Allied Universal, a leading global security and facility services company, and a Double Platinum 2020 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Award Winner, is pleased to announce that the John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) has been nominated to compete for Best Airport/Aviation Security Program in the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program.
Located just East of downtown Columbus, Ohio, the John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) was formerly known as Port Columbus International Airport.
The airport is managed by the Columbus Regional Airport Authority (CRAA), which also oversees operations at Rickenbacker International Airport and Bolton Field.
John Glenn Columbus International Airport is primarily a passenger airport. Pre-pandemic it provided access to more than 160 daily departures to 47 destinations nonstop via eight airlines.
John Glenn Columbus International Airport has one terminal with three concourses and a total of 34 gates.
Security Challenges:
CMH is a medium hub facility, implementing certain mitigation measures has proven challenging given the original part of the terminal was built in the 1950s, and encompasses 2,265 acres of operational space; along with Rickenbacker International Airport (LCK) which covers 4,342 acres.
As CMH has grown several times with terminal expansions in the 1980s and 1990s, certain security needs were never contemplated, making new demands challenging.
In partnership with Public Safety leadership at CMH, Allied Universal serves as the mobile eyes, ears, and badge readers.
By keeping their Security Professionals fluid, Allied Universal Officers can routinely roam the facility to conduct random security measures of employees, and with an average of 3,000 badged personnel, in 2020, conducted more than 50,000 checks.
These checks are in addition to the many other layers of security.
Tenure of Allied Universal at CMH:
Allied Universal was awarded the contract by John Glenn Airport Police and assumed duties in 2019.
Initial roles consisted of traffic control, concession, tool, and vehicle inspections, AOA Checkpoint control, and foot patrols of the facility and ramp area; in addition to similar duties at Rickenbacker International Airport (LCK) on an as-needed basis.
The team at CMH consists of over 50 Security Professionals.
These Security Professionals operated at a variety of posts including Terminal Patrol, Traffic Management, Exit Lane, Vendor/Concession Inspection, AOA Vehicle Checkpoint, and auxiliary duties at LCK.
Expansion and Integration at CMH:
In December of 2019, CMH became the pilot facility within Allied Universal’s aviation market to integrate our advanced program, HELIAUS®, a workforce management tool utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology.
(HELIAUS® is a revolutionary integrated solution beyond the archaic “detect and respond” model of risk management. It’s not just a tour or incident management system. HELIAUS® is a comprehensive workforce management solution with AI technology at its core. Courtesy of Allied Universal and YouTube.)
HELIAUS® provides a solution to help streamline security operations while generating intelligent recommendations to help mitigate risk.
HELIAUS® also helps provide real-time communication and insight to the company’s Security Professionals while working at these airport facilities.
Working closely with the airport’s CRAA contacts within the Public Safety division, Allied Universal was able to further expand their service and technology capabilities to provide added value to the security model in place at CMH.
Duties expanded to include a vehicle patrol of perimeter gates as well as door alarm testing using the client’s in place access management system (AMS).
By integrating HELIAUS® with perimeter gate checks we are now able to provide the exact date, time, and officer at each gate for each gate check; along with GPS verification that the Security Professional was physically present at the gate when the check was conducted.
This helped provide airport leadership with accountability and transparency knowing that Allied Universal‘s people were in the right place, at the right time.
The program also allows leadership to have access to the systems advanced, easy to navigate reporting web portal. The system runs pre-scheduled tours to ensure all gates have been checked and will indicate any missed gates to the Security Professional during their patrols.
Enhanced Security:
With HELIAUS® in place, Allied Universal has been able to provide CRAA with much more detailed, instantaneous records and compliance reporting for many of the company’s security metrics.
Allied’s partners within the Public Safety Division can access the system and submit real-time requests to the on-site team, review active and past incidents, and view the metrics independently.
This has increased Allied’s transparency with CRAA not only in regards to their KPI reporting but has aided CRAA on several occasions when responding to TSA audits or inquiries.
By replacing outdated modes of record-keeping with HELIAUS®, a searchable reporting system was made available (and practical) with a higher density of useable security-related data.
