The Tennessee Emergency Communications Board (TECB), a self-funded nine-member board located within the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI), is pleased to announce the Tennessee Statewide Cybersecurity Assessments and Penetration Testing Program has been Nominated for the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program.

Helping Those Who Help You

911 call-takers are vital to the safety of all Tennesseans.

Working in ECDs across the state, these 911 professionals answer emergency calls and dispatch public safety responders.

The TECB helps local ECDs serve their citizens better.

Their self-funded board assists ECDs in implementing and maintaining 911 emergency services, advocates for advancements and improvements in 911 services, and helps ECDs stay operational during and in the aftermath of a disaster.

The TECB offers the technical guidance, financial information, and support needed to make 911 services successful statewide and connect Tennesseans with emergency help when they need it.

(Emergency dispatchers are the first people who Tennesseans often contact when there’s an emergency. Go behind the scenes and learn more from an emergency dispatcher why this often stressful job can be so rewarding – and how E911 help make Tennessee safer. Courtesy of the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance and YouTube.)

In the wake of several cybersecurity attacks that targeted government entities, TECB partnered with Mission Critical Partners (MCP), a mission-critical communications consulting and information technology (IT) support services firm, on a new project focused on assessing the cybersecurity status of the state’s 142 public safety answering points (PSAPs).

The project will generate greater visibility into Tennessee’s 911 infrastructure, which is growing in complexity and sophistication as the state transitions to Next Generation 911 (NG911), a broadband, Internet Protocol (IP)-based system that enables the transmission of real-time text, images, video and voice calls.

Tennessee is a leader in implementing NG911 technology with a nationally recognized, redundant Emergency Services Internet Protocol Network (ESInet) known as NetTN.

This network, which has been operating for seven years, processes more than 20 million calls annually and helps to keep Tennessee’s citizens and visitors safe.

TECB implemented this two-year statewide cybersecurity program, making it available to all emergency communications districts (ECDs) in 2020, the first of its kind in Tennessee.

When completed, the cybersecurity assessment will provide the PSAPs with an understanding of their baseline status and increased awareness of vulnerabilities.

(A cyberattack brought Atlanta to a virtual standstill. The city says it is slowly making progress in restoring its computer network. Officials have not said whether they paid a $51,000 ransom to a group known as SamSam, which is thought to be behind the hack. Learn More from Allan Liska of the security firm Recorded Future. Courtesy of PBS NewsHour and YouTube. Posted on Mar 30, 2018.)

Government entities, including public-safety organizations, are increasingly being targeted by cyber attackers.

As noted, in conjunction with the cybersecurity program, the TECB is transitioning its PSAPs from an Internet Protocol (IP)-based selective-routing (IPSR) solution to an ESInet that leverages Next Generation Core Services (NGCS).

NGCS are the fundamental elements that enable 911 calls to be processed in an NG911 environment, and this NENA i3-compliant solution will provide enhanced technology services outlined in the TECB’s NG911 Strategic Plan.

Because IP-based networks inherently are more vulnerable to cyberattacks, the cybersecurity initiative being undertaken by the TECB and MCP takes on even greater importance as the state’s PSAPs transition to NG911, explains TECB Executive Director Curtis Sutton.

“Across the country, public-safety leaders increasingly are viewing cybersecurity as a priority, recognizing that cybercriminals are targeting 911 operations because of their mission-critical nature.”

“The TECB is committed to providing excellent customer service to Tennessee’s 911 community. Understanding the vulnerabilities of our 911 network is a critical step toward implementing a proactive cybersecurity risk-prevention program in the state,” added Sutton.

(Dr. Anton Dahbura of the Information Security Institute addresses the implications of ransomware thieves breaking into DC’s police department computers. Courtesy of WUSA9 and YouTube. Posted on Apr 27, 2021.)

The project is funded in part by the 911 Grant Program jointly provided by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), and the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) in 2019.

Tennessee Statewide Cybersecurity Assessments and Penetration Testing Program, which authorized $109 million in grant funding to 34 states and two tribal nations, is designed to support state and local efforts to deliver modernized 911 services.

Any Tennessee PSAP opting into the statewide cybersecurity project will receive:

• An assessment of the PSAP’s computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system and call-processing networks

• An assessment of the PSAP’s physical security

• A report that identifies resolvable cybersecurity vulnerabilities and recommendations so that plans may be developed to address deficiencies

“We are honored to partner with the TECB in this effort, and we applaud their vision to be confident in the security surrounding the state’s 911 infrastructure,” said R. Kevin Murray, Chairman, and CEO of MCP.

“Taking this proactive approach will help them safeguard against threats that could disable them or interrupt their ability to serve Tennessee’s citizens and visitors and will ultimately help to improve emergency response.”

