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Featured Videos

GSN Awards Dinner Winners and Sponsors Interviews: Scott Paul, Senior Product Marketing Manager, Sarix Line, Pelco by Schneider Electric:

Scott Paul describes Pelco by Schneider Electric – 2011 winner in “Best Network IP Cameras” -- as a leading provider of video surveillance equipment sold around the world. Products range from analog...

GSN 2011 Awards Dinner Winners and Sponsors Interviews: Bill Eckerd, Director of Sales for Strategic Account Group, Verint Video Solutions

Verint Video Solutions was a 2011 Winner of “Best Intelligent Video Surveillance Solution” for its Nextiva Physical Security Information Management System (PSIM). According to Bill Eckerd, the PSIM...

GSN Awards Dinner 2011 - Winners and Sponsors Interviews: Howard Ryan, Founder, CEO Total Alert Systems

According to Howard Ryan, Total Alert Systems is a one-stop shopping mass notification portal used by government agencies, DOD, industrial and health care users. It is capable of sending alerts to...

GSN 2011 Awards Dinner and Sponsor Interviews: John Clark, President and CEO, The Whitestone Group

It's been a banner year for the Whitestone Group, according to John Clark, CEO of the facility security, asset/force protection and investigations firm. On July 1, the FAA signed a national...

News

If suspended or denied, federal firearm licensees or applicants can submit arguments in an ‘informal setting,’ says ATF

Fri, 2012-02-03 11:57 AM

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, known as the ATF, has proposed a new federal rule that intends to clarify that an applicant for a firearms license whose application has been...

FEMA awards ambulance support contract worth nearly half a billion dollars

Fri, 2012-02-03 10:22 AM

Ambulance
team with AMR

FEMA has awarded a follow-on contract that could be worth almost half a billion dollars to American Medical Response Ambulance Service, Inc. (AMR) to provide ground and air ambulances, medical...

TSA expects heaviest Super Bowl traveler volume on Feb. 6

Fri, 2012-02-03 08:55 AM

Indianapolis International

The Transportation Security Administration is set to deal with tens of thousands more passengers travelling through Indianapolis International Airport before and after Super Bowl XLVI with additional...

DHS and ICE busy before Super Bowl securing stadium and IP rights

Fri, 2012-02-03 08:15 AM

Napolitano at Super Bowl XLVI

As their boss touted this year’s Super Bowl as one of the most secure in history, U.S. customs agents were busy extending protections beyond the physical venue and into intellectual property on the...

Recent terror cases move forward in Denver and Tampa

Fri, 2012-02-03 07:35 AM

Federal courtroom

Federal cases against two men charged with terror exploits moved forward on Feb. 2, with formal charges against one and an initial court appearance by another. The Florida man accused of planning...

Study shows terror 'hot spots' geographically in the U.S.

Thu, 2012-02-02 09:51 AM

U.S. hot spot map

A study by university researchers on terror attacks in the U.S. between 1970 and 2008 found some areas in the U.S. have remained hot spots for the activity.

CBP designates first native American tribe’s Enhanced Tribal Card as acceptable travel document

Thu, 2012-02-02 08:36 AM

Kootenai lands

On Jan. 31, the Idaho Kootenai tribe’s identification document officially became a valid form of identification to enter the U.S. The tribe, whose lands straddle the U.S./Canadian border in Idaho,...

Privacy group calls for moratorium on facial recognition technology

Thu, 2012-02-02 08:09 AM

A privacy rights group told the Federal Trade Commission that the FTC should suspend facial recognition technology’s deployment by commercial users until privacy and other safeguard standards are...

Senators say Iran trade sanctions working to reduce terror and nuclear activities

Thu, 2012-02-02 07:42 AM

Sens. Lieberman (I-CT), Collins (R-ME)

The leaders of the Senate Homeland Security Committee welcomed news from the GAO that trade sanctions against Iran seem to be working to limit that country’s ability to support nuclear and terror...

