US Marshals Spending Millions on Secretary DeVos Security

The ISDA Secure Transportation and Executive Protection News Podcast for Monday, November 19, 2018

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In Driving News

From Axios

Regulating the humans behind the wheel of autonomous vehicles

The job of autonomous vehicle safety driver seems pretty easy: Get paid for sitting there while the car does all the work. But it's a challenging assignment and self-regulated by the companies testing AVs, so the rules are only beginning to emerge.

Safety drivers are researchers' eyes and ears, chronicling every roadway encounter to make the technology better. But requiring drivers — even specially trained ones — to pay attention without actually driving is difficult, which is why many companies argue that full autonomy is the safest way to go.

Last March, a pedestrian was struck and killed by an Uber-operated self-driving car in Tempe, Arizona. The human monitoring the vehicle was believed to be watching a television show on her phone.

The accident prompted a review of procedures and expectations for human safety drivers.

Without federal regulations for AVs — just general guidance — the U.S. Department of Transportation suggests states should be the ones to regulate safety drivers.

For now, best practices are emerging from a handful of voluntary safety self-assessments submitted by companies to the DOT.

Safety drivers typically work in pairs, one in the driver's seat monitoring the environment and the other riding shotgun with a laptop, monitoring the car's computing system and annotating the drive.

 

https://www.axios.com/autonomous-vehicles-safety-drivers-training-b1c8b0ed-a32f-4bfe-884d-81cc0d44c38a.html

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And from International Security Driver Association

Facebook Page Recommendation

As a Security Driver people expect you to know about cars. That is especially true at the high end of the profession. There is a great Facebook Page for those who enjoy cars and the science behind what makes them work. It is called Engineering Explained. The page has over 1.1 million followers. Some of the topics in the videos are best engines, engine components, driving and more. The page and YouTube channel by the same name (which has over 2 million subscribers) was created by Jason Fenske a mechanical engineer, who is interested in the evolution of technology in the automotive industry, and aspires to teach this technology to his viewers in a clear and concise manner.

The website is howdoesacarwork.com

https://www.facebook.com/EngineeringExplained/  

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In Security News

From GovConWire

Five Firms to Provide Security Support Services Under $4B Army Contract

The U.S. Army has selected five companies to compete for orders under a potential six-year, $4B firm-fixed-price, multiple-award contract for the delivery of security support services.

The service branch will assign work locations and funds with every order for work that would occur through Nov. 1, 2024, the Defense Department said Wednesday.

The Army Contracting Command solicited for the contract’s services via a competitive process and attracted seven proposals.

The five awarded firms include:

Aegis Defense Services Janus Global Operations Reed International Sallyport Global Services Triple Canopy

https://www.govconwire.com/2018/11/five-firms-to-provide-security-support-services-under-4b-contract/

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And from NBC News Los Angeles 

US Marshals Service Spending Millions on DeVos Security in Unusual Arrangement

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos began receiving around-the-clock security from the U.S. Marshals Service days after being confirmed, an armed detail provided to no other cabinet member that could cost U.S. taxpayers $19.8 million through September of 2019, according to new figures provided by the Marshals Service to NBC News. 

 

https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/politics/Betsy-DeVos-Security-Detail-Cost-500667191.html

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In Technology News

From Officer.Com

Smartphone Security Scanner 'Sees' Concealed Weapons and Explosives on a Person, Non-Invasively and in Real Time

From a distance of up to 40 feet, security agents or law enforcement personnel can scan individuals in a crowd or an approaching person of interest simply by pointing their smartphone at them with the SWORD device attached.

The urgent challenge for security personnel to noninvasively scan people in real time and in public to detect and “see” if they are carrying weapons or explosives without physically searching them will soon be solved with the launch of SWORD by Royal Holdings Technologies Corporation.

Over 8,000 preorders for the SWORD device have already been received by Royal Holdings from corporate businesses in the United States. 

https://www.officer.com/command-hq/technology/security-surveillance/press-release/21008197/royal-holdings-technologies-corp-smartphone-security-scanner-concealed-weapons-and-explosives-detection-noninvasively-in-real-time

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In Training News

Protective / Evasive Driving Course - Miami, FL 12/7-9/2018

This world-class driving course is designed by and for executive protection agents and is also great for executive chauffeurs, security drivers and anyone wanting to gain knowledge and experience in evasive driving concepts, accident avoidance, and skid control - this course will increase your survivability and enhance your marketability in private sector protective services. For more information go to

 https://www.lasorsa.com/training-schedule-registration/ 

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Links to all news stories mentioned in this podcast are available at the SecurityDriver.Com website. You can also listen to past podcast episodes and leave comments. 

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