SEPTEMBER 24 - 25, 2024
|HILTON SAN DIEGO DEL MAR, CA
Agenda Day 1
8:50 am - 8:55 am
IDGA Welcome Remarks
8:55 am - 9:00 am
CHAIRMAN’S WELCOME REMARKS
9:15 am - 10:45 am
KEYNOTE FIRESIDE CHAT: STRATEGIC VISION FOR BORDER SECURITY: CBP’S PRIORITIES AND INITIATIVES
Nelson Balido -
Chairman,
Border Commerce and Security Council
Ryan Scudder - Executive Assistant Commissioner, Enterprise Services, US Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security
Dr. Edward Mays - Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Infrastructure and Support Services, Chief Enterprise Infrastructure Officer, and Portfolio Acquisition Executive, Office of Information and Technology, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security
Sunil Madhugiri - Chief Technology Officer, US Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security
- Current challenges and threats: Discuss ongoing challenges and threats faced by CBP in securing the nation’s borders highlighting the need for innovative technological solutions to address these issues effectively
- Strategic priorities and objectives: Provide insights into CBP’s strategic priorities and objectives in leveraging technology for border security
- Collaboration and partnership opportunities: Explore opportunities for collaboration and partnership between CBP and other stakeholders, including government agencies, industry partners, and academic institutions, to foster innovation, share best proctitis, and develop integrated solutions for enhancing border security
- Integration of emerging technologies: Discuss the incorporation of emerging technology and how these technologies can enhance situational awareness, improve detection capabilities, and optimize resource allocation across the border.
- Collaborative approaches to border management: Examine the importance of interagency collaboration and international cooperation in developing comprehensive border strategies.
- Adaptive response to evolving threats: Analyze the adaptive nature of border threats and the need for flexible, dynamic border strategies capable of responding to changing circumstances.
Ryan Scudder
Executive Assistant Commissioner, Enterprise Services, US Customs and Border ProtectionDepartment of Homeland Security
Dr. Edward Mays
Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Infrastructure and Support Services, Chief Enterprise Infrastructure Officer, and Portfolio Acquisition Executive, Office of Information and Technology, U.S. Customs and Border ProtectionDepartment of Homeland Security
Sunil Madhugiri
Chief Technology Officer, US Customs and Border ProtectionDepartment of Homeland Security
9:45 am - 10:15 am
KEYNOTE: OPERATION LONE STAR: STRENGTHENING BORDER SECURITY IN FY25
Michael Banks -
Special Advisor to the Governor, Texas Border Czar,
State of Texas
- Enhanced enforcement measures: Explore the implementation of enhanced enforcement measures as part of Operation Lone Star’s strategy.
- Community engagement and humanitarian assistance: Highlight operation Lone Star’s efforts to engage with border communities and provide humanitarian assistance to vulnerable populations affected by current border state.
- Multifaced approach to border security: Examine Operation Lone Star’s multifaceted approach to border security. Combines enforcement actions with humanitarian efforts, intelligence driven operations, and collaboration with federal, state, and local partners.
10:15 am - 10:45 am
INTEGRATING ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES FOR ENHANCED AIR & MARITIME BORDER OPERATIONS
James "JT" Thom -
Executive Director, Domain Awareness Security Operations, Air and Marine Operations,
US Customs and Border Protection
- Next-generation surveillance systems: Discuss the deployment of advanced radar, lidar, and EO/IR sensors as well as UAS and maritime drones to improve situational awareness, detection, tracking, and monitoring activities along the border.
- Interoperable Command and Control platforms: Examine the importance of interoperable command and control platforms in integrating advanced technologies for air and maritime border operations.
- Data fusion and intelligence integration: Discuss the aggregation, analysis, and fusion of multi-source data streams to generate actionable intelligence, identify threats, and support predictive analytics and risk-based decision-making.
James "JT" Thom
Executive Director, Domain Awareness Security Operations, Air and Marine OperationsUS Customs and Border Protection
10:45 am - 11:15 am
COFFEE AND NETWORKING
11:15 am - 11:45 am
PANEL DISCUSSION: BORDER PATROL SECTOR CHIEFS DISCUSSION ON EMERGING THREATS AND RESPONSE
Nelson Balido -
Chairman,
Border Commerce and Security Council
Anthony "Scott" Good - Chief Patrol Agent, El Paso Sector, US Border Patrol
Patricia McGurk-Daniel - Chief Patrol Agent, San Diego Sector, US Border Patrol
Jesse Muñoz - Chief Patrol Agent, Laredo Sector, US Border Patrol
- Identification and assessment of emerging threats: Explore how Border Patrol Sector Chiefs identify and assess emerging threats along their respective sectors of the border.
- Strategic response and resource allocation: Discuss how resources, personnel, and technology are allocated and deployed to mitigate threats, enhance situational awareness, and improve border security outcomes while balancing operational priorities and budget constraints.
