Seven Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO) employees received Certificates of Appreciation September 27 from the US Secret Service for their part in creating the most technologically advanced security system in US Inaugural history. The system was developed for the 2005 Presidential Inauguration—the first Presidential Inauguration since September 11, 2001.
Working with more than 50 federal and local first responder agencies, including the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), the Secret Service, and the Naval Research Laboratory, OCTO built a satellite and Internet-based video link to fixed and mobile surveillance cameras around the District. OCTO’s DC Wide Area Network (DCWAN) engineers created a dynamic failover routing system to take over if either the satellite or Internet connection failed. This specially designed Virtual Private Network (VPN) transmitted secure streaming video images from MPD to the Secret Service, enabling them to monitor activities on the ground as they happened.
In addition, OCTO’s Wireless Accelerated Responder Network (WARN), the nation’s first citywide broadband wireless public safety network, enabled the security system to transport additional video images from Secret Service Rover vehicles through the DCWAN to the US Secret Service facility in Virginia. The Capitol Police and US Park Police provided surveillance from the air.
"As a result of the unprecedented collaboration between the Secret Service, MPD, OCTO and numerous other agencies, the Inauguration occurred under the most secure surveillance umbrella in American history," said Chief Technology Officer Suzanne Peck.
The District and the Secret Service used the same security system during the President’s State of the Union Address on February 2. District personnel provided technical support and real-time monitoring of the secure connection to the Secret Service Multi Agency Command Center in Herndon, VA.