First Responder Identity Management: Policy Options for Improved Terrorism Incident Response
Abstract
The analysis of domestic incidents of terrorism has revealed many gaps in the United States' capability to effectively manage a multi-jurisdictional response. Although many gaps have been addressed through the implementation of measures based on lessons learned, the most pervasive unresolved issue remains the ability to properly identify first response personnel on incident scenes. The nature of incidents of terrorism requires force protection to be a priority because of the threat of a secondary attack. Identity must be established and authenticated to protect responders and prevent infiltration to perpetrate a secondary attack. This thesis examines and evaluates several options for closing this pervasive identity management capability gap. The current decentralized identity system, a defined and typed response resource for identity management, and the federal identity project initiated under HSPD-12 are examined and evaluated as mechanisms for improving on-scene identity management in the response to incidents of terrorism. The thesis argues that the development of a standardized nationwide responder identity token that can be rapidly authenticated and the establishment of dedicated identity management response resources are essential to improving the U.S. response to multi-jurisdictional and catastrophic incidents of terrorism.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA457185
Entities
People
- Mark R. Landahl
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School