- Collaboration and Coordination: Discuss how USBP and Sector Chiefs work with federal, state, local, tribal, and international partners to share information, coordinate operations, and leverage resources in addressing shared border security challenges.
12:15 pm - 12:45 pm
DESIGNING CAPABILITES FOR MISSION RESILIENCE
Greg Lobbin -
Program VP, Homeland Security Sector,
GDIT
Patricia McGurk-Daniel - Chief Patrol Agent, San Diego Sector, US Border Patrol
Dr. Edward Mays - Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Infrastructure and Support Services, Chief Enterprise Infrastructure Officer, and Portfolio Acquisition Executive, Office of Information and Technology, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security
Capacine Abdul-Aziz - Deputy Executive Director, Border Enforcement & Management Systems Directorate, Office of Information Technology, US Customs and Border Protection
Dr. Edward Mays
Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Infrastructure and Support Services, Chief Enterprise Infrastructure Officer, and Portfolio Acquisition Executive, Office of Information and Technology, U.S. Customs and Border ProtectionDepartment of Homeland Security
Capacine Abdul-Aziz
Deputy Executive Director, Border Enforcement & Management Systems Directorate, Office of Information TechnologyUS Customs and Border Protection
12:45 pm - 1:15 pm
FRONTLINE PERSPECTIVES: BORDER PATROL UNION’S VISION FOR TECHNOLOGY-DRIVEN BORDER ENFORCEMENT
Paul Anthony Perez -
President,
National Border Patrol Council
- Discuss the union's advocacy efforts, priorities, and objectives in advancing the interests of border patrol agents and enhancing border security capabilities.
- Discuss how these partnerships facilitate the identification, development, and deployment of innovative border security technologies, as well as the union's role in advocating for the adoption of effective solutions.
- Explore the union's efforts to advocate for comprehensive training programs, support services, and resources to equip border patrol agents with the knowledge, skills, and tools needed to effectively utilize border security technologies and navigate the challenges of their roles.
1:15 pm - 2:15 pm
LUNCH AND NETWORKING
2:15 pm - 2:45 pm
PANEL DISCUSSION: CROSS BORDER TRADE FACILITATION: LEVERGING TECHNOLOGY TO STREAMLINE CUSTOMS PROCESSES
Nelson Balido -
Chairman,
Border Commerce and Security Council
Africa R. Bell - Area Port Director, Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport, United States Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security
Dan Smith - DHS Sector VP & GM, GDIT
- Digitalization of customs procedures: Discuss the adaptation of technology-driven solutions to streamline cross-border trade facilitation to simplify customs procedures, reduce administrative burdens, and expedite the movement of goods.
- Data interoperability and information sharing: Examine the importance of data interoperability and information sharing in facilitating cross-border trade operations.
- Rish-based approaches and pre-clearance programs: Highlight the role of risk-based approaches and pre-clearance programs in optimizing customs processes and enhancing trade facilitation outcomes. Explore benefits of pre-clearance initiatives in promoting trade efficiency and competitiveness.
Africa R. Bell
Area Port Director, Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport, United States Customs and Border ProtectionDepartment of Homeland Security
2:45 pm - 3:15 pm
BORDER DRONE THREATS: LESSONS LEARNED FROM ISRAEL’S BORDERS
David Hochhauser -
General Manager - Americas,
Sentrycs
- Lessons learned from and since October 7th terror attacks
- Differences and similarities with US borders
- Innovative countermeasures and future border security strategies
3:15 pm - 4:45 pm
NETWORKING COFFEE BREAK
3:15 pm - 4:45 pm
WOMEN IN DEFENSE COFFE AND CONVERSATION
2:00 pm - 2:30 pm
BUILDING A RESILIENT WORKFORCE
Peter Jaquez -
Executive Director,
US Customs and Border Protection Workforce Care
- Employee wellness and support services: Discuss the importance of mental health resources, peer support networks, and family assistance programs faced by frontline border security personnel and explore strategies for improving work-life balance.
4:15 pm - 4:45 pm
COUNTY LEVEL CHALLENGES AND WHAT SUCCESS FOR BORDER SECURITY CAN LOOK LIKE
Thaddeus Cleveland -
Sheriff,
Terrell County, Texas
- Resource allocation: Discuss the competing demands for limited funding and personnel, as well as strategies for prioritizing investments in technology, infrastructure, and personnel training to enhance border surveillance, interdiction, and response capabilities at the county level.
- Community engagement: Examine the importance of community engagement in fostering effective border security measures at a county level.
- Metrics of success and performance evaluation: Define success for border security initiatives at the county level & metrics used to measure performance and effectiveness.
- Explore key indicators such as crime rates, apprehension statistics, drug seizers, response times, community feedback, and discuss how counties can leverage data and performance measurement to evaluate progress & identify areas of improvement.