Consequently, the TECB recognized that it needed to do something substantive to protect ECDs and their networks and systems to ensure that 911 services would not be compromised.

The Board operates on local, state, and federal levels to facilitate the technical, financial, and operational advancement of Tennessee’s 911 systems.

(As the conflict escalates in Ukraine, Hawaii’s Emergency Management Agency (HiEMA) is keeping an eye out to make sure our state is safe from cyberattacks. Courtesy of KITV and YouTube. Posted on Feb 28, 2022.)

In April of 2022, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee proclaimed the second full week of April (April 10-16) as ‘Public Safety Telecommunicators Week’ across Tennessee.

The Governor and the TECB took the opportunity to honor the men and women who respond to emergency calls, dispatch emergency professionals and equipment, and render life-saving assistance to Tennessee citizens while recognizing the first Public Safety Telecommunicators Week in Tennessee.

“Tennessee’s emergency telecommuni-cators are crucial to the life-saving service provided by law enforcement, fire, and EMS agencies across our state,” explained Governor Bill Lee.

“I want to thank the tireless work of our dispatchers who provide public service to Tennessee communities 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.”

The TECB plays a crucial role in assisting the state’s 100 emergency communications districts in the areas of management, operations, and accountability.

(Meet some of Tennessee’s public safety telecommunicators who are on the front lines of public safety. Courtesy of the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance and YouTube.)

The TECB is responsible for modernizing the state’s 911 infrastructure to provide more efficient 911 services to the citizens of Tennessee.

The TECB is committed to providing 911 training initiatives that ensure telecommunicators have the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to improve emergency response outcomes.

In 2021, the TECB provided 1,784 hours of in-person training and over 16,000 hours of online training to 1,767 911 professionals.

(The Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance is sharing tips and information for consumers to remember when it comes to using your health insurance to help make your visit go smoothly. Questions about your insurance policy or need to file a complaint? Contact the TDCI team at 1-800-342-4029 or 615-741-2218. Visit us at tn.gov/insurance. Courtesy of the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance and YouTube.)

The TECB is a self-funded nine-member board located within the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI), created to establish emergency communications for citizens across the state and assist emergency communications districts (ECDs) in the areas of management, operations, and accountability.

The Department of Commerce and Insurance also regulates several hundred thousand Tennesseans in their professions and businesses.

“During the past two years, Tennessee’s insurance industry has risen to face numerous challenges, and I am proud to say that our team has equally risen and remained steadfastly focused on serving, assisting, and regulating insurance companies and professionals while serving Tennessee policyholders,” according to TDCI Commissioner Carter Lawrence.

“As we enter the second half of 2022, Tennessee residents can trust that our team is hard at work serving consumers while fairly regulating insurance companies.”

(The Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance wants consumers to know the facts, not the myths, when it comes to flood insurance. For more information about flood insurance, visit tn.gov/insurance or floodsmart.gov. To contact the NFIP, call 800-427-4661. Courtesy of the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance and YouTube.)

Recent figures show Tennessee’s insurance industry is thriving.

• Tennessee has approximately 294,000 licensed insurance professionals. This is the largest number of licensed insurance professionals in Tennessee in nearly 40 years.

• Additionally, the current number of licensed professionals is a nearly 10% increase compared to the 259,320 licensed insurance professionals in 2021.

• The Department licensed 45 new insurance companies in 2021, bringing the total number of licensed insurance companies to 1,959.

• $51.5 billion in premium volume was written in Tennessee in 2021.

• $1.12 billion in premium taxes were collected in Fiscal Year 2021, a 7.5% increase from 2020.

• Tennessee’s climb as a domicile in the captive insurance industry continues as the state is ranked as the 8^th largest domestic captive domicile and the 13^th largest captive domicile worldwide, with over 495 active risk-bearing entities.

TDCI regulates all types of insurance and encourages consumers to contact TDCI’s Consumer Insurance Services team with any insurance-related questions or concerns.

As of June 2022, consumers filed 1,467 complaints that have resulted in over $5.43 million being returned to consumers through the Department’s mediation and restitution efforts this year.

The top three reasons for consumer complaints are denials, delays, and low settlement offers.

For the sake of comparison, over $8.2 million was returned to consumers in 2021.

“Our dedicated Consumer Insurance Services team is eager to assist Tennesseans who feel they have a claim that has been unjustly denied or who have a question about their insurance policies,” added TDCI Assistant Commissioner Bill Huddleston.

“I want to thank our entire team for their hard work and diligence through the first six months of 2022.”

“I know our team will continue to exceed expectations through the rest of this year.”

If you have questions about consumer insurance, visit TDCI’s website or contact us at 1-800-342-4029 or (615) 741-2218.

