DHS, business leaders discuss technology to protect US at Homeland Security ...(like to avoid the current situation of c...)

This represents an open and fair way to create a cost-effective and efficient relationship between the private sector and DHS in which mutually beneficial, win-win partnerships are created, Cellucci said.

Dennis Treece, Massport's director of corporate security, who works closely with the Transportation Security Agency (TSA) to pilot innovative technologies and programs, concurred with Cellucci.

We have vendors come to us and tell us what their product can do, but they too often have not done the research to find out what our problems really are, Treece said. Massport operates aviation, port and surface transportation assets in the Boston area. A technology that may have security benefits could also be hugely disruptive to our operations.

To help the technology innovation community learn about the security, safety and operational requirements of Massport facilities, Treece started the Transportation Security Center of Excellence (TSCE). Logan Airport is one of TSAs six designated technology pilot sites. Since its launch in 2003, the TSCE has reviewed 78 new technologies and programs, 18 of which went to full pilot stage. Several of these were adopted, not only by Massport but also by other airports and ports. Treece credits Massport staff.

The TSCE operates with help from volunteers among the Massport security and emergency responder community, as well as with support from the TSA, and Massport department, engineering and information technology staff, he said.

Cellucci and Treece were joined on the panel by Patrick Ciganer, executive vice president, In-Q-Tel; Ralph E. Taylor-Smith, general partner, Battelle Ventures; Arthur Robert, industry director, Defense & Renewable Energy Technologies, Massachusetts Office of Business Development; and Robert Seelandt, partner manager, MetaCarta, Inc.

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