In this issue of The Biometric Scan, I am pleased to announce to our readers an exciting change for the Biometrics Task Force (BTF). On 23 Mar 10, the Secretary of the Army signed the Department of the Army General Orders (DAGO) authorizing redesignation of the U.S. Army Biometrics Task Force (BTF) as the U.S. Army Biometrics Identity Management Agency (BIMA).
This redesignation represents a pivotal milestone in our organization’s history. BIMA has now been established as a permanent, abiding organization, rather than a temporary task force. Permanent status ensures that biometrics endures as an enabling capability for DoD via the Department’s Identity Management (IdM) strategy. Through BIMA’s assigned functions and responsibilities, DoD achieves a biometrics program that is fully integrated DoD-wide across the services and combatant commands (COCOMS). For further information on the significance of this redesignation, take a look at the “Fielding Questions” section of this newsletter.
In this issue of The Biometric Scan, we bring you a variety of updates on emerging biometric solutions that are rising to the occasion in support of the warfighter. BIMA is leading the charge on developing and establishing an Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) for the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). This biometric resource is expected to be a driving force in further unifying coalition operations across Afghanistan. We also spotlight BIMA’s Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) efforts to bring advanced biometric technologies to the warfighter in theater.
Interoperability continues to take center stage as BIMA works tirelessly to synchronize standards, Enterprise Architecture (EA) and information sharing policies within DoD and the biometric community. The Biometrics Data Sharing Community of Interest (BDS COI) is playing a central role in these efforts, and we provide you with a snapshot of this important group’s recent quarterly meeting. On a similar note, read about some of the topics covered at BIMA’s inaugural Biometric Collaboration Forum, held in January in Charlotte, NC.
In our new capacity as BIMA, we are better equipped than ever before to effectively deliver increasingly advanced biometric capabilities to DoD, the Joint Services, COCOMS and our interagency partners. We look forward to continuing that service as we discover new and improved biometric solutions that secure the safety of our citizens at home and our warfighters abroad.
Dr. Myra S. Gray, SES
Director, Biometrics Identity Management Agency