Day Of the Drones

2023 has shown us a world of technological advancement that science fiction writers of the past could barely fathom. There is general uneasiness in the face of rapid AI development, robots used in every conceivable capacity, and facial recognition software that can identify an individual walking down a bustling street. We hope that these tools will be used responsibly for the betterment of humankind. Still, the user’s intention is the only apparent difference between a tool and a weapon. When drones became accessible to the public, our fascination with this device overshadowed any notion of their destructive capabilities. With drones being used in conflicts around the globe to disrupt infrastructure and destroy, will we be prepared when the day of the drones descends upon our homeland?

September 14, 2019, saw the implementation of UAS strikes against Saudi Arabian oil processing facilities at Abqaiq and Khurais. The Yemen-based Houthi movement claimed responsibility for the attack in which drones were used with cruise missiles to destroy refineries. It shut oil production down by 50%. In this instance, traditional missile defense systems failed to detect the UAS threats due to their ability to fly at altitudes below radar capability. On September 10, 2023, Russia unleashed over 30 Iranian-made drones on Kyiv. Despite the Ukrainian air force and military intercepting a majority, infrastructure was damaged, and eight houses were destroyed, resulting in casualties.

UAVs have become a main staple in guerrilla combat techniques and a cheap, cost-effective replacement for traditional missiles. The hobbyist models of UASs are easily modified to carry a payload, such as the Russian Geran-2 “kamikaze” model, designed to explode on impact. Russian models such as the Lancet drone cost around $35,000(USD) to manufacture. At this cost point, military strategists can utilize “swarm” techniques in which UASs can converge on a target from multiple directions, confusing and rendering traditional radar systems ineffective. Additionally, the disparity between the cost of producing UAS and the cost of the current missile defense systems creates an unstable financial aspect of the conflict.

Outside of military operations, drones have been used to make foreign nations’ infrastructure grind to a halt without the need for explosives. Between March 2022 and March 2023, Dublin Airport experienced multiple drone incidents, resulting in the disruption of travel and the loss of millions. On Wednesday 19, December 2018, London’s Gatwick Airport was rendered inoperable due to the sighting of two drones. Panic and hysteria ensued within the airport as passengers and security personnel scrambled to understand whether they were facing a potential terrorist attack. Further investigations showed that these drone maneuvers intentionally halted air traffic leading to the Christmas holiday. Without causing physical damage, the mere presence of UASs was enough to terminate all travel through fear. In both cases, British and Irish authorities have installed CUAS equipment capable of detection and mitigation following changes to legislation. John Halinski, the retired Deputy Administrator for TSA, said concerning UAS legislation, “Multiple times I have been asked by members of Congress why we can’t predict and mitigate the next threat. If we ignore this drone threat, we will be asking the same question over again.” Suppose we have learned from the terrorist attacks on 9/11. In that case, it is imperative to avoid potential threats before American lives are lost. So how do we accomplish securing our borders from rapidly developing technology? It all begins with legislation and our ability to respond in a timely manner.

The Current state of CUAS legislation is trapped within a quagmire of state, federal, and criminal components. In the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, Congress codified the term “unmanned aircraft” as “an aircraft that is operated without the possibility of direct human intervention from within or on the aircraft. When the legislation concerning CUAS was drafted, its designers were incapable of comprehending the technology being utilized as a modified weapon. The Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986, the Pen/Trap statute, and the Wire Tap Act were all created to ensure the protection of citizens’ rights in the face of rapidly evolving technology. However, in all three cases, it is mandatory to acquire a court order to begin the process of drone mitigation during an emergency. While protecting individuals’ rights to privacy, the idea that a government agency can be rendered incapable of acting due to the lengthy process of acquiring a court order puts American lives in jeopardy. To mitigate these issues, we must make amendments to the current legislation concerning CUAS, create a clear protocol for response time, and finally grant the proper authority to the first responding state and government organizations. In the event of a national emergency, a singular delay in response time can be the difference between the loss of American lives. Further information on the current legislation is provided below.

As tensions continue to escalate around the world, we are in desperate need of standardized response plans on a state and federal level. After establishing clear guidelines for mitigation, routine exercises in response around airports and critical infrastructure need to be utilized to bolster our security culture. You would only send a soldier on a mission with the proper tools and authority to accomplish the job. Without adjusting our defensive strategies and legislation to the threat of UAS warfare, we face our enemies unarmed, without the power to act. The day of the drone is upon us, and it’s our responsibility to be prepared and move quickly to clarify roles and responsibilities to mitigate the growing threat.

Source: https://www.hstoday.us/featured/day-of-the-drones/

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Fern Prompravat

Ms Prompravat is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Old Dominion University with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, with a concentration in Human Factors. Along with two minors of Computer Science and Business Management. Ms Prompravat began working with Mr. Halinski since 2017, as a liaison for aviation security projects between the United States and countries in South East Asia, specifically Thailand and Vietnam. Ms. Prompravat has made a significant impact in bridging the cultural divides between the SRI Group and their collaborative projects. Currently, Ms Prompravat is responsible for all marketing and GSA administrative aspects for the SRI Group.