These boards, commissions, and programs are empowered to take disciplinary action, including revocation of licenses and assessment of civil penalties against license holders found guilty of violating laws governing their professions.

Consumers are encouraged to file complaints with the Department of Commerce and Insurance when they feel they have been the victim of unfair or deceptive business practices, witness unlicensed activity or see suspected misconduct or other violations of respective laws or rules. Click here to file a complaint.

Sept 11th First Responders Recognized in 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Government Excellence Awards

American Security Today’s Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards is the preeminent U.S. Homeland Security Awards Program, and now in its Seventh Year, continues to recognize industry leaders of Physical and Border Security, Cybersecurity, Emergency Preparedness – Management and Response, Law Enforcement, First Responders, as well as federal, state and municipal government agencies in the acknowledgment of their outstanding efforts to Keep our Nation Secure.

The United States was forever changed 20 years ago on September 11th, and we were fortunate to have many of those who responded to those horrific tragedies join us at the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Luncheon.

Thomas Richardson

• Excellence in Public Safety

  • • FDNY Chief of Department

    • Chief Richardson is a 40-year veteran and true servant leader who served tirelessly as a Battalion Chief in the aftermath of 9/11 – after having lost 343 of his colleagues, Chief Richardson never sounding retreat or surrender to those who tried to harm our Country.

Richard Blatus

• Excellence in Public Safety

  • • FDNY Assistant Chief of Operations

    • Assistant Chief of Operations Blatus, also a 40-year Department veteran who also served as a Battalion Chief in the aftermath of 9/11 attacks,  Chief Blatus continues to lead, to inspire, and to mentor firefighters.

James Albrecht

• Excellence in Public Safety

• A retired NYPD Captain, First Responder, and  Incident Command Management Member at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, and many other major events across New York City.

• Captain Albrecht is also a Retired Police Chief who served as the Chief of Criminal Investigations for the United Nations and European Union police agencies in Kosovo, and is presently a Professor of Criminal Justice and Homeland Security at Pace University in New York City.

Derrick Driscoll

• Excellence in Homeland Security

  • • United States Marshals Service Deputy Director COO & Chief Risk Officer (Ret)

• Deputy Director Driscoll is a 27-year veteran of federal law enforcement recognized for his relentless and global pursuit of criminals and criminal organizations.

• Derrick now uses that same drive to build strategic alliances in the private sector, serving as the Principle of Strategic Alliances for Peraton’s Civil & Health Sector, where he leads the sector’s federal government strategy and engagement.

(Derrick Driscoll, United States Marshals Service. Courtesy of WMAR-2 News and YouTube.)

Frank Larkin

• Excellence in Public Safety

  • • National Advocate Veteran Suicide Prevention & Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

• In honor of Mr. Larkin’s career service to our Nation as a United States Secret Service Special Agent and First Responder to the World Trade Center; as a Navy SEAL and extraordinary leader who now leads a global effort to recognize early signs of TBI in our service members to prevent generations of grief to families and to society in the absence of these future leaders.  His efforts result from the loss of his beloved son Ryan, a Navy SEAL to suicide following repeated undiagnosed percussive injuries.

• Navy SEAL Special Warfare Operator First Class (SO1) Ryan F. Larkin, a decorated Navy SEAL operator and explosives breacher, Ryan was regularly exposed to high-impact blast waves throughout his 10 years of service. Ryan was a decorated U.S. Navy SEAL that had served his country honorably, including four combat deployments. 

• Ryan started experiencing headaches and other health issues and was diagnosed with PTSD. From research of him and his family it seems that his frustrations with his PTSD diagnosis, continued medication changes, and no improvement were beginning to wear thin on him.

• Ryan was honorably discharged from the Navy and sought out continued treatment at the VA. It seems as though his frustrations with his deteriorating health continued. He suffered nightmares, insomnia, and daily headaches.

• Ryan was vocal about his concerns and expressed that there was more going on within his brain. He also voiced that if something were to happen to him then he would like his brain to be donated to science for further research. After Ryan passed his family did just that. They had Ryan’s brain tissue donated for research.

• It was found that the “invisible wounds of war” that are so frequently discussed were a very real part of Ryan. His brain showed Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), and lesions called astroglial scarring, which are lesions closely related to blast exposures. These microscopic tears are undetectable via standard MRI or PET scan.

(Listen to surviving dad Frank Larkin share lessons learned on the lookback in an effort to save lives in honor of his son, Ryan. At TAPS they say that “postvention is a critical component of any comprehensive suicide prevention strategy.” Learn about suicide risks and protective factors as well as our field-leading TAPS Suicide Postvention Model at https://www.taps.org/suicide. Courtesy of Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors and YouTube. Posted on Oct 8, 2020.)

Are you a Veteran in crisis or concerned about one?

