First Responder Credential Successfully Tested
A Feb. 15 demonstration continued to validate the functionality of the First Responder Authentication Credential, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said March 2. DHS said its Office of National Capital Region Coordination and the Department of Defense Pentagon Force Protection Agency joined public- and private-sector participants in the Winter Storm demonstration, described as a test to verify the integration and interoperability of credential attributes such as qualifications, authorizations, certifications, and privileges.
"Winter Storm provided further validation of the technological advancements that will enable the nation to meet the goal of developing a unified credentialing system for first responders," said Thomas Lockwood, director of ONCRC. "Such advancements will ensure that emergency personnel are better equipped to respond to incidents across the nation in an expedited fashion. Winter Storm demonstrated that new ground is being broken on this important effort to build a standardized program to improve the methods, capabilities, and coordination of emergency responders throughout the nation."
More than 50 organizations participated in Winter Storm, which followed Winter Fox, a demonstration co-hosted by the DHS and DoD offices in February 2006. The two demonstrations are part of the DHS First Responder Partnership Initiative that is working to give first responders a common credential that will enable access to government buildings and incident areas during a terror attack or other all-hazards events.