Allied Universal has now begun using this capability to identify and mitigate additional security challenges such as insider threat, recurrent access violations, and incident frequency and response.
(HELIAUS® is designed to enhance the effectiveness of your on-site Security Professionals. Scalable, customizable, and driven by smart data, HELIAUS creates workforce efficiencies that improve the safety of your property. By leveraging a sophisticated AI engine that generates risk-averse recommendations, this smart technology takes the guesswork out how, when, where, and exactly what action your security team needs to take to reduce incidents that jeopardize your property. Courtesy of Allied Universal and YouTube.)
The metrics obtained using the HELIAUS® system have allowed their team to identify new leading indicators, or refine existing data sets and stay ahead of the curve in addressing security concerns that were previously unidentified or poorly documented.
Security of non-controlled doors are deemed a security concern and were addressed through HELIAUS® at a fraction of the cost of installing additional AMS sensors and keycard control at those locations.
Vehicle safe-lists for designated parking areas have been incorporated into HELIAUS® system eliminating the need for maintaining a paper copy of such lists and reducing over-the-air calls to the police communication center.
Audits for restaurants within the sterile area were migrated to HELIAUS® along with audits for merchandise vendors within a sterile area, and these audits are now matched via GPS tagging and include pictures of the logs along with any findings.
The system also creates targeted questions of the Security Professional to ensure all needed information is collected promptly and paired with the report.
Additionally, messaging can be sent to all HELIAUS® devices, such as urgent facility events or incidents, and can be conveyed to all active Security Professionals with any pertinent instructions and are time and date stamped when read and acknowledged.
COVID-19 Pandemic:
Like other airports, and indeed all aviation-driven sectors, CMH was heavily impacted by the pandemic. In March of 2020, the airport saw passenger numbers plummet, internal concessions shuttered, and a new host of security challenges. It became necessary to adapt.
While Allied Universal did reduce service hours to better align with the reduction of travel demand and passenger throughput; HELIAUS® allowed the company to maximize the effectiveness of our remaining staff.
By reducing work weeks, they were able to retain more of the company’s trained and seasoned Security Professionals while meeting CRAA’s new operational needs. Despite the reduced manpower, Allied Universal was able to continue to produce security data while meeting compliance requirements.
Having well-seasoned Security Professionals helped position the Allied Universal team at CMH for success when we began to see mask mandates, and additional travel restrictions go into effect.
Allied Universal entered the chaos with a strong team of organized, professional and knowledgeable, dedicated, resourceful staff members to help support CRAA in the implementation and enforcement of those public health mandates.
Continuous Improvement:
With HELIAUS® allowing them to gather mountains of security metrics, Allied Universal is always looking for ways to improve their utilization of the system in ways that will further the objectives of Safety and Security at CMH.
The system has allowed them to see in real-time Security Professionals’ density in the terminal, patrol routes that may be stagnating, hot spots for activities and incidents, and cold zones that could use additional interaction.
This information is not only available to search but can be superimposed on a (Google Earth) map of the facility and reviewed for a selected period at a scaled time, similar to CCTV.
This has provided Allied Universal with a unique opportunity within the industry to continually analyze and adjust their routes and schedules not only to better interact with the facility and the public – but also to mitigate some of the threat from insider infiltration by identifying patterns and common behaviors within our staff that would otherwise not be visible.
Education:
Within the first year of the contract, the Account Manager became Airport Certified Employee (ACE) Security certified with progress being made to have all Shift Supervision become Airport Security Coordinator (ASC) certified.
All officers are required to complete pre-requisite training on the Incident Command System (ICS), diversity, communication, leadership and influence, active shooter, workplace security, surveillance awareness, and protection of critical infrastructure before to working a shift.
Monthly training is conducted with all on-site personnel utilizing a mixture of Allied Universal’s EDGE training platform, FEMA’s (Federal Emergency Management Agency) Independent Study Program, and AAAE (American Association of Airport Executives) ANTN (Affiliated New Thought Network) Digicast courses on aviation-specific topics.