If you have been thinking about suicide, it is important to get help right away. If you need to talk with someone right now, resources are available 24/7.

Please call the Veterans Crisis Line to reach caring, qualified responders with the Department of Veterans Affairs, (many of them are Veterans themselves), at 1-800-959-8277.

For survivors in need of immediate suicide postvention support, please contact us at 800-959-8277 or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

To Learn More about Mr. Larkin’s personal story, please go to https://americansecuritytoday.com/a-personal-reflection-on-the-impact-of-9-11/. Courtesy of PWPORG.org.

John Merrill

• Excellence in Homeland Security

  • • Deputy Director, Technology Centers Division (Acting) at U.S. Department of Homeland Security

• John Merrill currently serves as the Acting Director of the DHS First Responders and Detection (FRD) division as well as the Next-Gen First Responder (NGFR) Apex Program Director.

• Leading FRD, Merrill oversees the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office (CWMD), Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) and First Responders.

• Under his leadership, NGFR has developed and integrated cutting-edge technologies – allowing for a timely, efficient and safe response to disasters of all sizes.

• Merrill has successfully established a model for the program that expands industry involvement and collaboration with the Nation’s first responders.

• He advocates on behalf of first responders, encouraging industry partners to collaborate directly with responders on R&D, testing, and evaluation, and to “walk a mile in their shoes.”

(Learn More about how the DHS Science and Technology Directorate (S&)T is mobilizing innovation to secure our world. From sensors to cybersecurity to technology for first responders, we work with you to find tomorrow’s solutions, today. Courtesy of DHS Science and Technology Directorate.)

Kevin Becker, PsyD, LCP

• Excellence in Scientific Research

  • • Trauma Counselor, and Owner of ORI Consulting

• In recognition of Dr. Becker’s lifetime of service as a practitioner and as a psychologist helping individuals, organizations, and governments prepare for, respond to, and recover from crisis and traumatic events, and the human impact of trauma, crisis, and disaster for organizations and individuals.

(Hear Dr. Kevin Becker, keynote speaker at Newtown Sandy Hook Community Connections Day posted on Jul 10, 2017. Courtesy of ORI Consulting and YouTube.)

National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health (NCDMPH)

• Excellence in Public Safety

  • • First Aid for Severe Trauma (FAST) High School Student Training

• Trauma is the leading cause of death for young Americans, and there have been calls to teach children about hemorrhage control however little was known about adolescents’ ability to perform hemorrhage control, and the ideal way(s) to teach them.

• The origins of FAST were developed using battlefield lessons-learned, evidence-based research, and student, medical, and educational expert input, and with the experience of Dr. Craig Goolsby, Professor & Vice Chair, Dept of Military & Emergency Medicine; Science Director, NCDMPH at Uniformed Services University, who has an extensive background in emergency medicine, medical education, combat casualty care, first aid, mass casualty, and disaster medicine.

• The evidence-based nature of FAST was successfully documented through focus groups and educational research (with both high school students and teachers), which led to the development of the three training modalities to include live-actor videos featuring high school students.

American Red Cross

• Excellence in Public Safety

  • • First Aid for Severe Trauma (FAST) High School Student Training

• FAST is a school-age training initiative offered in multiple modalities, designed to enhance a bystander’s ability to take decisive, lifesaving action to assist victims with traumatic injuries.

• FAST training provides the knowledge necessary to stabilize the injured and control severe bleeding in the minutes until first responders arrive on scene.

(The FAST education program is based on funding provided by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) to the National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health (NCDMPH). The FAST course and digital materials, developed by the American Red Cross in collaboration with NCDMPH, will be offered at no charge to high school students under the age of 19, thanks to the S&T grant. Courtesy of the DHS Science and Technology Directorate and YouTube.)

DHS Science & Technology (First of Four)

• Excellence in Public Safety

  • • First Aid for Severe Trauma (FAST) High School Student Training

  • The DHS Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) awarded a grant to the National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health (NCDMPH) to develop the school-age trauma training that became First Aid for Severe Trauma (FAST).

• FAST is the first national STOP THE BLEED® course designed specifically for high school students and made available through the American Red Cross, thanks to the S&T grant.

• While FAST is available for anyone, the course and digital materials are offered at no charge to high school students under the age of 19.

DHS Science & Technology (Second of Four)

• Excellence in Public Safety

  • • Wildland Fire Sensor Technology

    • The  Wildland fires present a significant threat to the United States, and the DHS Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is fighting fire with technology.

    • Wildland Fire Sensor Technology could provide the public with the advanced notice necessary to reduce the loss of life and property while giving communities the information and time necessary to make life-saving evacuations. 

(Learn More, courtesy of the DHS Science and Technology Directorate and YouTube.)

