Join GTSC for our 9th annual focus on the missions of U.S. Customs and Border Protection! Through COVID, terrorism, transnational crime, cybercrimes, and political and economic instability threaten the homeland. This week will examine CBP's 12 strategic initiatives designed to harness and apply the power of data, intelligence, and advanced analytics, develop and maintain top-quality IT infrastructure and access, and expand our international and intelligence partnerships to leverage the benefits of interoperability and collaboration to protect the country. Webinars feature a keynote speaker. and panel discussion for approximately 1.5-2 hours daily. See the agenda here.
For CBP2020 you will receive the login information for the day's webinar before 10:00 am -- or at least 3 hours prior to the start -- each day. If you registered for the full series, you'll get your link to join the webinar each morning. Same with registrations for individual sessions. Please follow the link you are sent to gain access. We send this information both through eventbrite and through our personal email. PLEASE mark both as safe senders with your email system to ensure you get the information. Thank you for participating and we look forward to a great week!
If you are not a member of GTSC and have decided you need the information, collaboration, and teaming needed for success, reach out today and JOIN US!
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Extended to December!
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Monday, November 16th
Setting the Stage for Border Security
2:00 PM
Todd Bensman
Author of the forthcoming book “America’s Covert Border War: The Untold Story of the Nation’s Battle to Prevent Jihadist Infiltration“, due in February 2021 from Bombardier Books. Bensman currently serves as the Texas-based Senior National Security Fellow for the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS), a Washington, D.C. policy institute, for which he writes, speaks, and grants media interviews about the nexus between immigration and national security. He has testified before Congress as an expert witness and regularly appears on radio and television outlets such as Fox News. Separately, he writes about homeland security for Homeland Security Today, Townhall, The Federalist, and other publications, and serves as a Writing Fellow for the Middle East Forum. He also teaches terrorism as an adjunct lecturer for Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. More about Todd
Tuesday, November 17th
Supporting a Secure Border: Operations
11:00 AM
Linda Jacksta
Deputy Executive Assistant Commissioner
Operations Support
Linda L. Jacksta is a member of U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) executive leadership team, serving as Assistant Commissioner of the Office of Human Resources Management. In this role, Jacksta directs services to 60,000 employees across eight key functional areas: hiring, benefits, work-life programs, workplace safety, personnel research, executive services, business systems, and labor and employee relations. Prior to her appointment as Assistant Commissioner, former Commissioner R. Gil Kerlikowske appointed Jacksta to serve as principal executive for the Employee Engagement Center of Excellence. She represents CBP on the DHS Deputy Secretary’s Employee Engagement Executive Steering Committee, and directs a cross-cutting team of CBP executives to form employee engagement strategies, and identifies best practices relevant to the CBP and DHS.
George Talton
Director (Acting)
Planning, Analysis, and Requirements Evaluation Directorate
Supporting a Secure Border: Enterprise Services
2:00 PM
Benjamine "Carry" Huffman
Executive Assistant Commissioner, Enterprise Services, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
Benjamine "Carry" Huffman is the Executive Assistant Commissioner, Enterprise Services, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in Washington, DC. Enterprise Services provides mission support services, specialized skills, resources, and equipment that enables over 60,000 CBP employees to safeguard America's borders thereby protecting the public from dangerous people and materials while enhancing the Nation’s global economic competitiveness by enabling legitimate trade and travel. Enterprise Services is comprised of approximately 5K personnel at 206 locations across the United States and includes eight functional offices: Accountability, Acquisition and Procurement, Facilities and Asset Management, Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology, Programming, Administrative Services, and Training.
Wednesday, November 18th
Office of the CIO Update
11:00 AM
Beth Cappello
Deputy Chief Information Officer
Office of the CIO
On November 24, 2019, Elizabeth A. Cappello (Beth) was designated as the Acting Chief Information Officer (ACIO) for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In this role, Ms. Cappello is responsible for the Department’s information technology infrastructure, governance, and oversight to deliver mission capability securely, efficiently, and effectively.