In new strategy, ObjectVideo agrees to license its video analytic patents to American Dynamics

Wed, 2012-02-01 01:20 PM

Raul Fernandez,
ObjectVideo's CEO

ObjectVideo, a software company that has developed numerous video analytic tools which have been protected by more than 40 patents granted worldwide, has launched a sweeping patent enforcement...

Gun smuggler linked to Zapata murder sentenced

Wed, 2012-02-01 09:51 AM

Century Arms WASR-10 rifle

The man who oversaw the purchase and smuggling of the semi-automatic rifle that killed ICE HSI agent Jaime Zapata a year ago was sentenced to almost 10 years in prison on Jan. 30 in Houston, TX, on...

Two men face 20 years and a million in fines for smuggling automatic weapon ammunition

Wed, 2012-02-01 08:34 AM

7.62 x 39 mm ammo

Two men pleaded guilty in a south Texas federal court to trying to smuggle thousands of rounds of automatic weapon ammunition into Mexico from Texas. According to federal agents, the men bought 17,...

Company News

Physical Optics gets HECAD emergency responder contract from HSARPA

Homeland security systems integrator Physical Optics Corp. received a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) award for Phase II of the Helmet Embedded Conformal Augmented Display (HECAD) system.

In collaboration with the Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency (HSARPA), said the company, the HECAD Phase II award will provide two-year funding for continued work on an embedded "heads-up" display to increase personal situation awareness for emergency responder, said the company.

LRAD debuts its new LRAD 2000X acoustic hailing system

LRAD Corp. has announced that its new LRAD 2000X acoustic hailing system broadcasts highly intelligible voice communication that can be clearly heard and understood over five miles away.

NNSA’s Sandia Site manager to retire

The National Nuclear Security Administration said Sandia Site Office Manager Patty Wagner will retire on Feb. 3 after 31 years of federal service.

As Sandia Site Office manager, NNSA said Wagner was responsible for overseeing the $2.5 billion contract for Sandia National Laboratories and ensuring the safe and secure operations of the laboratories.

Creative Computing Solutions names Suzanne Petrie Liscouski to homeland security position

Creative Computing Solutions (CCSi), a provider of program management services to the federal government, announced on Jan. 23 the appointment of Suzanne Petrie Liscouski to be its director of homeland security. In this role, Liscouski will build on the company's solid program management experience in DHS to secure more advanced security and enterprise systems architecture projects.

Herrera selected as acting deputy manager at Y-12 Site Office

Robert “Dino” Herrera was named acting deputy manager of the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Y-12 Site Office.

He replaces Dan Hoag who was named acting YSO manager. His assignment to YSO was effective Jan. 4, 2012.

The Y-12 site, in Oak Ridge, TN, primarily supports national defense needs by watching over the nuclear weapon stockpile, assists in nuclear non-proliferation efforts, and provides expertise to other federal agencies. The facility also provides secure storage for nuclear material from the U.S. and other governments.

Daniel Gordon joins Knowledge Link as CEO

Knowledge Link Inc., a provider of information technology services for federal customers, announced on Jan. 9 the appointment of a new CEO, Daniel Gordon, who will be responsible for the company’s strategic planning, corporate-level leadership, management and corporate positioning.

Knowledge Link’s current CEO and president, Randall Stefano, will assume the role of president and serve as an active member of the board of directors.

DHS selects VIP for large Federal Protective Service project

Visionary Integration Professionals (VIP), a technology and managed services firm, has been awarded a $17.2 million project for the Federal Protective Service (FPS), a unit within the DHS National Protection and Programs Directorate, under which VIP will provide project management, programmer analysis, quality assurance, technical writing, information security, systems and database administration, and SELC documentation support services.

Brevard County gets IP emergency network

Brevard County, FL, recently signed an agreement with AT&T to roll-out an IP network-based, next-generation 911 services network.

