DHS Conducts Nationwide ID Authentication Test For Emergencies

10-24-2010 • TerraDaily.com

The demonstration, dubbed "Autumn Blend," showed the use of standardized personal identity credentials operating across multiple domains, such as a government's or company's credential authentication infrastructure, for access management decisions, situational awareness, cyber-secure capabilities and post-event reconstruction. Participants included federal, state, local, and private sector emergency response and recovery officials who are assigned to the front lines for rescue or recovery missions. "Northrop Grumman has an established commitment with the Department of Homeland Security and we recognize the importance and national significance of this demonstration," said Alan Leckenby, vice president of International and Identity Management for Northrop Grumman's Information Systems sector. "We have worked with great diligence and in partnership with all levels of government to become the only company able to validate credentials for both physical and logical access, which provides an extra layer of security around information sharing during crisis situations." One of the scenarios of the Autumn Blend demonstration simulated a collaborative incident at Northrop Grumman's Shipbuilding facility in Newport News, Va.