Prior to assuming her current role, Ms. Cappello served as Deputy CIO, arriving at the DHS Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) in August 2019. Previously, Ms. Cappello served as the Acting CIO and Deputy CIO for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
2:00 PM Procurement Update
Innovation within CBP
1:00 PM
Chris Pietrzak
Deputy Director
CBP Commercial Technology Innovation
Chris Pietrzak joined the U.S. Border Patrol in 1999 and currently serves as the Director (Acting) of the CBP Innovation Team (INVNT). INVNT’s mission is to identify, adapt, and deliver innovative and disruptive commercial technology solutions that makes frontline personnel safer and more effective. In this role Mr. Pietrzak oversees a budget of approximately $43M to develop, pilot, and deploy commercial technologies to end users and transition proven, impactful capabilities to CBP program owners.
2:00 PM
N. Clark Lanzendorf
Director, Tactical Aircraft and Vessel Acquisitions (TAVA), Air and Marine Operations (AMO)
Director Lanzendorf has over 10 years of federal acquisition, contracting and procurement experience. He is currently the Director of Tactical Aircraft and Vessel Acquisitions and is responsible the planning, execution, and management of acquisition programs and activities providing rotor and fixed wing aircraft and marine and riverine vessels to AMO operators. Director Lanzendorf is responsible for the management of a portfolio of major Acquisition Programs, to include the UH-60 Black Hawk, Multi-Role Enforcement Aircraft (MEA), the Light Enforcement Helicopter and Coastal Interceptor Vessel. Additionally, Director Lanzendorf is responsible for the management of AMO capital assets, a $2.1B portfolio of 23,500 inventoried assets, ranging from aircraft and vessels to vehicles, IT equipment, and hand held devices.
Thursday, November 19th
CBP Procurement Update
2:00 - 3:30 PM
Diane Sahakian
Deputy Assistant Commissioner & Head of Contracting Activity
Office of Acquisition
Diane Sahakian serves as the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) (Department of Homeland Security) Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Office of Acquisition, and the Head of the Contracting Activity. In this dual-hatted role she supports the Assistant Commissioner in leading overall acquisition activities for CBP which includes program management, systems engineering and acquisition governance. On the Procurement side of the house, she oversees an average annual $5 Billion spend in support of operational contracting activities for CBP and works closely with the Deputy Head of Contracting in managing the non-operational side of the house. Major CBP missions supported are for the Border Patrol, the Air and Marine Office, the Field Operations Office, the Information Technology Office and Office of Trade. Prior to this appointment, Mrs. Sahakian served as the CBP Chief of the Contracting Office managing the annual CBP procurement spend which at the time was approximately $3.5 Billion.
Peter Giambone
Contract Specialist
Timothy O. Evans
Branch Chief for the Border Technologies Contract Branch, Office of Acquisition, Office of Enterprise Services
Ramona
Watts-Sutton
Chief, Contracting Office for the Procurement Directorate, Office of Acquisition
Friday, November 20th
Air & Marine Operations Update
10:00 AM
Dennis Michelini
Executive Director, Operations
Air and Marine Operations
Dennis Michelini is the Acting Executive Director, Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Air and Marine Operations (AMO). AMO is a federal law enforcement organization dedicated to serving and protecting the American people through advanced aeronautical and maritime capabilities. With approximately 1,800 federal agents and mission support personnel, 240 aircraft, and 300 marine vessels operating throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands, AMO conducts its mission in the air and maritime environments at and beyond the border, and within the nation's interior.
Robert Costello
Executive Director on detail to
Border Enforcement and Management Systems Directorate
Office of Information and Technology
Technology and the CBP Mission
Thursday, December 3
Border Patrol: View from the Front Lines
11:30 AM
Chief Rodney Scott
Chief
U.S. Border Patrol
Chief Rodney S. Scott assumed command of the United States Border Patrol on February 2, 2020, becoming the 24th Chief since its establishment in May 28, 1924.
He oversees domestic border security operations outside the Ports of Entry along our nation’s borders, which includes more than 5,000 miles with Canada, nearly 2,000 miles with Mexico, hundreds of coastal miles and our territories in the Caribbean. He proudly leads more than 20,000 Border Patrol Agents and Professional Staff across the country as they perform the homeland security mission.
