Federal law enforcement organizations – such as U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Coastguard, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) – often have to conduct operations in remote, austere environments. With mobile technologies and applications

Harnessing the power of the Team Awareness Kit for Android (ATAK) is now more accessible than ever, serving over 40,000 Department of Defense (DoD) users and 32,000 nonfederal users.  Offering cutting-edge situational awareness and field operation management tools, ATAK caters to both large-scale agencies and smaller entities alike. Yet, how

In every law enforcement operation, situational awareness and communication are critical to achieving a safe outcome for officers and other parties involved. This was a sentiment shared by Charlie Guddemi, the District of Columbia’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency’s (HSEMA) Statewide Interoperability Coordinator (SWIC), in a recent editorial he

Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to attend the 2023 Border Security Expo, which brings together senior law enforcement leaders and experts with the private industry partners that help them defend our nation. This year’s event was strategically held in El Paso, Texas, the home of the Joint Task

In our last article on The Last Mile, we took a detailed look at the dangers U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Office of Field Operations (OFO) officers face along the country’s maritime borders and at its ports of entry. We also explored the logistical, operational, and communications challenges they

In the United States, securing our borders has always been at the forefront of the national discussion around homeland security. But with government and media attention almost exclusively focused on issues of the southern border, not much is ever discussed regarding the major security threats and challenges that the northern

Border Patrol agents are often isolated – with miles separating them from their closest allies and backup. They also operate in regions where cellular networks are scarce, radio service can be spotty, and communications between agents can be challenging at best. To learn more about the life of a Border

One of the recurring challenges that the government – at all levels – has faced for as long as many can remember is the need to accomplish massive missions with few resources. To combat that challenge, the government is increasingly turning to technology to better expend taxpayer resources by bridging

Digital transformation has been a leading trend across the federal government and military for the better part of the past decade. These digital transformation initiatives have resulted in an increased reliance on network-connected and network-enabled systems, applications, and platforms – making connectivity even more important and necessary for government organizations

In my last article on The Last Mile, I looked at the unique communications challenges that exist at the northern border between the U.S. and Canada, which is increasingly important right now with the border closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. But it’s not the only border in need of