Kevin Cahill​

Mr. Cahill is an internationally recognized aviation security consultant and skilled instructor who has provided expertise and assistance to multiple countries, aviation agencies and international organizations throughout the world. He is currently the Director of Aviation Security for SRI Group and is a consultant to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). He previously served as the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) liaison responsible for aviation and transportation security issues in Central and Eastern Europe, including the Russian Federation, Ukraine and Poland. He was responsible for ensuring compliance with U.S. aviation security regulations and ICAO international aviation security standards and developed risk mitigation plans to counter aviation security vulnerabilities. He also provided technical assistance and response to acts of unlawful interference against aviation and other transportation infrastructures. He successfully negotiated international transport security agreements and helped develop national level transportation security programs, policies and plans to mitigate risk to global aviation.

Mr. Cahill has developed strong partnerships with foreign governments and airport authorities in regions that have direct flights to the U.S., as well as with key U.S. government agencies, to ensure that effective, sustainable security practices and new security technologies are implemented. He led the TSA 2014 Sochi Olympics team which provided aviation security expertise to the U.S. State Department’s interagency security effort for the Olympic Games. As Department for Homeland Security (DHS) Attaché for Poland, he was responsible for ensuring coordination of all DHS activities and policies throughout the Central and Eastern European region. He also served as U.S. delegate to the ICAO Aviation Security Panel and to ICAO Aviation Security Working Groups, helping insure that U.S. aviation policies were included as a key part of the overall global security strategy.

As TSA Representative to the ICAO Universal Security Audit Program (USAP), Mr. Cahill conducted multiple ICAO aviation security audit missions worldwide, successfully leading international civil aviation security audit missions in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. He worked closely with national authorities and aviation security stakeholders to provide assistance to host governments, assisting them in achieving compliance with international standards. He has also facilitated ICAO aviation security auditor certification training programs at several ICAO training centers, resulting in the certification of dozens of ICAO Auditors from countries throughout Africa and Europe. He has also successfully conducted quality control training and ICAO Global Aviation Training programs and is certified as an ICAO Instructor and has been certified as an ICAO AVSEC Auditor.

As Senior International Aviation Security Inspector for TSA in Brussels, Belgium and Frankfurt, Germany, Mr. Cahill conducted multiple quality control oversight missions, including foreign airport assessments and air operator inspections, ensuring compliance with ICAO and TSA requirements. He successfully coordinated the implementation and sustainability of international compliance standards and procedures with U.S. and foreign aircraft operators at airports in over 20 countries throughout Europe, Africa and the Middle East.  He directed operations as on-site aviation security coordinator for the TSA/DHS response to transportation-related terrorist threats during deployments to European locations during the outbreak of the Iraq war in 2003 and during heightened security threats in the UK in 2004 and 2006.

 Mr. Cahill is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts Boston with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and is a retired U.S. Air Force veteran specializing in Security Forces operations who served in Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, with NATO Forces in Bosnia and Kosovo and in Operation Enduring Freedom

John Halinski

John Halinski is currently the CEO partner of S&R Investments LLC of Manassas dba SRI Group, a veteran owned small business specializing in global security and technology and risk consulting opportunities. He is also the President and owner of Raloid Corporation a manufacturing facility specializing in sensitive DoD programs in Baltimore Maryland. He also consults for the International Civil Aviation Organization, ICAO.

John Halinski became TSA’s Deputy Administrator in July 2012. As Deputy Administrator, he was responsible for helping TSA grow as a high-performance counterterrorism agency.

Halinski joined TSA in July 2004, serving in the Office of Global Strategies (OGS) before assuming his role as Deputy Administrator.  In this capacity Halinski served as the COO for the 62,000-person TSA.  He has spearheaded an operational and cultural change which has stressed a risk-based approach to security, the professional development of the TSA workforce and increasing stakeholder outreach.    

As Assistant Administrator for OGS from 2008 to 2012, Halinski was responsible for enhancing international transportation security through compliance, outreach and engagement, and capacity development. Key accomplishments included the advancement of measures to prevent and suppress all acts of unlawful interference against civil aviation and acting as the US Representative on Aviation Security for ICAO. As the Europe Area Manager/TSA Representative for OGS, Halinski was also responsible for all TSA operations and administrative activities in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

Additional accomplishments since joining TSA include serving as the TSA/DHS lead for the 2006 Winter Olympics and acting as the TSA Representative for the evacuation of Americans from Lebanon in 2006. Halinski also served as the chief technical advisor for aviation security for the U.S. State Department negotiations on Open Skies agreements.  He also developed and implemented a successful Africa engagement strategy for TSA, as well as the Safe Skies for Africa program. In addition, Halinski directed the TSA response to international incidents including the international cargo plot of 2010, rebuilding of Haiti’s transportation security infrastructure following the 2010 earthquake, and the December 25, 2009 attempted terrorist bombing and printer bombing attempt.

Previously, Halinski served 25 years in the Marine Corps in a variety of positions. Highlights of this period include several successful tours involving counterterrorism, counter-drugs and counter-proliferation operations.

Halinski earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Florida and a Master of Science degree in Strategic Intelligence from the National Intelligence University in Washington, D.C. He is a graduate of TSA’s Senior Leadership Development Program and the Federal Executive Institute in Charlottesville, Virginia. John Halinski is also on the Board of Advisors for Marymount University’s Intelligence Studies Program, The Board of Advisors for Christopher Newport University’s Center for American Studies and is a Senior Fellow with George Washington University on Homeland Security issues.  John Halinski is also a frequent contributor to the media and has appeared as an expert commentator for NBC, CBS, ABC, Bloomberg and MSNBC as well as being published in various security publications.