WINTER 2018

RECOGNITION

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DFBA Mission and Vision

Mission: DFBA leads, consolidates and coordinates

forensics and biometrics activities and operations

for the DoD in support of Identity Activities.

Vision: A DoD Identity Activities Enterprise that protects

the nation.

Standing DFBA Messages

1.) DoD Forensics and Biometrics are vital and enduring capabilities for denying the enemy

anonymity.

2.) DFBA leads the DoD Forensics and Biometrics Enterprise, executing the Secretary of the Army’s

Executive Agent responsibilities.

3.) Data sharing among interagency and international partners is a force multiplier.

Current Leadership Priorities

1.) DFBA is committed to implementing an enterprise strategy that enhances warfighter readiness

and defends our homeland.

2.) DFBA-led forensic and biometric information sharing forms a strong foundation for interagency

and international strategic partnerships.

3.) By merging routine processes with identity information, biometrics can both add business

efficiencies and identify threats.

Mr. Glenn D. Krizay, Director

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Upcoming Events

The following events are open to the public and concern the biometrics and forensics communities.

Presence here does not constitute government endorsement. Click on blue text for more information.

AAFS 70th Annual Scientific Meeting --- 19-24 FEB 18 --- Seattle, WA

This annual meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences brings together experts from

all forensic disciplines for discussion of scientific research, processes, and standards.

Border Security Conference --- 21-22 FEB 18 --- Rome, Italy

Government and industry attendees will discuss border management in the context of mass

migration and counterterrorism challenges.

Biometrics for Government and Law Enforcement --- 26-28 FEB 18 --- Arlington, VA

A recurring meeting featuring public-sector leadership in the biometric field. DFBA will present.

Free to government attendees.

Biometrics Institute U.S. Conference --- 20-21 MAR 18 --- Alexandria, VA

Small conference featuring representatives from across federal government. DFBA will present.

Identity Management Symposium --- 4-5 APR 18 --- Alexandria, VA

An annual gathering featuring public-sector leadership in the biometric field. DFBA will present.

Free to government attendees.

Emirates International Forensic Conference & Exhibition --- 9-11 APR 18 --- Dubai, UAE

This international conference will cover forensic science in both the investigative and medical

fields.

connect:ID Expo --- 30 APR–2 MAY 18 --- Washington, DC

This industry-backed event showcases biometric vendors and also hosts presentations by

government leadership. DFBA will exhibit and anticipates a speaking role. Admission fees apply.

SDW 2018 --- 25-27 JUN 18 --- London, UK

Focusing on credentials and documents, this conference and exhibition takes a broad look at

identity’s components, biometric and otherwise.

Federal Identity Forum 2018 --- 15-17 AUG 18 --- Washington, DC

The largest identity-focused show in the National Capital Area, “FedID” features presentations

by both leaders in the biometric and forensic communities as well as senior government

leadership from the executive and legislative branches. DFBA, PM-BIO, and other interagency

partners customarily speak and exhibit at this annual event.

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Leadership Changes

Farewell, COL Dan McElroy After several years in positions of responsibility in the DoD Forensics and Biometrics Enterprise, COL Dan

McElroy retired in December 2017 after a 36-year military career.

At DFBA, COL McElroy served as Acting Director on two occasions and as

Deputy Director at different times between 2012 and 2017. During that

period, he also served two years as the Deputy Provost Marshal General –

the Army’s number-two Military Police officer – a position in which he

provided oversight of DFBA’s activities.

Born in Japan and raised in Guam, COL McElroy enlisted in the Army as a

Military Policeman in 1981. He left active duty for Illinois State University in

1984, where he affiliated with the Illinois National Guard. Following

graduation in 1987, he was commissioned into the regular Army as a

second lieutenant. During the thirty years that followed, he commanded

Military Police units at all levels. In company command, COL McElroy’s unit

was awarded the J.P. Holland Award, recognizing excellence among MP

companies. He completed multiple deployments to operations in Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan. In

Afghanistan he also served at different times as Senior Advisor to the Afghan Chief of General Staff and

the Afghan Minister of Interior. In the midst of his busy operational career, COL McElroy also found

opportunities to complete Ranger School, Airborne School, and other specialized law enforcement

courses and graduate work.

COL McElroy left an indelible mark on the organization and culture of DFBA, and his influence will be felt

across the Enterprise for years on end. We wish him the best in civilian life.

COL McElroy is succeeded as DFBA’s Deputy Director by COL Jesse Galvan.

COL Dan McElroy

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In Focus

“Scrambling to Track Islamic State Terrorists, Coalition Turns to Biometrics” By Jeff Seldin, Voice of America

Ed. Note: This article was published by Voice of America on 8 November 2017, and describes how

biometrics is a critical tool for identifying and tracking members of ISIS, now that it has been eliminated

from Iraq and its members are forced to disperse.

As U.S.-backed forces made their final push into the city of Raqqa to liberate what had once been the

Syrian capital of the Islamic State's self-declared caliphate, they faced a problem.

Not only were the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) holding IS fighters — some captured and some who

had surrendered — they were also encountering many Syrians who, for various reasons, had

collaborated with or worked for the terror group.

In the end, against their initial instincts, the U.S.-backed forces let many of them go.

“[The SDF] was pressured and convinced by the civil council, the civil leadership, in that part of Syria,

who listened to the tribal leaders,” said Major General James Jarrard, commander of the special

operations joint task force for Operation Inherent Resolve. […]

[Note: On 18 November, SDF officials denied taking part in any deal facilitating safe passage of ISIS

members. However the Raqqa evacuation is characterized, biometrics still played a valuable role.]

