Latent prints were validated by BFC-authorized remote, part-time CCW Certified Latent Print Examiners (CLPE’s) and submitted to the DoD Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) and the Federal Bureau of Identification (FBI) Integrated Automated Identification System (IAFIS). Responses were packaged, distributed over secure internet connections, and compared by remote CLPE’s. Documentation was completed and submitted at regular intervals and a final project report reflected the unquestionable efficiency and accuracy of the CCW team. The feasibility we reported was received by Deputy G3 MS General Higgins and Phase 2 programs to utilize CCW remote examination services in a larger DoD program for Wounded Warriors in the Hunt (WWitH) are currently underway.

Although the major areas of emphasis are wireless networks, autonomous vehicles, sensor networks, situational awareness, target tracking, and identification capabilities using biometric technologies, CCW employees regularly support the BFC and the TNT program through the provision of forensic and latent print support to the experiment planning and execution.

CCW, on behalf of the BID CT Branch at the BFC identifies capability gaps for DoD biometrics, contributes to documentation and planning documents including project overviews, project management plans, SIGACTS, Division Activity Reports, creates new proposals that fit C&T planning goals and manages projects such as Enterprise Challenge 2008, Latent Watchlisting, Latent Modeling Simulation System (MSS) Latent Capability, DHS/DOJ/DoD Interoperability, Operations Quality Assurance, and others.

CCW personnel assist with the drafting of next generation biometric standards. The Electronic Biometric Transmission Standard (EBTS) was created by the DoD to facilitate the transfer of biometric information between a large variety of systems and peripheral devices. Although version 1 of the standard contained most definitions to support biometric transfer, there were aspects of the DoD latent print business process that required expansion of this area of the EBTS specification. CCW personnel worked with individuals from the DoD BTF Standards branch to define new EBTS latent print related standard file formats and their associated information requirements. Version 3 of the EBTS document is expected to be approved and released in FY09-10. The Committee to Define an Extended Fingerprint Feature Set (CDEFFS) has posted the latest version of their addendum to the ANSI/NIST ITL-2007 standard regarding the incorporation of non-traditional fingerprint features into standard transactions to facilitate interoperability. The SWGFAST has created and published numerous documents that serve as guidelines and standards within the latent print and forensic community.

In October 2005, the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, supported and funded a forward deployed Latent Print Laboratory (LPL) in Camp Fallujah, Iraq (CF) as a proof of concept. NCIS partnered with the DoD Biometric Fusion Center (BFC) to create the LPL-CF, which became operational in January 2006. In conjunction with the BFC, CCW employees were responsible for initial design and supply specifications for the prototype laboratory that was eventually deployed. This forensic facility was the initial footprint of what has become perhaps the largest tactical forensic capability in the world – the Joint Expeditionary Forensic program. This DoD billion-dollar, 10-year effort will deploy modular state-of-the-art forensic laboratory facility complexes to various regions of the world in support of force protection and national security interests abroad.

By the end of the Phase I SBIR, CCW had teamed with Azimuth, Inc. to deliver a working prototype of the Tactical Latent Camera (TLC). This effort led to a functioning demonstration TLC that would capture multiple latent fingerprints in 1/3 the time required to lift them. The current attributes of the latent fingerprint camera working model include simplicity of operation via single push button to capture an image, a single 3 position switch to select white or alternate light illumination, and form, fit, & function attributes for a small and light weight footprint with low power consumption, and the devotion of some IRAD has already shown promise in the second generation of this device.