GSN names winners in 2009 Homeland Security Awards

GSN: Government Security News has announced 38 winners of its 2009 Homeland Security Awards (including two ties) to a packed ballroom at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York that included many distinguished present and former officials in federal, state and local government, as well as many CEOs and other executives at prominent vendor companies in the IT Security and Physical Security fields. The ceremony opened with an Honor Guard and Bagpipes furnished by the International Association of Airport and Seaport Authority Police, and it ended with a keynote speech by Frances Townsend, former Chair of the Homeland Security Council in the Bush White House and former Assistant Commandant for Intelligence in the United States Coast Guard.

GSN: Government Security News has announced 38 winners of its 2009 Homeland Security Awards (including two ties) to a packed ballroom at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York that included many distinguished present and former officials in federal, state and local government, as well as many CEOs and other executives at prominent vendor companies in the IT Security and Physical Security fields.

The ceremony opened with an Honor Guard and Bagpipes furnished by the International Association of Airport and Seaport Authority Police, and it ended with a keynote speech by Frances Townsend, former Chair of the Homeland Security Council in the Bush White House and former Assistant Commandant for Intelligence in the United States Coast Guard.

In the last award of the evening, Ms Townsend was presented with the 3rd Annual Fred V. Morrone Memorial Nine-Eleven Award, in honor of the highest-ranking officer in the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police to die in the World Trade Center attacks of 2001, along with 36 colleagues.

Ms Townsend gave a moving speech commending Officer Morrone for his courage and broad vision, and urging Americans to appreciate all military, law enforcement, first responders and others who put their lives on the line to protect their fellow citizens. She urged the country to stay the course in Afghanistan and provide civilian support to the military, without which, she asserted, we cannot achieve our objectives in that country.

GSN's 2009 Awards were divided into three categories – Outstanding Vendors and Product in the field of IT Security; Outstanding Vendors and Products in the field of Physical Security field; and Best Government Agencies and Officials at Federal, State and Municipal/Country levels.

The Winning Vendors in IT Security Products and Services were:

Best Intrusion Detection/Prevention System
Vanguard Integrity Professionals

Best Authentication/Identification Product
Anakam

Best Anti-Malware Product or Service
Blue Ridge Networks

Best Encryption Product or Service
CREDANT Technologies

Best Network Security/Enterprise Firewall Solution
Fidelis Security Systems

Best E-Mail Security System
Kaspersky Labs

Best Security Compliance, Auditing, Vulnerability Management Solution
Telos Corp.

Best Security Incident and Event Management
ArcSight

Best Cyber Crime Investigative Software
Guidance Software

The Winning vendors of Physical Security Products and Services were:

Best Authentication/Identification System
Hirsch Electronics

Best Integrated System for HSPD-12/FIPS-201 Compliance
Codebench

Best Radios
Mutualink

Best Mass Notification System
Cooper Notification

Best Explosives, Metal/Hazmat Detection
Ahura Scientific

Best Nuclear/Radiation Detection
Textron Defense Systems

Best All-Digital Technology
Pixim
Cisco Systems

Best Security Compliance, Auditing, Vulnerability Management Solution
Aegis Bleu

Best Cameras/Lenses
FLIR Systems

Best High-Definition Surveillance System
Mutualink

Best Video Storage/Digital Transmission System
NICE System

Best Perimeter Protection Product (Excluding Video)
Future Fibre Technologies

Best Vehicle (Law Enforcement, Command Center, Perimeter Patrol)
DHS Systems, LLC

Best Crash Barriers (Gates, Fences, Bollards, Guard Booths, Blast Resistant Products)
Universal Safety Response

Best Clean-Up, Decontamination, Disaster Preparedness or Recovery Product
High Rise Escape

Best Clean-Up, Decontamination, Disaster Preparedness or Recovery Service
Global Elite

Best Guard Service
Emergent BioDefense Operations

Best Training/Higher Education Services
Bellevue University

The winning Government Agencies were:

Most Effective Aviation Security Program, Project or Agency
Federal Aviation Administration

Most Effective Border Security Program, Project or Agency
Government Printing Office

Most Effective Seaport Security Program
Department of Homeland Security – TSA's I-STEP program

Most Effective Railroad, Mass Transit Security Program, Project or Agency
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation (SEPTA)

Most Effective Municipal/County Security Program, Project or Agency
Nassau County (NY) Police Department/STARCOM Task Force
City of Yuma, AZ

Most Effective State Government Security Program, Project of Agency
University of California, Los Angeles

Most Effective Federal Agency Security Program, Project or Agency
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services