Korea Navy. The SM-2 missile allows navies to defend against aircraft and anti-ship missiles as far away as 90 nautical miles and an altitude... Read More »
Emergent launches opioid awareness campaign through nation’s libraries, YMCAs
Emergent BioSolutions is launching a campaign to raise public awareness of the risks of opioids through public libraries and YMCAs. Emergent, through its subsidiary Adapt Pharma, will provide one free box of its NARCAN Nasal Spray along with educational materials to all 16,568 public... Read More »
More than 3,600 public safety agencies utilizing FirstNet
Public-private partnership project FirstNet has officially crossed the 3,600 subscriber mark for United States public safety agencies at the federal, state, local and tribal levels. “FirstNet is being purpose-built to favor the important work first responders do. This is challenging and... Read More »The West, Russia have different views on strategic stability
The West and Russia have increasingly different interpretations of strategic stability, according to a survey of U.S., Russian, and European experts conducted by the Nuclear Threat Initiative. These differences increase the risk of miscalculation, nuclear competition, and escalation.... Read More »
Firm to manage civilian transportation contractors in Kuwait
Boeing subsidiary Tapestry Solutions has received an award to monitor contractors who move Army equipment and supplies throughout Kuwait. Officials said the one year contract with one-year options calls for the deployment of Global Distribution Management System (GDMS) software in Kuwait and... Read More »
Dayton International Airport unveils $1.5M General Aviation Facility
After two years of construction, Dayton International Airport unveiled its $1.5 million General Aviation Facility last week, opening the new facility for international aircraft and passenger arrival. It brings Dayton into the international fold, as foreign aircraft and passengers had to... Read More »
FEMA awards Pennsylvania $60 million in grant funding
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently awarded Pennsylvania more than $60 million in grant funding for firefighters. “Every day, our first responders put themselves in harm’s way to help individuals and families, whether it’s responding to a medical emergency, fire, or... Read More »
Xavier Morales named chief patrol agent for CBP’s Ramey Sector
The U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) named last week Puerto Rican native Xavier Morales as the chief patrol agent of Ramey Sector -- the organization’s only station outside the continental United States and within Puerto Rican borders. Morales is a 24-year veteran of CBP, entering service... Read More »
Ribbon cutting held for flight deck simulator
A ribbon cutting ceremony recently was held for the KC-135 Flight Deck Simulator at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base near Lockbourne, Ohio. In 2016, the Ohio U.S. Congressional members sent a letter to Gen. Carlton Everhart III, Air Mobility Command, on behalf of the Ohio Air National Guard... Read More »
Rep. MacArthur sponsors bill to help students report threats to police
U.S. Rep. Tom MacArthur (R-NJ) recently introduced the Modern School Threat Reporting Act, which seeks to help schools address school safety concerns. The legislation creates new grants for states to develop a mobile application that allows students and teachers to report threats to local law... Read More »
Utah resident charged with ricin-related threats
A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City recently indicted William Clyde Allen, III, of Logan, Utah, on seven counts in connection with ricin-related threats. While Allen pleaded not guilty, the indictment alleges Allen knowingly used ricin as a weapon, mailed a threat against President Donald... Read More »
INTERPOL outlines global policing goals
The International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) launched last week its Global Policing Goals and is encouraging the international law enforcement community to support them. The Global Policing Goals serve as a framework for the international community to collectively address the... Read More »
Justice department sets record for violent crime, firearms charges
The U.S. Department of Justice charged the largest number of violent crime and firearm defendants in its history in fiscal year 2018. Citing data from the Executive Office of United States Attorneys (EOUSA), the Justice Department said the number of people criminal felony offenses increased by... Read More »
GAO assesses DOD Afghan defense measures
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is recommending the Department of Defense upgrade Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) units' ability to operate and maintain U.S.-purchased equipment. GAO officials said House Report 114-537 included a provision for the agency to review... Read More »
Federal, state and local law enforcement cooperate in South Texas border operation
The South Texas-based Operation Stonegarden has united federal U.S. Border Patrol officers with state and local law enforcement agencies in an effort to enhance the area’s border security. To date, they have rescued more than 120 aliens from stash houses and have seized weapons, drugs and... Read More »
BAE Systems technology successfully shares data
BAE Systems technology successfully demonstrated its ability to provide U.S. intelligence organizations with data from BAE Systems’ Geospatial eXploitation Products (GXP) Platform and access to geospatial imagery. The technology, XTS Guard 5, was equipped with the GXP platform demonstrated... Read More »
Initiative targets transnational organized crime
Federal law enforcement officials have unveiled a series of initiatives targeting transnational organized crime. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said the effort stems from an executive order from President Donald Trump to dismantle transnational criminal organizations, which Sessions defined as... Read More »
Lack of vaccinations among US children on the rise, opening deadly possibilities
The opportunity for public health disasters is growing in the United States, fueled by falling vaccination rates reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week. The data revealed that vaccinations are still common among children, but they are not as common as they were, or... Read More »
TSA releases plan for expansion of biometrics tech
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recently released a plan to expand the use of biometrics technology to enhance security and increase efficiency. Biometric technology will speed up the passenger experience. The TSA and airlines currently verify traveler identity primarily by... Read More »
Bill targets permanent VCF re-authorization
A group of lawmakers recently introduced a measure designed to permanently re-authorize funding for the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF). Sens. Cory Gardner (R-CO), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), and Reps. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY),... Read More »
Government, industry reps from 25 nations endorse greater public-private cooperation on chemical weapons
Both state and industry representatives from 25 nations gathered in Qatar earlier this month as part of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and collectively agreed to increase cooperation in the future. “All chemical industries regardless of the size and scale need... Read More »
Facial comparison technology intercepts imposters at US-Mexico Border
When two separate individuals attempted to enter the United States at the Port of San Luis in Arizona earlier this month, it was new facial comparison technology that identified inconsistencies between the passports and the people who stood before Customs and Border Protection (CBP)... Read More »