FBI and DoD biometrics experts working under the same roof

The FBI Biometrics Technology Center in North Central West Virginia is now open for use, with its first employees having moved in just before Christmas, according to a report by The Exponent Telegram.

Supported by the late U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., the four story, 360,000 square foot, state-of-the art facility took about 10 years in planning and construction due to the exacting standards needed for a highly secure compound.

“Our goal is to have about 1,000 employees assigned to the Criminal Justice Information Services Division (CJIS) working out of that building,” FBI Assistant Director Steve Morris told The Exponent Telegram.

Employees at the facility work on cutting edge biometric identification and recognition technology, using human characteristics to provide law enforcement and military personnel with needed identification of criminal and national security suspects.

“The expansion from just doing fingerprints to other biometrics has emerged as the wave of the future when it comes to identity intelligence and identity management,” Morris said, predicting growth in usage of the new technology will expand now that the FBI and Defense Department effort will be under the same roof.

“We’re trying to capture the synergy across the U.S. government, with the FBI and Department of Defense leading the way,” Morris continued. “We know there’s an interest from other U.S. agencies, not only to participate in what we’re doing, but to be here.”

Previously reported, The FBI’s Next Generation Identification (NGI) program was awarded for Excellence in Intergovernmental Collaboration by the The American Council for Technology-Industry Advisory Council (ACT-IAC) at the 15th Annual Excellence.Gov Awards. The event honors the best of government information technology (IT) programs demonstrating proven strategies and solutions.

Article Topics

biometric authentication  |  biometrics  |  criminal ID  |  Department of Defense  |  FBI  |  identity management  |  national security