Brevard County and the roughly 540,000 residents in the county will use a variety of AT&T Emergency Services IP network (ESInet) capabilities, according to the company.

The new network completely overhauled and re-built the county’s aging pre-existing 911 network, it said, with three AT&T-managed facilities spread across the state hosting the capabilities.

Commentary and Opinions

HHS readiness to respond to a biological or other emergency

By Nicole Lurie, MD

[Editor’s note: Nicole Lurie, M.D., M.S.P.H., Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, U.S. Public Health Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), delivered on Oct. 18, 2011 the following testimony to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, entitled, “Safeguarding our Nation: HHS Readiness to Respond to a Biological or Other Emergency.”]

The state of intelligence reform 10 years after 9/11

By Robert Mueller, III

[Editor’s note: Robert Mueller, III, the Directopr of the FBI, delivered the following congressional testimony before the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence in Washington, DC, on October 6, 2011.]

Good morning, Chairman Rogers, Ranking Member Ruppersberger, and members of the committee. Thank you for the opportunity to appear before the committee today to discuss the threats facing our nation and the efforts of the FBI to protect the United States over the past 10 years.

Streamlining emergency management

By Craig Fugate

[Editor’s note: Craig Fugate, Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, delivered the following testimony on Oct. 13, 2011 before the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management, entitled "Streamlining Emergency Management: Improving Preparedness, Response, and Cutting Costs."]

Introduction

Immigration and customs enforcement

By John Morton

[Editor’s note: John Morton, the Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, delivered the following statement on Oct. 12, 2011 before the House Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement, at a hearing entitled, "Oversight Hearing on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement: Priorities and the Rule of Law."]

Introduction

Smart effective border security and immigration enforcement

Smart effective border security and immigration enforcement

By Janet Napolitano

[Editor’s note: DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano delivered the following speech at American University in Washington, DC, on Oct. 5.]

Essential Guides

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Recent Videos

GSN 2011 Awards Winners and Sponsor Interview: Travis Scott, VP of Agency Relations, Nixle, Inc

Rapidly growing Nixle, which has signed up 4500-plus municipal, county, state and federal agencies in all 50 states – mainly law enforcement and public safety agencies -- and developed an opt-in membership of more than 700,000 local residents, received its Winner’s Trophy in the “Best Mass Notification System” category of GSN’s 2011 Awards Program. According to Travis Scott, Nixle does not require additional personnel at the agency level, because it is a one-way communications service.

GSN 2011 Awards Dinner and Sponsor Interviews: Jeff Horne, Practice Manager, Malware Solutions, Accuvant Inc

Jeff Horne explains that Denver, CO-based Accuvant , Inc has two different businesses – the Value Added Reseller (VAR) side, in which it is one of the largest resellers in the country, and the Accuvant Lab side, which provides research in IT Security and on risk and compliance management, vulnerability analysis and malware solutions. It does technical due diligence with the hardware and software it grabs from the VAR side of the business, evaluating products and incorporating them into new solutions, acting as a product agnostic, objective advisor.

GSN 2011 Award Winners and Sponsor Interviews: Mike Potts, CEO, Lancope, Inc

Company CEO Mike Potts talked with GSN on November 14th shortly after Lancope, Inc was awarded the Winner’s Trophy for its StealthWatch product in the IT category of “Best Network Security/Enterprise Firewall”. According to Mr. Potts, StealthWatch focuses on the cyber security crime level, which is at an all-time high in government and enterprise networks. For the last ten years, he points out, companies and government agencies have surrounded networks with perimeter defense systems, but today it’s not a question of whether your network is going to be compromised, but when.

GSN 2011 Award Winners and Sponsor Interviews: Dave Natelson, President, Nasatka Security

GSN caught up with Dave Natelson for a quick interview at the Cocktail Reception at the 2011 Awards Dinner, before he learned that Nasatka had earned a Winner’s Trophy in the Best Perimeter Protection System in Awards Program. Mr. Natelson indicated the company had been named a Finalist for its steel plate barrier that uses an electric, as opposed to a hydraulic system, that had recently completed a 1.5 million cycle without any human interference – which he pointed out translates into a great return on investment for users.