DHS Science & Technology (Third of Four)

•  Excellence in Homeland Security

  • • NUSTL Remote Audible RAD Alarm

• In the event of a radiological or nuclear incident, emergency response agencies and HAZMAT teams could utilize this new technology to set up community reception centers to screen members of the public for potential exposure to radioactive contaminants.

• Two inventors from the DHS National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL) have developed a personal radiation detector (PRD) that could be placed beneath an entry ramp to detect radioactivity on the shoes of people being pre-screened before entering main screening areas.

• This innovative and unique new device emits an alarm sound that is both louder than, and distinctive from other alarms, to ensure it can be easily heard and distinguished from other devices.

• Additionally, the remote alarm box does not require any batteries nor external power and can be stored indefinitely without maintenance so that it is immediately ready for use in an emergency.

DHS Science & Technology (Fourth of Four)

• Excellence in Homeland Security

  • • S&T AI/ML Strategic Plan

• DHS S&T identifies research the agency will conduct to understand the opportunities, as well as the risks, that accompany the rapidly changing AI/ML technology landscape and its impacts to DHS missions, and incorporate the technological advancements in AI/ML to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the DHS operational components and the broader Homeland Security enterprise.

• S&T’s three strategic goals are to 1) drive next-generation AI/ML technologies for cross-cutting homeland security capabilities; 2) facilitate the use of proven AI/ML capabilities in homeland security missions; and 3) build an interdisciplinary AI/ML-trained workforce. 

• The Strategic Plan aligns with the DHS Artificial Intelligence Strategy, which lays out goals to govern the Department’s approach to integrating AI into the DHS mission.

Naval Postgraduate School 

• Excellence in Homeland Security

  • • Center for Homeland Defense and Security

• The Center for Homeland Defense and Security offers programs developed in partnership with and are sponsored by the National Preparedness Directorate of FEMA, focused on assisting current and emerging leaders in Homeland Defense and Security to develop the policies, strategies, programs, and organizational elements needed to defeat terrorism and prepare for and respond to natural disasters and public safety threats across the United States.

• Through CHDS graduate and executive-level coursework, seminars, and research, homeland security leaders gain the analytic and critical thinking skills and substantive expertise they need to create innovative solutions that address the threats facing the nation and local communities.

(See how CHDS resources are utilized daily by hundreds of local, state, territorial, tribal, and federal agencies, the private sector, and academic institutions to accomplish their missions. The Center facilitates leaders in taking their ideas out of the classroom and into the real world where they become new policies and strategies that better protect our communities and country. Courtesy of CHDS and YouTube.)

Federal Protective Service in Collaboration with the Argonne National Laboratory

• Excellence in Homeland Security

  • • Modified Infrastructure Survey Tool (MIST)

• FPS uses the Modified Infrastructure Survey Tool (MIST) which was developed in partnership with the Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory.

• Using MIST, FPS can survey a facility’s current security posture and make countermeasure recommendations.

• This multi-component application includes a survey tool, artificial intelligence-powered threat determination, a security asset tracking system, and a stakeholders communication tool.

• The MIST Stakeholder Self-Service Tool (SST), is currently providing more than 300 Federal agencies with the documentation and data necessary to maintain ISC compliance at the national level, through a secure application gateway that allows security managers and agency leadership to view current and prior facility security assessments and countermeasure recommendations while documenting and ensuring their ISC compliance.

DHS/CISA/Infrastructure Security Division/Interagency Security Committee

• Excellence in Homeland Security

  • • Risk Management Process & Facility Security Committee Training

• The Interagency Security Committee’s (ISC) Risk Management Process and Facility Security Committee Training positively impacts federal facility security through a systemic and deliberate risk management approach, which is a level of protection commensurate with the level of risk.

• These virtual instructor-led courses cover the ISC Risk Management Process and the roles and responsibilities of the Facility Security Committee, and is offered at no cost to participants and is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

• The ISC Risk Management Process and Facility Security Committee Training is highly recommended for Facility Security Committee (FSC) Chairs, FSC Members, Executives, Managers, and any personnel involved in making facility funding, leasing, security, or other risk management decisions.

U.S. Fire Administration

• Excellence in Public Safety

  • • Fire Service Training & Professional Development

• The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) supports the fire and emergency services professional development community through the Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education (FESHE) initiative to standardize training, education, experience, and certification activities.

• USFA and National Fire Academy (NFA) work to advance the professional status and expand the knowledge and skills of fire and emergency services personnel, with free training and education programs to support fire departments and emergency services organizations in preparing for, preventing, and responding to fires and other hazards.

• This national, competency-based professional development system helps to eliminate duplication of efforts and enhance the overall professional development of the fire and emergency services.