“What we did do with the SDF, is we did take all of those members and we enrolled them

biometrically, so that we are able to track them into the future,” Jarrard said.

The collection of biometric information from those who fought for or worked with Islamic State in

Raqqa is just a small part of a much wider effort encompassing other areas once under the terror

group's control.

The goal is to make sure those affiliated with IS are not able to go undetected and find ways to

unleash terror and havoc, whether in Iraq and Syria or the West.

The collected information commonly includes fingerprints, photos, DNA samples and even retinal

scans [sic], and not just from Syria. Iraqi forces and U.S.-backed Kurdish forces in Iraq have also

been gathering biometric data.

Some of the biometric information is already available to forces on the ground, who can use hand-

held scanners, slightly larger than a big mobile phone, to take readings from suspects to see if they

are already in the IS database. […]

“In a world where we see more people traveling with false documents, counterfeit documents, we

need to inject much more biometrics,” European Union Counterterrorism Coordinator Gilles de

Kerchove said during a visit to the U.S. in June.

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“I would like to see if fingerprints are collected in Mosul or in Raqqa that it be shared in real time with

the border guard at the external border of the European Union,” he added. […]

German officials say they have already used whatever biometric information is available to confirm

the identities of family members of foreign fighters who may be seeking entry into Germany. […]

And while most of the more than 5,000 would-be jihadists who left Europe are not expected to

attempt a return — a feat made more difficult with a tightening of the Turkish-Syrian border —

counterterror officials believe there are plenty of reasons to remain concerned.

See the original article, and the update that followed, at Voice of America.

New DFBA Website Is Online: www.dfba.mil By DFBA Plans and Strategic Communications

DFBA launched its new mobile-friendly website in

late 2017. The site features video, recent news,

strategic documents, upcoming events, and other

items of interest to the Enterprise audience.

Visitors may view the website from any computer

or mobile device, whether at home or in a

government office.

The site’s content will be continually updated as

required by mission needs. All material must be

screened and vetted by public affairs authorities,

but otherwise it is built to serve Enterprise needs.

Check frequently for updates.

Please visit DFBA at www.dfba.mil!

Home page of dfba.mil

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Emerging Themes

The following paragraphs contain links to recent news media, public DoD discussions, or academic

products that have demonstrated common themes in the open source information environment. Their

shared context and interrelationships show relevance to the DoD Forensics and Biometrics Enterprise.

Biometric Registration of Refugees: The Rohingya An ongoing humanitarian crisis has festered for the last several months in South and Southeast Asia: the

forced displacement of the Rohingya, a Muslim minority group in Myanmar now largely moving into

Bangladesh. The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), along with the Bangladeshi

government, is biometrically enrolling refugees in order to quantify the problem. As of November,

UNHCR had enrolled 517,643 refugees in 120,284 families. Though biometrics prevents double-

counting, it does little to eliminate fraudulent registrants – longtime Bangladesh residents who enroll to

access relief supplies allotted to refugees. Radio Free Asia identified one such case, but the total volume

of fraud is unknown. Without a preexisting database to reference, there is no way to conclusively prove

or disprove refugee or resident status. Altogether, the Rohingya case presents a developing case study

in the capabilities and limitations of biometrics in a refugee setting.

Real-World Results from Rapid DNA In November, the Massachusetts Office of Chief Medical Examiner (MAOCME) issued its first official

identification of a deceased person using Rapid DNA. The individual’s DNA was compared to samples

from living persons assessed to be potential relatives, in accordance with industry standards. As noted in

Forensic Magazine, the Department of Homeland Security’s Science & Technology Directorate played an

important role in guiding MAOCME on the proper application of Rapid DNA technology. DHS uses Rapid

DNA to positively establish familial relationships in immigration processes. Using lessons learned from

DHS, MAOCME was able to build its own Rapid DNA capability. MAOCME’s former process was accurate,

but took up to eight months. With Rapid DNA, the same result can be obtained in hours. Rapid DNA

promises to speed investigations as well as ease the anguish of families.

Biometric Technology Center: Architectural Profile The joint FBI-DoD Biometric Technology Center (BTC) in West Virginia received a media profile, but not in a venue you might expect: it was an architecture magazine. The article and associated photos highlight the “open, light-filled workspaces and views of the hilly terrain.” The architects are understandably proud, too.

A Latent Print Technician assigned to

Forensic Exploitation Laboratory-U.S.

Army Central Command (FXL-C) uses

a green laser to acquire fingerprints,

9 Oct 2017. (U.S. Army photo)

Mr. Glenn D. Krizay Director, Defense Forensics and Biometrics Agency Mr. Albert Given Lead, Plans and Strategic Communications

703-571-0258 Mr. Matt McLaughlin Strategic Communications

703-571-0408

RECOGNITION is published quarterly by the Defense

Forensics and Biometrics Agency’s Strategic

Communications team to provide members of the

Department of Defense Forensics and Biometrics

Enterprise with information concerning the people,

policies, trends, and media activity relevant to the

community. This electronic bulletin is authorized for

distribution to the general public. The views and opinions

expressed are not necessarily those of DFBA, the

Department of Defense, or interagency partners.

Unless otherwise indicated (and except for “by

permission” and copyright items), material may be

reprinted provided proper credit is given to DFBA and

the author. All photographs are accredited to the U.S.

Army or obtained with creative common licenses (CCL)

unless otherwise indicated. For questions, please

contact matthew.c.mclaughlin.ctr[at]mail.mil.

Defense Forensics and Biometrics Agency

251 18th

Street South, Suite 244A

Arlington, VA 22202

Winter 2018 --- RECOGNITION --- Vol. 1, No. 1