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Gary Bald To Speak on Joint Terrorism Taskforces (JTTFs)
Increasingly, the post-Sept. 11 world we live in is defined by a spiraling requirement for multi-agency cooperation spanning federal, state and local spheres. At the tip of this ever-sharpening homeland security spear are 66 new Joint Terrorism Taskforces (JTTFs) operating from FBI regional offices.
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| 66 new Joint Terrorism Taskforces are operating from regional FBI offices.. |
"JTTFs co-locate personnel from across the horizon of law enforcement and other interested agencies who work jointly with other non-member agencies to investigate terrorism matters," Gary Bald, Special Agent In Charge of the FBI Baltimore Division, said earlier this year.
Bald will elaborate on how JTTFs operate during a session at the Sept 9-10 Federal Business Council/National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) conference in Gaithersburg, MD on "Securing The Homeland".
"Law enforcement agencies advise JTTFs of terrorism matters and JTTF supervisors decide if the matter rises to the level of initiating a case," Bald told a USA Today online forum in June.
"JTTFs can be comprised of local police and other first responders, the CIA, various Homeland Security personnel such as Customs or Border officers, and other agencies and specialists who might need to be involved in a specific investigation," Bald said. "The range of task force members can include immigration officials, air marshals, U.S. Secret Service, and others."
| Gary Bald will speak on how JTTFs operate at the Sept 9-10 National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) conference in Gaithersburg, MD on "Securing The Homeland". |
"JTTFs are training members from all walks of government in various anti-terrorism disciplines," Bald said. "The advent of JTTFs represents a significant post-9/11 course correction for the FBI, CIA and all homeland security interests."
"The FBI has the primary responsibility for investigating terrorism matters in the US, but has recognized the best way to do this is in partnership with other local, state and federal agencies," Bald said. "Therefore, we formed the JTTFs. In this format, all member agencies work together on cases and share information openly".
Bald will be joined by a number of other homeland security specialists at what promises to be a robust conference that will tackle issues like digital stenography, cyber forensics, critical infrastructure protection, identity theft, and other vital homeland topics.
Find out more about the Securing the Homeland Conference & Expo, hosted by NIST. Visit http://www.fbcinc.com/homeland/agenda.asp
Photo: Courtesy U.S. Air Force