(Tonya Hoover, Superintendent at United States Fire Administration describes how the USFA  supports the training, education, and professional development of fire departments so they are better prepared to respond to all hazards. Learn more about the staff behind their mission. Courtesy of the U.S. Fire Administration, FEMA, and YouTube.)

Washington DC Metropolitan Police Department

• Excellence in Public Safety

  • • Metropolitan Police Department (MPD)

• One of the 10 largest local police agencies in the United States, the Metropolitan Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency for the District of Columbia.

• Founded in 1861, the Metropolitan Police Department of today is on the forefront of technological crime fighting advances, from highly developed advances in evidence analysis to state-of the-art-information technology.
  

• Each and every member of the Metropolitan Police Department lives their motto: We are here to help, each and every day!

San Diego Harbor Police Foundation

• Excellence in Public Safety & Community Enrichment

  • • San Diego Harbor Police Foundation

• For police officers, the concept of devotion to duty is second nature. Every day, the men and women of uniformed law enforcement serve on the front lines, protecting the communities and individuals in their care.

• True to its heritage, the nonprofit San Diego Harbor Police Foundation represents a deep-rooted commitment to service and has made significant contributions toward improving the lives of children, families, and police officers.

• Envisioned by Mark Stainbrook, Chief of the Port of San Diego Harbor Police, and led by Chief Executive Officer Jeff Wohler, the San Diego Harbor Police Foundation supports three critical initiatives, each of which make the world a safer place: Community Outreach, Officer Wellness, and Countering Human Trafficking Awareness & Training programs. 

(The San Diego Harbor Police Foundation celebrates the holidays by helping others. And there’s no better way than to help fund the Shop with a Cop program. In 2020 COVID-19 got in our officers’ way, but barely. Courtesy of the San Diego Harbor Police Foundation and YouTube.)

Washington DC Police Foundation

• Excellence in Public Safety & Community Enrichment

  • • Washington DC Police Foundation

• The Washington DC Police Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) organization in our Nation’s Capital, serves over 15,000 youth annually through mentoring programs led by police officers, designed to enhance communication and build positive relationships between youths, families, and law enforcement. 

• “At a time when the relationships between police and some communities are strained, these programs are designed to build positive relationships, between officers and at-risk youth,” explains Patrick Burke, Executive Director at the Washington DC Police Foundation.

• The Washington DC Police Foundation expands public safety awareness and advances public safety initiatives helping make the Nation’s Capital a safer place for all to live, work and visit with world-class community engagement and support for the Washington DC Metropolitan Police Department.

(Learn More about the Foundation and how you can help to become part of the solution in our children’s lives. Courtesy of the Washington DC Police Foundation and YouTube.)

PWPORG

• Excellence in Public Safety & Community Enrichment

  • • PWPORG.org Preparedness Education

• PWPORG (Preparedness Without Paranoia) is a 501(c)(3) built by law enforcement and security industry practitioners and educators to provide educational resources to kids, families, and communities on safety and emergency preparedness.

• PWPORG is proactively taking action to introduce the children and families in our communities, to skills and educational resources on safety and emergency preparedness, that when learned and practiced, will last for a lifetime.

• Guided by Dr. Kathleen Kiernan, a 29-year veteran of Federal Law Enforcement and President of NEC National Security Systems, the nonprofit PWPORG was created to educate, engage and empower families and kids on issues of preparedness and resiliency to create a safer world, free of active threats and human traffickers.

(Learn about how YOU can Make a Difference in the lives of our Nation’s Children and Families. Be a Superhero, Make a Donation and Make a Difference by helping to support Preparedness Without Paranoia and Parents with Preparedness Magazine. Courtesy of Kiernan Group Holdings and YouTube.)

InfraGard National Alliance

• Excellence in Homeland Security

  • • InfraGard National Alliance – Protecting America for 25 Years

• InfraGard is the largest public-private partnership in the world with 80,000 members, founded by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), which was recognized in the 2020 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program, dedicated to the protection of U.S. critical infrastructure.

• Through seamless collaboration, InfraGard connects owners and operators within critical infrastructure to the FBI, to provide education, information sharing, networking, and workshops on emerging technologies and threats.

• InfraGard’s vetted membership includes business executives, entrepreneurs, lawyers, security personnel, military, and government officials, IT professionals, academia, and state and local law enforcement—all dedicated to contributing industry-specific insight and advancing national security.

• The InfraGard National Members Alliance is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, is comprised of 77 chapters across the country.

Naval Criminal Investigative Service

• Excellence in Homeland Security

  • • NCIS Transnational Crime Unit

• The Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Transnational Crime Unit (TCU), is combatting illegal narcotics by deploying special agents aboard multinational Combined Task Force 150 (CTF-150) warships during maritime security operations.

• This team of highly skilled special agents patrols the high seas aboard ships from the United States, France, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom, to provide law enforcement expertise and collect intelligence during interdictions of illicit narcotics aboard suspicious vessels found in areas known for drug trafficking operations.

