News

NEW US/CANADA BORDER CONFERENCE

TO ADVANCE “BEYOND THE BORDER” DECLARATION
International Conference Focuses on Trade, Travel, and Border Security

Former Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, W. Ralph Basham Slated to Serve as Chairman of the Advisory Board

Westport, CT (October 15, 2012) – In furtherance to the February 2011 United States-Canada joint declaration, “Beyond the Border: A Shared Vision for Perimeter Security and Economic Competitiveness,” Eagle Eye Expositions, LLC presents a new event called the US/Canada Border Conference. The event is to take place September 10-11, 2013 at the Cobo Center, Detroit Michigan.

The comprehensive two-day conference and exhibition will focus on implementation of the “Beyond the Border” declaration with specific goals outlined in its Action Plan including: Addressing threats early; trade facilitation; economic growth and integrated cross-border law enforcement. “The declaration put into motion a series of very significant bi-lateral initiatives between the United States and Canada,” said Paul Mackler, President & CEO, Eagle Eye Expositions. “Our mission is to facilitate discussion and collaboration at the US/Canada Border Conference, by bringing together federal, state/provincial and local agencies and industry from both nations.”

“More than $2.0 billion of commerce passes through the ports between the U.S. and Canada every day, and the two administrations are committed to making these ports more efficient while increasing security,” adds Mackler. The US/Canada Border Conference will provide a forum for federal, state/provincial and local agencies, and business groups, to discuss a myriad of important topics. The Conference will offer an arena for hundreds of companies with solutions for these government agencies through an expansive exhibition of products and services.

An influential Advisory Board, chaired by former Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, W. Ralph Basham, has been assembled to provide strategic focus to the event. Basham’s tenure as CBP Commissioner, Director of the U.S. Secret Service and his role as Principal for the Command Consulting Group will provide program direction and leadership. “I am pleased to Chair the US/Canada Border Conference Advisory Board with such an esteemed group of colleagues from both the US and Canada”, said Basham “We intend to address the most pressing issues, challenges and opportunities at the US/Canada Border Conference, bringing together thought leaders from both nations to advance the dialogue and their mission.”
 

Basham announced the make-up of the board, citing leaders in all areas of border protection from both the United States and Canada:

 

2013 Advisory Board

W. Ralph Basham Advisory Board Chairman Partner, Command Consulting Group Former Commissioner, U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Former Director, U.S. Secret Service Jayson P. Ahern Principal, The Chertoff Group Former Acting Commissioner, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Robert C. Bonner Senior Principal, Sentinel HS Group Former Commissioner, U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Former Administrator, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; Former U.S. District Judge for California's Central District Ronald S. Colburn Treasurer, The Border Patrol Foundation Former National Deputy Chief, U.S. Border Patrol Charlie T. Deane Police Chief (Retired), Prince William County, VA

Alain Jolicoeur President of AMPRAX, Inc. Former President, Canada Border Services Agency; Chair of the Audit Committee, World Customs Organization; and Chair of the Audit Committee, Royal Canadian Mounted Police Joseph L. Nimmich Raytheon Rear Admiral, U. S. Coast Guard (Retired); Former Director, Joint Interagency Task Force South D. Brian Peterman Vice Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, (Retired) James D. Phillips President & CEO, Canadian/American Border Trade Alliance Richard Vigna Director, San Francisco Office of Field Operations (Retired) U.S. Customs and Border Protection

 

The US/Canada Border Conference is expected to draw attendance from all relevant agencies by bringing officials from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Canadian Ministry of Safety, Canada Border Services Agency, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, United States Coast Guard, Canadian Coast Guard, Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security/ICE, State/Provincial and local police, Canadian/American Border Trade Alliance, and more.

The event’s location in Detroit is ideal to bring these multi-national entities together at the mid-point between the east and west coast ports of entry of both nations. The Cobo Center is situated just blocks from the busiest port of entry for commercial truck traffic between the two nations – the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel, and a mile from the Ambassador Bridge and rail ports of entry.

Please go to the US/Canada Border Conference website for more information.

Source: Eagle Eye Expositions, LLC Press Release

Michael Restovich, a partner and co-director of the Dallas branch, was featured in the New York Times today. As an aviation expert, Mr. Restovich provides insight into the difficulties airport security personnel face at one of the world's busiest airports:

The exact rules about how an inspection is carried out are not made public and vary from airline to airline, though the procedures must all be approved by the T.S.A., according to Michael J. Restovich, a former assistant administrator with the agency who is now a consultant for Command Consulting Group, a security and consulting company. Mr. Restovich said that the rigorous passenger and employee screening procedures introduced after the attacks of Sept. 11 have decreased the chances of finding dangerous materials in the aircraft.

To read the full article, please go to Workers at J.F.K. Say Security Inspections Are Rushed at the New York Times.

Washington, DC - International homeland and national security firm Command Consulting Group (CCG) announced today that Bruce Bowen has been named as a partner in the firm. Bowen, who served as Deputy Director of the United States Secret Service, Assistant Director of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, and in a critical role at the Transportation Security Administration, is a US Army veteran and the recipient of military awards for valor and meritorious service.

“Bruce has been an incredible asset to Command since our inception,” said W. Ralph Basham, founding partner at CCG and former Commissioner of US Customs and Border Protection. “He deserves much of the credit for our firm’s tremendous growth and continued success."

“I am proud to be so closely associated with such a distinguished group of security leaders,” Bowen said. “Command is made up of people who get the job done, and I’m honored to continue my work in the firm as a partner.”

To learn more about Bruce Bowen, go here.

Contact: Laura Fassak
Tel: (202) 207 - 2930
Email: [email protected]

Command Consulting Group partner, Thad Bingel interviewed with In Depth with Francis Rose on Federal News Radio and spoke of how the border patrol has more than doubled in size since 2001, going from approximately 9,000 members to upwards of 21,000 today.

The majority of those [employees] are deployed to the Southwest border, and are immediately in the border area — approximately 18,000 or so — and another 3,000 or more are deployed to the Northern border and to the coastal borders The threats are very different today then from when those stations were established. The border patrol is now going to focus on some of the primary threats they are facing today such as the continued actions of Mexican drug cartels, where every available resource can be focused on thwarting that threat, versus threats from 15 or 20 years ago.

To read the full article, please go to U.S. Border Patrol to eliminate nine interior stations across the country on Federal News Radio.