September 11: More Than a Day of Remembrance for Dignari
September 11th changed the trajectory of many of our lives—and in my case, it was a defining moment in my professional career that ultimately led to the founding of Dignari. September 11 reminds me of why we do what we do. Security solutions and traveler facilitation were a part of my career long before then. But the tragic events of that day became a catalyst for a series of significant changes to the U.S. Government’s approach to national security.
New rules were issued—like the “24-Hour Rule” and advance passenger information—that represented the first attempt to systematically identify threats before they arrived. Many thought such efforts would cripple our economy. Rather, the new approach brought on an entirely new set of challenges to be solved: how do we ingest data and use it to better secure our nation? The recommendations from the 9/11 Commission formed the basis for numerous programs and challenged us to leverage systems, technology, and innovative approaches to strike the balance of security and facilitation.
September 11 ushered in a new era of data-driven risk assessment and identity verification that became the foundation for much of Dignari’s work: from data analytics, biometrics and automation that facilitates complex criminal investigations and reduces tedious manual data entry, to identification of criminals and speeding security checkpoint processes, our work helps safeguard citizens, visitors and the economy.
The new focus on closing security gaps while facilitating trade and travel provided the impetus to incorporate emerging technologies across the DHS enterprise—like Robotic Process Automation, Machine Learning, and Artificial Intelligence—which in turn created greater opportunities for mission success amid increasingly complex global environments.
This is why I’m so passionate about the work we do. Dignari’s mission has evolved as our clients seek new and better ways to manage the immense scope of their missions across the Homeland Security realm and beyond. As I’ve witnessed what we as a nation have been able to accomplish over the last two decades, I’m humbled by our work. Every day I recognize the tremendous responsibility and trust placed on us by our clients as we strive to enhance their ability to safeguard the homeland, support billions of dollars of trade and travel, and innovate in the face of evolving threats.
As we reflect on September 11, it’s more important now than ever to think about our work in the context of this mission.
The reality is, all of our lives changed because of September 11. And today, Dignari stands with the hundreds of thousands of dedicated men and women of Homeland Security and partner agencies who are passionate about making our country safer, our border more streamlined and our work more impactful than ever.
Thank you for the work you do supporting our fellow citizens and our clients every day.