• These interdictions deny funding for terrorism, significantly contribute to the National Defense Strategy, and also strengthen military readiness by keeping illicit narcotics from reaching service members and their families throughout Europe, Africa, and the United States.

(Learn about the NCIS mission to investigate and defeat criminal, terrorist, and foreign intelligence threats to the United States Navy and Marine Corps—ashore, afloat, and in cyberspace. Courtesy of NCIS and YouTube.)

Sandia National Laboratories

• Excellence in Homeland Security

  • • Neutron E-Field Imaging

• This neutron electric-field (E-field) imaging technology developed by Yuan-Yu Jau and funded by Neutron E-Field Imaging, will determine whether a concealed, electric detonator is charged for nuclear reactions in weapons and power plants.

• E-field imaging technology can solve the problems of determining various electric properties inside a physically isolated space and the electronic charge/voltage state inside a metal box, the kind of metrology that was thought to be impossible.

• When finished, it will enable the safe examination of sealed metal boxes when opening them could be dangerous, whether it’s because inside is an explosive weapon or a malfunctioning, high-voltage fire set at a missile range.

• This important breakthrough in imaging technology will provide new diagnostic powers of great value across widespread security applications.

TENEO

• Excellence in Homeland Security

  • • TENEO Risk Advisory

• In today’s complex operating environment, organizations are charged with mitigating an array of interdisciplinary and intersecting risks across the enterprise, whether terrorism, reputational risk, geopolitical risk, or cyber threat, and the complexity of this risk landscape demands new mitigation strategies and tactics that transcend traditional security processes.

• Led by former NYPD, BPD, and LAPD Police Commissioner, and Vice Chairman of the Secretary of Homeland Security’s Advisory Council, Bill Bratton, who was recognized as the ‘2019 ‘ASTORS’ Person of the Year’ for his Lifetime of Dedication and Extraordinary Leadership in Homeland Security and Public Safety, TENEO Risk Advisory is made up of leading security and political risk consultants with backgrounds from the world’s most respected corporate, intelligence, public-safety, public-health and technology organizations. 

• TENEO Risk Advisory offers CEOs a holistic approach to identify, manage, and mitigate operational risks to their businesses by providing comprehensive strategic guidance to build risk awareness, resiliency, and mitigation.

(See an ‘American Security Today Exclusive Interview’ with Commissioner Bill Bratton facilitated by Dr. Kathleen Kiernan, President of NEC National Security Systems at the 2020 “ASTORS’ Awards Presentation Luncheon in New York City on November 17, 2021.  Courtesy of My Pristine Images, and Vimeo.)

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

• Excellence in Homeland Security

  • • Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)

• HSI is the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel, and finance move, with a mission to investigate, disrupt and dismantle terrorist, transnational and other criminal organizations that threaten or seek to exploit the customs and immigration laws of the United States.

• HSI has broad, legal authority to conduct federal criminal investigations into the illegal cross-border movement of people, goods, money, technology, and other contraband throughout the United States, and utilizes these authorities to investigate a wide array of transnational crime, including terrorism; national security threats; narcotics smuggling; transnational gang activity; child exploitation; human smuggling and trafficking; illegal exports of controlled technology and weapons; money laundering; financial fraud and scams; worksite and employment crimes; cybercrime; intellectual property theft and trade fraud; identity and benefit fraud; and human rights violations and war crimes.

(See how law enforcement can more effectively collaborate to form a force multiplier of resources and capabilities in the ever-expanding global world of crime. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) bridges the gap. HSI has the ability to follow the “pipeline” and to proactively pursue the larger networks of illicit activities. HSI can serve as a force multiplier from anywhere domestic; from Minot, ND to New York City – to almost anywhere around the world with our international partners, either through the Transnational Criminal Investigative Units (TCIU’s) – which expand HSI’s footprint and enhance cooperation between partner nations and the United States – or through our 63 HSI International Attaché offices. State and Local law enforcement have the ability to leverage HSI’s unique legal authorities and global footprint to help combat crimes in their community; such as the growth and proliferation of transnational crimes and the rampant and far-reaching cyber crimes – most notably, the darknet. Courtesy of WebsEdgeSociety and YouTube.)

• In collaboration with its strategic partners in the U.S. and abroad, HSI special agents gather evidence to identify and build criminal cases against Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs), terrorist networks and facilitators, and other criminal elements that threaten the United States, and their efforts protect U.S. national, border, and economic security, and ensure the safety of the public and our communities.