Using these platforms, Allied Universal has been able to target training to meet any identified deficiencies or adapt to changing risks and challenges identified either by CRAA or though the support network of Allied Universals aviation market structure.
Officers receive annual refreshers on SIDA Protocols and Challenge Procedures, Customer Service, Active Shooter, Insider Threat Identification and Response, and Vehicle Inspection Protocols.
Going the extra mile makes a difference. When travelers had an unexpected stop at CMH last month, Danny, Victoria & Donna stepped in.
“They got us food, water, blankets & much needed information.” – Michael, passenger.Read the full story: https://t.co/cNV1PM3z3U#CMHExtraMile pic.twitter.com/1MPzyK0OQa
— John Glenn Intl Airport (@columbusairport) September 14, 2021
To Learn More about Allied Universal’s security and facility services please visit www.aus.com, or for Allied Universal’s Aviation Services, go to www.aus.com/industry-expertise/government-institutions/aviation.
Allied Universal Returns to Compete in Fourth Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program
American Security Today’s ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards program is today in its Sixth Year and continues to recognize the Outstanding Innovations of top firms and agencies in the Homeland Security and Public Safety fields.
The Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards is the preeminent U.S. Homeland Security Awards Program highlighting the most cutting-edge and forward-thinking security solutions coming onto the market today, to ensure our readers have the information they need to stay ahead of the competition, and keep our Nation safe – one facility, street, and city at a time.
American Security Today is pleased to announce TSA Administrator David Pekoske, will join the organization as a featured speaker at the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Presentation Luncheon, on November 18, 2021 at ISC East in New York City.
“On the heels of an unprecedented global pandemic, continued unrest in our cities and potentially catastrophic cyberattacks on our nations critical infrastructure, the focus of the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Luncheon will be on the latest, state-of-the-art innovations that are driving investments in new public security and safety technologies and systems,” said AST Editorial and Managing Director Tammy Waitt.
“As a recognized expert in crisis management, strategic planning, innovation and aviation, surface transportation and maritime security, David Pekoske’s message highlighting his top priorities and challenges for the TSA based on his years of wide-ranging experience will be critical to our attendees internalizing the critical nature of these escalating challenges, and realizing innovative new approaches to meet them.”
The 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program is Proudly Sponsored by AMAROK, Fortior Solutions and SIMS Software, along with Returning Premier Sponsors ATI Systems, Attivo Networks, Automatic Systems, and Reed Exhibitions.
Nominations are currently being accepted for the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards at https://americansecuritytoday.com/ast-awards/.
Comprehensive List of Categories Include:
| Access Control/ Identification | Personal/Protective Equipment | Law Enforcement Counter Terrorism |
| Perimeter Barrier/ Deterrent System | Interagency Interdiction Operation | Cloud Computing/Storage Solution |
| Facial/IRIS Recognition | Body Worn Video Product | Cyber Security |
| Video Surveillance/VMS | Mobile Technology | Anti-Malware |
| Audio Analytics | Disaster Preparedness | ID Management |
| Thermal/Infrared Camera | Mass Notification System | Fire & Safety |
| Metal/Weapon Detection | Rescue Operations | Critical Infrastructure |
| License Plate Recognition | Detection Products | And Many Others! |
| COVID Innovations | And Many Others! |
Don’t see a Direct Hit for your Product, Agency or Organization?
Submit your category recommendation for consideration to Michael Madsen, AST Publisher at: mmadsen@americansecuritytoday.com.
Register for the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Luncheon Today
At ISC East 2021 you with the opportunity to interact with a broad array of security industry professionals.
ISC East works closely with other businesses in the security and public safety space to help bring together the Northeast’s largest security trade show each year.
In collaboration with premier sponsor SIA (Security Industry Association) and in partnership with ASIS NYC, ISC East is proud to work with and be supported by various associations, trade publications, charities, and more.
Therefore, the ISC audience of security dealers, installers, integrators, consultants, corporate, government and law enforcement/first responder practitioners will be joined by the ASIS NYC audience of major corporate managerial-through-director-level national and global security executives.
The combination of one-on-one conversations with the industry’s top innovators, integrators and security executives, special events, high-quality education and training, and strong support from industry associations, will allow attendees to learn and evaluate solutions from leading security exhibitors and brands.
