WASHINGTON, Nov. 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — The Chairman and Executive Director of BORDERPOL, Thomas Tass, based in Ottawa, Canada, is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Janice Kephart as the Director of the Americas Program. Ms. Kephart brings her extensive experience in border security systems and her international credibility to BORDERPOL. Ms. Kephart is a border and ID security expert who served as counsel to the 9/11 Commission and was a key author of the Staff Monograph, 9/11 and Terrorist Travel, as well as the immigration-related facts and recommendations in the 9/11 Commission Report.
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"I could not be more excited and honored to be asked to take the helm of the Americas Program for BORDERPOL. This is an esteemed group of dedicated border professionals not affiliated with political outcomes, but with assuring improved border security and facilitation throughout the world with much of its work supported by the tenants of the 9/11 Commission. While I will continue to work diligently on supporting the US government in improving borders, I am excited to work with the BORDERPOL team and other interested member-nations in creating an improved international border system," said Kephart.
In 2013, Ms. Kephart returned from a Special Counsel appointment in the US Congress to work on comprehensive immigration reform (her second round as a Congressional counsel) to start up the Secure Identity & Biometric Association (SIBA). As CEO of SIBA, Ms. Kephart is quickly establishing the nonprofit as a new kind of trade association that drives essential relationships behind the scenes with upfront cutting-edge policy leadership for government, industry and the media. The organization just formed an Airport Entry and Exit Working Group and released a detailed Framework which BORDERPOL officially supports, to encourage the US government to partner with industry on airport immigration solutions.
As National Security Director at a Washington DC think tank for five years, Ms. Kephart was the leading expert on assuring implementation of 9/11 Commission border recommendations and practical, operational border security measures.
Janice speaks regularly at conferences, to international media, publishes articles and op-eds around the world, and has testified before Congress 18 times on issues of border and ID security while her media appearances in print, radio and national TV (with all major networks) is in the hundreds. From 2012-2013, Janice hosted a one-hour "The Homeland Security Show with Janice Kephart" on digital radio with in-depth interviews and analysis of top stories and government officials.
Ms. Kephart is situated in Washington, DC. She will work closely with the General Secretariat Ottawa, Canada as BORDERPOL renews its goal of establishing an Americas Secretariat complementing its operations in Europe, Asia and Africa.
Ms. Kephart, Director of BORDERPOL Americas Program can be contacted at j.kephart@borderpol.org. Mr. Tass may be contacted at secretariat@borderpol.org
For more information on the 3rd World BORDERPOL Congress December 9 – 11, 2014 in Budapest, Hungary click here. The purpose of the Congress is to enable industry, government personnel and border experts the ability to discuss, debate and help find solutions to the latest challenges facing the border management and protection industry in Budapest, Hungary!
The wonderful city of Budapest, Hungary will play host to the 3rd World BORDERPOL Congress from 9th-11th December 2014.
BORDERPOL is a nonprofit organization supported entirely through membership and program fees. BORDERPOL is a nonaligned global organization linking the interdisciplinary nature of border security, traveler and migration management. BORDERPOL brings together the expertise and management skills of senior figures from government, industry and academia to create programs and activities that demonstrably make international borders smarter and safer. Its mission is accomplished in an atmosphere of respect, integrity and fraternalism.
contact: Janice Kephart
jkephart@SIBAssoc.org
703-581-7721