Exploring the lack of interoperability of databases within Department of Homeland Security interagency environment concerning maritime port security

Abstract

Federal agencies that are within The Department of Homeland Security have many missions to support the security of the United States. One mission concurrent with this thesis topic is Maritime Interdiction Operations, which protects America's maritime borders from all intrusions by halting the flow of illegal drugs, aliens, and contraband into the United States through maritime routes. All government agencies within The Department of Homeland Security are continuing to focus their effort in sharing critical data to improve their situational awareness (SA) of command and control (C2), to make quicker decisions, and to collaborate with remote experts in support of another possible terrorist attack. Unfortunately this effort is being accomplished without the foresight of interoperability of existing databases throughout the agencies within The Department of Homeland Security. The lack of interoperability of these databases between the agencies continues to be a major issue in the security and safety to our nation's maritime ports. This thesis will discuss the lack of interoperability of databases between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The need and urgency to collaborate these vital databases into one unified decentralized network--to store and retrieve critical information to protect our maritime ports of entry, when needed, to protect our nation from any possible future threats that may harm our nation--is also stressed.