2019 Women in Biometrics Awards winners announced

The 2019 Women in Biometrics Awards have been announced, with four leaders in the biometric identity and security industry being recognized for their contributions. The winners will be honored at the 2019 SIA GovSummit later this month in Washington, D.C.

Debra Marcopulos, Planning and Assurance Section Chief within the Homeland Security’s Office of Biometric Identity Management, directs and guides an OBIM team supporting the development of the Homeland Advanced Recognition Technology (HART). Marcopulos oversees change management, configuration management, testing, intake, Agile processes, the system engineering life cycle, quality assurance and governance for all IT development activities at OBIM.

Dr. Dana Michalski, Science Team Lead in Biometrics, Defence Science and Technology Group for the Government of Australia, is program lead for child identification in biometrics and is a visiting research fellow at the University of Adelaide, where she supervises students in biometrics-related projects. Michalski is also an appointed member of the Biometrics Institute’s Social Impact Working Group and Academic Research Working Group and an Australian research and development lead for the Five Eyes Digital Forensics to Combat Child Exploitation program.

Dr. Nicole Spaun, Senior Principal Face Biometric Expert with IDEMIA National Security Solutions, developed the FBI’s first facial identification and comparison course and served as the first chair of the Facial Identification Scientific Working Group (FISWG) Training Subcommittee. She was the first biometrics program manager for military intelligence for the U.S. Army in Europe and has served as a biometrics expert. Dr. Spaun provides end user guidance on facial recognition, teaches facial identification and comparison courses, conducts research related to facial biometrics and related forensic practices and assists customers with facial recognition policy development and forensic science mentorship. She participates in the FISWG and serves as an associate of the International Association of Identification’s face subcommittee, developing a certification in facial comparisons.

Sherry Stein, Identity Management Program Manager at SITA, has helped drive the wider adoption of biometric technology in passenger processing, including the first full implementation of the CBP Biometric Entry and Exit program at Orlando International Airport. In her current role, Ms. Stein has designed the process for use of facial matching with the CBP traveler verification system, fully integrated with JetBlue’s departure control system, allowing for a single-step process.

Co-founded by the Security Industry Association (SIA) and SecureIDNews and co-presented this year with sponsors Biometric Update, IDEMIA and SIA’s Women in Security Forum, the Women in Biometrics Awards are presented each year to recognize the top female leaders driving the biometric identity and security industry.

“Biometric technologies are critical to securing identities in today’s world, and the impressive advancements made by these female biometrics leaders improve processes like air travel and help keep citizens safe,” says SIA CEO Don Erickson. “SIA congratulates the 2019 honorees for their outstanding engagement, leadership, innovation and mentorship in guiding this crucial technology market and looks forward to recognizing this inspiring group at SIA GovSummit.”

Article Topics

Australia  |  awards  |  biometrics  |  IDEMIA  |  OBIM  |  Security Industry Association (SIA)  |  SITA  |  Women in Biometrics