• *ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), was also recognized in the 2020 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program, and the Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Unit (HRVWCU) was recognized in the 2018 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

• Excellence in Homeland Security

  • • Office of Field Operations

• The Office of Field Operations (OFO) is a federal law enforcement agency within the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) responsible for managing United States customs operations at 20 Field Operations offices, 328 ports of entry, and 16 pre-clearance stations in Canada, Ireland, the UAE, and the Caribbean.

• Headed by a CBP Assistant Executive Commissioner, OFO directs the activities of more than 27,000 employees, including more than 22,000 CBP Officers and Agriculture Specialists.

• CBP Office of Field Operations is the largest component in CBP, has the largest working Law Enforcement Canine Program in the world, in addition to the Office of Air and Marine (AMO), and the U.S. Border Patrol, which was recognized in the 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program.

• The vast majority of CBP’s resources are located along the Southwest border, from Brownsville, Texas to San Diego, California, and CBP canine teams are also strategically assigned to other ports of entry around the country, and located at pre-clearance stations abroad.

(Everyday we strive to make an impact, no matter how great, or how small. CBP Officers employ state-of-the-art tools and technology to make an impact on their community. Courtesy of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and YouTube.)

• The CBP was also recognized in the 2018, and 2017 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Programs, respectively. 

NEC Corporation of America

• • Excellence in Innovation for Airport/Aviation Safety

    • • NeoFace Thermal Express

• NEC Thermal Express combines NEC’s world-class artificial intelligence (AI)-driven advanced video and thermal analytics, and industry-leading face recognition technologies with trusted infrared (IR) thermal imaging sensors to deliver a solution that simultaneously verifies identities and detects body temperatures without contact. 

• This innovative NeoFace Thermal Express technology was successfully deployed by the State of Hawaii at all five Hawaiian airports in response to the COVID-19 global pandemic, to automatically screen the body temperature of every arriving passenger entering the airport terminal, to ensure they would not become hotspots of virus contraction as people cross paths from across the globe.

• As a global technology leader for 120 years, NEC has proven its ability to anticipate and meet market needs, to demonstrate technical excellence, and to build a dependable and enduring business model based on NEC’s primary mission, to help orchestrate a brighter world.

(The Hawaii Department of Transportation (DoT) partners with NEC to install a hygienic, contactless, thermal body temperature screening solution at Hawaii’s 5 major airports. The purpose of this project is to protect the health and safety of the traveling community, the visitors, and the residents and to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Courtesy of NEC Corporation of America and YouTube.)

NEC Corporation of America

• • Excellence in National Security for Traveler Security Mgmt

    • • NEC I:Delight

• The NEC I:Delight digital identity management platform provides a unified experience for a variety of aviation services using a unique Digital ID to transform the passenger curb-to-gate journey.  

• NEC I:Delight enables a hygienic and seamless travel experience that benefits everyone, from travelers to airport staff by giving travelers a single Digital ID that they can use within the airport and beyond.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctrhCxeRFRU

(The world’s largest global airline alliance, Star Alliance, launched its new #biometrics service, Star Alliance Biometrics in November 2020. Watch this video to see how Star Alliance members can enjoy and experience various airport touchpoints using a single #DigitalID. Touchpoints include check-in, baggage drop, VIP lounge, duty-free shopping, and many more. Powered by NEC I:Delight, this technology is now available at Frankfurt and Munich airports, for Lufthansa flights. Courtesy of NEC Corporation of America and YouTube.)

Gordon (Scott) Armstrong

• Excellence in National Security for Traveler Security Management

  • • • Aviation Program Branch
        Law Enforcement/Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS)

• In recognition of the outstanding training and support the ‘Crew Member Self Defense Training Program‘ provided our industry partners.

• Through this training, TSA enhanced the safety and security of the traveling public and the flight crew members who serve them.

(Run. Hide. Fight. Everyone is familiar with how to deal with certain threats on the ground. But the rules are different at 35,000 feet. Take an inside look at how the TSA’s Federal Air Marshals Service is teaching airline crew members how to defend themselves – and the aircraft – from terrorists. Courtesy of the TSA and YouTube.)

Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

• Excellence in National Security for Traveler Security Management

  • • • TSA Team Newark at
        Newark Liberty International Airport

• In recognition and with sincere appreciation of your exceptional contributions at Newark International Airport, in promoting the transportation security mission and outstanding dedication to the agency, stakeholders, and the traveling public. 

(On this the 20th Anniversary of the TSA, please join us in celebrating the fabulous work of this comprehensive and innovative agency in securing public transportation across our Nation, and keeping our citizens safe, one plane, train, bus, highway, and mass transit hub at a time. See selected highlights from the TSA’s 20th Anniversary event held at Ronald Reagan Airport on November 19, 2021. Courtesy of the TSA and YouTube.)

The Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards highlight 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.

Learn More…

2021 ‘ASTORS’ Award Winners & 9/11 Special Guests Honored (Wins A-D)