Using Biometrics In The Global War on Terrorism	Back to Homepage
John D. Woodward, Jr.Director, Department of DefenseBiometrics Management OfficeWest Virginia University Biometric Studies ProgramApril 7, 2005 Muhammad al Kahtani Kahtani is captured in SW Asia in Dec 2001. Fingerprints matched to a foreigner denied U.S. entry in Aug 2001 at the Orlando, FL airport. Subsequent investigation indicates 9/11 hijacker Muhammad Atta was at the Orlando Airport at the same time. The operative likely intended to round out the team for [Flight 93] - The 9/11 Commission Report Importance of interoperable biometric data is undeniable Agenda Agenda Background / DoD Biometrics Organization Identity Management Challenge Power of Biometric Data: Case Study Current Focus on the Global War on Terrorism Way Ahead: Identity Dominance Biometrics Automated Measurable, Physiological and/or behavioral characteristics That can be used to: Verify the identity of an individual (1:1) Identify an individual (1:N) Latest Biometric Research Rejected Biometric Technologies Trivia Question The FBI’s Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS) Criminal Master File has the fingerprint records of how many individuals? DoD Biometrics Organization Identity Management Challenge Requirement: Force Protection, Actionable Intelligence, Law Enforcement Bottom-line: Using only names and official documents We don’t know We won’t know in the future. Paradigm Shift: We must leverage the power of biometric data. Case Study: FBI "Hits" on Detainee Fingerprints Based on fingerprint data taken to the internationally accepted standard, the FBI identified 64 military detainees (45 captured in Iraq; 19 in Southwest Asia) as having previous arrest records. 47 -Hits from U.S. 10 -Hits from Germany 7 -Hits from Other Allied Countries 64 Total Hits The Standard --Ten Print Card Once collected, fingerprint data is forever valuable for counterterrorism work. U.S. military is dealing with detainees who have criminal records in the U.S. dating back 27 years. Case Study: Identification to Support the Global War on Terrorism In Jul, a Special Operations unit, FBI Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division, and DoD Biometrics Fusion Center (BFC) began biometric data test. On 21 Jul, Special Operations forces apprehended terrorist suspect overseas: Fingerprinted suspect Requested search of suspect’s fingerprints against FBI Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS) and DoD BFC databases BFC database consists of biometric data from detainees and other persons of interest (non-U.S. persons) Data provided by Army G-2 and CENTCOM No FBI match BFC matched fingerprints to fingerprints of a former detainee released from U.S. military custody in Oct 03 Suspect remains in custody Current Focus DoD Automated Biometric Identification System Vision Way Ahead - Identity Dominance How does DoD establish Identity Dominance in the Global War On Terrorism? Using only names and "official documents" We don’t know. We won’t know in the future How do we best link a person to hispast acts and previously usedidentities? By searching biometric data against all relevant databases. Summary Case studies prove the power of biometric data for identification to aid counterterrorism efforts. Biometrics can and will improve the ability to track and identify national security threats Establishment of the DoD ABIS will allow U. S. military to leverage the power of biometric data Taken from: Departement of Defense
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