With the integration of the Natural Disaster and Emergency Management (NDEM) Expo, the show is moving even further into our reader’s wheelhouse!
Your ‘ASTORS’ Awards Luncheon registration includes complimentary attendee access to both ISC East – and NDEM!
Thank take advantage of this exclusive luncheon opportunity to take a break from the show – Invite your team, guests, clients and show visitors to a lovely and affordable plated meal event in the heart of New York City, for a fabulous networking opportunity!
Go to https://americansecuritytoday.com/product/awards-luncheon/ to secure your seat or reserve a table.
***Limited space available so Register Today. There will be no on-site registrations.
Why American Security Today?
The traditional security marketplace has long been covered by a host of publications putting forward the old school basics to what is Today – a fast changing security landscape.
The traditional security marketplace has long been covered by a host of publications putting forward the old school basics to what is Today – a fast changing security landscape.
American Security Today is uniquely focused on the broader Homeland Security & Public Safety marketplace with over 75,000 readers at the Federal, State and local levels of government as well as firms allied to government.
American Security Today brings forward a fresh compelling look and read with our customized digital publications that hold readers eyes throughout the story with cutting edge editorial that provides solutions to their challenges.
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The AST Digital Publications is distributed to over 75,000 qualified government and homeland security professionals in federal, state and local levels.
‘PROTECTING OUR NATION, ONE CITY AT A TIME’
AST Reaches both Private & Public Experts, essential to meeting these new challenges.
Today’s new generation of public safety and security experts need real-time knowledge to deal with domestic and international terrorism, lone wolf attacks, unprecedented urban violence, shifts in society, culture and media bias – making it increasingly difficult for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Military and Private Security Professionals to implement coordinated security measures to ensure national security and improve public safety.
These experts are from Government at the federal, state and local level as well as from private firms allied to government.
AST provides a full plate of topics in our AST Monthly Magazine Editions, AST Website and AST Daily News Alerts, covering 23 Vital Sectors such as Access Control, Perimeter Protection, Video Surveillance/Analytics, Airport Security, Border Security, CBRNE Detection, Border Security, Ports, Cybersecurity, Networking Security, Encryption, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Campus Security, Security Services, Corporate Facilities, and Emergency Response among others.
AST has Expanded readership into integral Critical Infrastructure audiences such as Protection of Nuclear Facilities, Water Plants & Dams, Bridges & Tunnels, and other potential targets of terrorism.
Other areas of concern include Transportation Hubs, Public Assemblies, Government Facilities, Sporting & Concert Stadiums, our Nation’s Schools & Universities, and Commercial Business Destinations – all enticing targets due to the large number of persons and resources clustered together.
To learn more about the 2020 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Award Winners solutions, Check Out the New 2020 ‘ASTORS’ CHAMPIONS Edition Fully Interactive Magazine – the Best Products of 2020 ‘A Year in Review’.
The Annual CHAMPIONS edition includes a review of the ‘ASTORS’ Award Winning products and programs, highlighting key details on many of the winning firms products and services, includes video interviews and more.
It is your Go-To source throughout the year for ‘The Best of 2020 Products and Services‘ endorsed by American Security Today, and can satisfy your agency’s and organization’s most pressing Homeland Security and Public Safety needs.
From Physical Security (Access Control, Critical Infrastructure, Perimeter Protection and Video Surveillance Cameras and Video Management Systems), to IT Security (Cybersecurity, Encryption, Data Storage, Anti-Malware and Networking Security – Just to name a few), the 2020 ‘ASTORS’ CHAMPIONS EDITION has what you need to Detect, Delay, Respond to, and Mitigate today’s real-time threats in our constantly evolving security landscape.
It also includes featured guest editorial pieces from some of the security industry’s most respected leaders, and recognized firms in the 2020 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program.
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For a complete list of 2020 ‘ASTORS’ Award Winners, click here.
For more information on All Things American Security Today, and the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program, please contact Michael Madsen, AST Publisher at mmadsen@americansecuritytoday.com.
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