VIDEO AVAILABLE: Fifth Annual AFCEA International Golden Link Award Winners Announced

Award-Winning Technologies on Display at TechNet International, May 17-19

AFCEA International is pleased to announce the winners of its fifth annual Golden Link Awards, recognizing government and industry partnerships and innovation in developing and deploying technology solutions to support government operations. The winning projects will be displayed at TechNet International 2005, AFCEA International's 59th annual defense and IT conference and exposition, at the Washington, D.C. Convention Center May 17-19, 2005. The winners will receive their awards during the morning plenary session on Tuesday, May 17.

International Defense/Civilian Government Golden Link Awards
"IDENT1 - Biometric Identification Technology," designed by Northrop Grumman for the U.K. Police Information Technology Organisation, is an image-based database that interfaces with the Police National Computer. IDENT1 will allow multiple types of biometric information to be searched and fused against a combined database of up to 10 million records, and will be a tremendous resource in crime solving.

"Electronic System for Public Acquisition" represents an information technology infrastructure that enables Romanian public institutions to procure goods and services through electronic means. Designed by S.C. UTI SYSTEMS S.A. for the Romanian Government - General Inspectorate for Communications and Information Technology, this e-Procurement system has already resulted in reduced public spending and fraud, and increased public participation in government.

U.S. Federal Government Golden Link Awards
ViaSat's Altasec(TM) KG-250 encryption device is one of the first commercially developed encryptors to be compliant with the High Assurance Internet Protocol Interoperability Specification. ViaSat was a key player in the success of Global Broadcast Service transition from ATM to IP, enabling military forces' transmission of video, imagery and other large data files and saving the DoD roughly $75 million in ATM development and sustainment funding.

The team of Northrop Grumman and the Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network created a network-centric operation to track, inspect, and analyze financial transactions. Specifically this operation speeds the processing of tens of millions of reporting forms per year, alerts officials of any suspect financial transactions or business operations, and engineers a highly secure network to protect all banking and private data filed. Approximately two million dollars has been saved over the life of the system, and data that is submitted electronically is now available to law enforcement officials in 24-48 hours.

Homeland Security Golden Link Awards
Global Bay's software "HazardPoint - PDC, and GPS-based Radiation Detection and Communication Solution," dramatically improved the City of New York, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's (DOHMH) system of emergency environmental monitoring and reporting. Readings from the monitoring instruments are captured and then wirelessly transmitted to a central DOHMH server for real-time analysis and mapping, allowing DOHMH to rapidly and accurately respond to emergency situations.

The Cybercop Portal, sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security National Cyber Security Division, provides individuals an ultra-secure web-based environment to promote and facilitate the sharing of information among a cohesive network of cyber security, law enforcement, and homeland defense professionals from all levels of government and the private sector. Developed by The ESP Group, the portal is in use by more than 6,000 members, representing all 50 states, all government agencies and over 40 countries.

Small Business Golden Link Awards
In the project "Portable Tactical Wireless Broadband Network" created for U.S. Army CERDEC by Rajant Corporation, Rajant's BreadCrumb® technology enables secure, high bandwidth applications via "lunchbox" sized devices that require no network administration. It is currently in use both domestically and internationally, from the Holland Tunnel to Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as for humanitarian aid in Thailand.

In Operation Enduring Freedom, ARTEL demonstrated how quickly they could scale to meet defense bandwidth needs at a moment's notice, providing near-term bandwidth in a commercially limited region. In addition, commercial satellite communications provided by ARTEL provided most of the "reach back" capability in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Service was better than it had ever been and the cost of service to the Government was reduced.

These projects will be on display in the exhibit hall at TechNet International. TechNet offers numerous professional development opportunities including top military speakers and panel sessions. This event is open to the public and admission to all activities, with the exception of the small business workshop, is free. On-site registration is available beginning Monday, May 16. For details and free on-line registration go to www.technet2005.org.

AFCEA is an international non-profit association providing a forum for the professional communications, electronics, intelligence, homeland security and information technology community. AFCEA serves as an ethical bridge between government requirements and industry's capabilities, representing the top government, military and industry professionals. For more information visit www.afcea.org.

    
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