GSN 2011 Award Winners and Sponsor Interviews: Ann Pickren, VP Solutions, MIR3,Inc

Ann Pickren discusses MIR3’s Mass Notification System that was awarded a Winner’s Trophy in GSN’s 2011 Homeland Security Awards Program. She explains that the company is focused totally on its robust mass notification platform which can reach people no matter what device they are using or where they are located. MIR3 focuses heavily on federal, state and local government agencies, counting NASA, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Air Force and Army among its clients.

Upcoming Events

Event Details	Dates of Event
SANS Monterey 2012	Jan 30 - Feb 4
2012 Adobe Government Assembly	Feb 8
SANS Phoenix 2012	Feb 13 - 18
SANS Secure India 2012	Feb 20 - 25
The Airport Law Enforcement Symposium Feb 23-24, 2012	Feb 23 - 24
Physical Security: Introductory Applications and Technology	Feb 27 - Mar 1
Conducting Corporate Investigations	Feb 27 - 28
ISC CHINA 2012 (International Security Conference & Exposition CHINA)	Feb 27 - 29
RSA Conference 2012	Feb 27 - Mar 2
SAP Public Sector Partner Exchange	Feb 28 - 28
SANS Secure Singapore 2012	Mar 5 - 17
SANS Germany 2012	Mar 5 - 10
Homeland Security Finance Forum 2012	Mar 6 - 6
Basic Hands-On CAMEO Training	Mar 12 - 14
ASIS Assets Protection Course: Principles of Security (APC I)	Mar 12 - 15
SANS Mobile Device Security Summit 2012	Mar 12 - 15
Aviation Week's Innovation Challenge Showcase	Mar 13 - 14
Symantec Government Technology Summit	Mar 20 - 20
STI at SANS 2012	Mar 23 - 30
SANS 2012	Mar 23 - 30
The 9th Two Day Conference On Indian Medical Devices & Plastics Disposables Industry 2012	Mar 23 - 24
SANS Northern Virginia 2012	Apr 15 - 20
Active Shooter	Apr 18 - 19
SANS AppSec 2012	Apr 24 - May 2
SANS Cyber Guardian 2012	Apr 30 - May 7
Telework Exchange Spring 2012 Town Hall Meeting	May 2 - 2
5th Sample Prep - Sample Preparation for Virus, Toxin, & Pathogen Detection & Identification	May 3 - 4
SANS Security West 2012	May 10 - 18
SANS Toronto 2012	May 14 - 19
Counter Terror Expo US	May 16 - 17
CEIC 2012 (Computer and Enterprise Investigations Conference)	May 21 - 24
SANS Rocky Mountain 2012	Jun 4 - 9
Data Center Brainstorm 2012	Jun 19 - 19
SANS Forensics and Incident Response Summit 2012	Jun 21 - 27
Vanguard Security & Compliance 2012	Jun 25 - 28
SANS Canberra 2012	Jul 2 - 10

New Products

GammaTech debuts newest mobile, rugged Durabook notebook computer

GammaTech Computer Corp., a manufacturer of notebook and tablet computers, has introduced the newest member to its line of cost-effecti...

Laser line security metal detector from Wizard

Created to make metal detection quicker, easier and more reliable, Wizard Industries has released its new Security Wizard 4, a laser...

Input forecasts emerging tech markets for state and local governments

Reston, VA-based Input, which specializes in government business, has unveiled new research detailing adoption trends for cloud computing, virtualization, service-oriented archi...

Kanguru adds USB device control to its KRMC

Millis, MA-based Kanguru Solutions, a manufacturer of secure IT storage solutions, has announced the ad...