Friday, December 4
OIT Update
2:00 -3:30 PM
Sonny Bhagowalia
Acting Assistant Commissioner & CIO
Office of Information Technology
As Acting Assistant Commissioner (AC), Office of Information and Technology (OIT), at U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), I lead a staff of 2,200 federal employees; 3,300 contractors & oversee a $ 1.8 B IT Budget to support CBP's Mission. My team & I oversee the design, development, programming, testing, implementation, training, and O&M of CBP's automated systems and BPR. OIT is responsible for the maintenance of applied technologies, and overseeing both in-house and shared computer facilities and systems, including hardware, software, data, network, video, & voice communications. I oversee the identification and evaluation of new technologies for applications in support of CBP business processes.
Valerie Isbell
Acting Deputy Assistant Commissioner
Office of Information and Technology
Enterprise Services
The PSPO provides application solutions and ongoing operational support for Portof Entry processing and information sharing regarding people who are inadmissible ormay pose a threat to the United States. These applications support the dual goals of preventing terrorists or others who may do our country harm from entering the US while facilitating legitimate travel. Ms. Isbell has worked collaboratively with other agencies within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigations and Department of State on developing joint systems, ensuring that existing capabilities are leveraged and information is shared within and beyond DHS to support Homeland Security.
Sunil Madhugiri
Acting Chief Technology Officer
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Sunil Madhugiri joined U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in 2019 as a Chief Architect. He was recently selected as the Acting Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for CBP’s Office of Information and Technology (OIT). The Office of the CTO, CBP’s dedicated hub for technological leadership, drives innovation through a variety of crucial activities such as managing vendor engagement, researching emerging technologies, and arranging proof-of-concept demonstrations.
As Acting CTO, Mr. Madhugiri is responsible for leading the creation and identification of novel technology products that are designed and developed iteratively using highly adaptable agile methodologies and open standards to strengthen CBP operations. Mr. Madhugiri also chairs the Technical Review Board, a governance body that focuses on improving the quality, cost effective-ness, sustainability, and resiliency of CBP’s IT solutions.
Field Operations Update
Diane Sabatino
Deputy Executive Assistant Commissioner
Field Operations
Diane J. Sabatino became the Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Office of Field Operations in July 2020. In this role, Mrs. Sabatino oversees nearly 31,250 employees including approximately 25,400 CBP Officers and CBP Agriculture Specialists that protect U.S. borders. An annual operating budget of $6.5 billion provides for operations at over 330 ports of entry, and many programs that support the national security, immigration, customs, and commercial trade-related missions of CBP. Prior to her current assignment, Mrs. Sabatino served as the Director, Field Operations of Miami and Tampa Field Offices for nearly five years starting in August 2015. As the DFO, she had a workforce of over 2,800 employees with oversight of all inspectional operations throughout the State of Florida encompassing 12 seaports, including the top 3 cruise ship ports in the world; and 19 airports, to include Miami International Airport. While serving as the DFO, she was also designated as the Lead Field Coordinator for Incident Response charged with managing the response to multiple hurricanes for all U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) resources that comprise FEMA Region IV.
Postponed!
Tuesday, December 15
11:00 - 12:00
Robert E. Perez
Deputy Commissioner for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
Robert E. Perez has served as the Deputy Commissioner for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) since July 2018. In this role, he is the agency’s senior career official, working closely with the Commissioner to lead the nation’s largest law enforcement agency of more than 60,000 employees and manage a budget of nearly $15 billion. As Deputy Commissioner, Mr. Perez oversees the vast range of CBP’s national security mission, including protecting our Nation’s border from terrorists and terrorist weapons, securing and facilitating lawful trade and travel, keeping illegal drugs and illegal aliens from crossing our borders, enforcing our trade laws and protecting our Nation’s food supply and agriculture industry from pests and disease. In the course of CBP’s daily operations, the Deputy Commissioner directs CBP’s senior leadership in the execution of the agency’s mission with operations spanning 328 ports of entry, 7,000 miles of land border, 95,000 miles of shoreline, and in 50 countries.
Keynote: Setting the Stage for Border Security
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