Strategic Infrastructure Protection Consortium Announces Security Symposium

Former U.S. Secretary of Public Transportation Rodney E. Slater
To Kick Off Event as Keynote Speaker

HERNDON, Virginia, Oct. 17, 2006 – Rodney E. Slater, the former U.S. Secretary of Transportation in the Clinton White House, will share his insight and experiences in the development and security of our nation’s transportation infrastructure as the keynote speaker at the upcoming security symposium being sponsored by the Strategic Infrastructure Protection (SIP) Consortium, the consortium announced today. 

The SIP Consortium, a working group of leading technology solutions innovators dedicated to accelerating the use of proven, advanced technologies to improve the security of the critical infrastructure of the United States, is sponsoring the first ‘Strategic Infrastructure Security Symposium’ on Tuesday, Oct. 24, here in Herndon.

Along with the unique perspective of Mr. Slater, the symposium will feature an interactive technology demonstration of the SIP Consortium Solution based on projects at the Helena and Tallahassee Regional Airports and designed for the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and the Potomac Basin region.  This advanced security solution integrates proven, state-of-the-art technologies that address perimeter security, access control, and first responder communication.

"There’s no silver bullet to address all the challenges of securing the vast critical infrastructure of our country," said Michael Borcherding, President of Abeo Corporation and Director of the SIP Consortium. "Members of the SIP Consortium recognize the urgent need for best-in-class technology and service providers to collaborate in forming sophisticated new security solutions that no one could accomplish alone.  We’re dedicated to accelerating the adoption of proven, cost-effective security solutions at airports, power plants, ports, military bases, rail yards, and other critical infrastructure for the safety and prosperity of the United States.  And, we are thrilled that Rodney Slater is helping us convey that message.  He brings tremendous insight and expertise to our first-ever symposium."

             Mr. Slater currently is a partner in Washington, DC-based Patton Boggs LLP, the premier public policy law firm where he focuses on promoting a more secure, environmentally sound, and sustainable global transportation infrastructure.  He is also Vice Chairman of  James Lee Witt Associates, a public safety and crisis management consulting firm based in Washington, DC.  James Lee Witt Associates is a part of GlobalOptions Group, Inc.

Prior to serving in the cabinet of President William J. Clinton as U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Mr. Slater was the Federal Highway Administrator in the U.S. Department of Transportation.  Before his federal service, he held prominent positions in state government including assistant Attorney General of Arkansas and Chairman of the Arkansas Highway Commission.  Mr. Slater is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University (BA) and University of Arkansas School of Law (JD).   

SIP Consortium charter members are highly innovative industry leaders in access control, geospatial information technology, wireless networking, video analytics, real-time data intelligence, and complex systems integration. Members include Abeo Corporation, CT Solutions, GCS Research, and Knowledge Vector, Inc. 

            The formation of Herndon, VA-based SIP Consortium grew out of its members’ joint efforts deploying fully architected security solutions at Helena (Montana) Regional Airport and Tallahassee (Florida) Regional Airport, two strategic projects funded by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) with a goal of designing and evaluating an advanced new security solution that sets new standards for performance, scalability and affordability.