Published November 2002 — Download PDF of the original newspaper column
Byrd's-Eye View By U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd Developing a New Industry in West Virginia
At a time when concerns about security are constantly growing, the Mountain State is poised to help lead the country in the development of cutting-edge technologies that help to make computer networks safer from cyberattack. These technologies, called biometrics, protect information as large as electronic military networks or as personalized as one's banking or medical records. Biometrics utilize characteristics that are unique to an individual -- such as the pattern of the iris of the eye or the shape of one's hand or face -- in order to verify the identity of that individual. West Virginia's role in biometrics began four years ago when the Department of Defense (DoD) approached me with concerns that terrorist organizations and rogue nations were attempting to break into the Pentagon's electronic networks. DoD officials believed that biometrics could provide the necessary security to protect critical information from would-be attackers. Since then, I have included $92 million in appropriations bills to test biometrics identification systems and to develop a prototype security network for the Defense Department. As it moved ahead, the DoD looked to those running the nation's largest biometrics repository for guidance. At my request, DoD officials toured the FBI Complex in Harrison County, which houses thousands of fingerprints electronically, and saw first- hand the expertise that already called West Virginia home. After the visit, the DoD decided to open an interim Biometrics Fusion Center in Harrison County in 2000 to test various security approaches. That center has performed so well that the Defense Department is considering various West Virginia locations for a permanent testing facility. The biometrics effort is not limited to the Defense Department. Recently, I announced that West Virginia University and five other companies and non-profit organizations in the state have been selected to lend their high-tech expertise to the critical work underway at the Harrison County center. This work will contribute to the country's ability to defend its electronic and computer information -- ranging from national security secrets to electrical grids or to drinking water systems -- from cyberattack. As new technologies develop, the Mountain State is well-positioned to help lead the way. With the Biometrics Fusion Center and the combined expertise of WVU and several West Virginia companies, the state is gaining significant momentum in this young field. Not long ago, biometrics was strictly the stuff of science fiction. But what some people can dream, others can invent. West Virginia has demonstrated the foresight to embrace this state-of-the-art technology and is well positioned to lead in its development. November 27, 2002