Posts Tagged ‘Homeland Security’

Article courtesy of the Las Cruces Bulletin

By Samantha Roberts

As Las Cruces continues to grow, so do surrounding areas, including Santa Teresa, but with this growth comes many complications.

What began as an idea many years ago will turn into a reality with the groundbreaking of the expansion of the Santa Teresa Port of Entry (POE) Thursday, July 7. The event will be led by Juan “J.D.” Salinas, regional administrator for GSA’s Greater Southwest Region, and Ana Hinojosa, director of field operation in El Paso for the U.S. Customs & Border Protection Agency, as well as other dignitaries, such as New Mexico Secretary of Economic Development Jon Barela and Sen. Jeff Bingaman. Also on the guest list are more than 200 invitees.

“This event signifies a great moment for everyone that has put in the hard work to make this a reality,” said Jim Creek, executive director of the New Mexico Border Authority.

Santa Teresa serves as the closest port of entry for people traveling from Chihuahua, Mexico, and Jerónimo Port as well as Juárez International Airport to the U.S.

“There is just not enough room for everyone,” Creek said. “Especially in the last few months, traffic has actually decreased because people are getting so frustrated with the long wait times.” Creek said the Santa Teresa port’s popularity comes from the increased economic activity in Santa Teresa; a newly built road that connects the Jerónimo Port to southern New Mexico; the ease of access to El Paso shopping centers, such as The Outlet Shoppes at El Paso; and the increased violence in Juárez has deterred people from making the trek through the hostile city. With all the extra people, the current roads – two northbound non-commercial and commercial lanes and inspection booths; and two southbound non-commercial and commercial lanes and inspection booths – are not enough.

“For non-commercial ‘private’ vehicles, the wait time can be as long as three to four hours,” Creek said. “It is the longest of any port in El Paso or Doña Ana County.”

Luckily, Creek said he and a team have been able to find the funding. “Plans have always pointed at expanding the roads,” he said. “In early 2010, we met with federal, state and private officials to establish a committee and attempt to fix the problem. We were able to find federal money – stimulus funding or Homeland Security funding. It’s all federal money, just a different color.”

Since 1997, the number of annual northbound passenger vehicle crossings at the Santa Teresa POE has gone from less than 100,000 to more than 500,000 and is continuing to grow. In regard to these numbers, Creek said plans are also looking at future capacity for the port.

“We are definitely keeping our eyes on the future,” he said. “Economic development cannot grow without the capacity to expand.”

After construction begins – late July or early August – the anticipated completion time is about 14 months. Being added are two northbound non-commercial lanes and inspection booths, an expanded secondary inspection area for non-commercial vehicles, a pedestrian walkway and expanded inspection area, one additional commercial lane and inspection booth, a new southbound inspection facility and renovations to the current Main Port Administration Building.

“This will enable the trucks to flow smoother and will give us 50 percent or more truck capacity,” Creek said. “In 1998, there were no expectations of pedestrian traffic; however, in April, more than 15,000 people crossed the port, intermingled within cars. We really need the pedestrian crosswalk.”

Though things seem to be flowing smoothly, Creek said he expects to encounter staffing problems. “We are increasing the size of the administration building because we will have to increase the number of staff,” he said. “The infrastructure we will have, but getting the increased staff members is the hard part because they are needed all around ports. Since there has not been an increased budget for customs and border to hire additional workers, no one is able to financially support the increase.

“We will work with other states and congressional delegation to hammer out this issue. It is a common need right now.”

To learn more about the Santa Teresa POE, the public is invited to listen in on a monthly business meeting at 10 a.m. the last Thursday of the month at Santa Teresa Country Club, 75 Feather Moon Drive in Santa Teresa. The meeting is attended by U.S. and Mexican private and public sector officials, who discuss border issues.

Release courtesy of NMSU News Center

WRITER: Mark Cramer, 575-646-1957, mwcramer@nmsu.edu

CONTACT: Kathryn Hansen, 575-646-5406, Hansen@nmsu.ed

Photo courtesy of UAS TAAC

The annual UAS TAAC (Unmanned Aircraft Systems Technical Analysis and Applications Center) Conference, arranged and sponsored by New Mexico State University, takes place Dec. 7-9 at the Tamaya Hyatt Regency in Santa Ana Pueblo, N.M. Between 400 and 500 guests are expected to attend, mainly from federal agencies, aviation user groups, universities and private industry.

“We have received national recognition as the best small UAS conference in the country,” said Steve Hottman, head of the department of 21st Century Aerospace at New Mexico State University’s Physical Science Laboratory, home of the TAAC.

NMSU’s first UAS TAAC conference, held 12 years ago as one of the first in the U.S, focused primarily on the civil use of unmanned aircraft systems. A lot has changed since then, and the TAAC has adjusted the conference accordingly.

“The application of UAS has grown tremendously since 1998, particularly in the defense sector,” Hottman said. “We have kept up with this growth and made sure that the conference continues to be a valuable forum for the departments of Defense and Homeland Security, Federal Aviation Administration and other federal agencies, as well as aerospace entrepreneurs. We are offering an eclectic composition of attendees and topics in both classified and open venues.”

While TAAC 2010 remains an intimate affair, the conference has grown significantly over the years; it attracts attendees from all regions of the U.S. and from numerous government and private organizations. New Mexico UAS stakeholders are well represented at the event, including the national laboratories, military organizations, universities and private industry. This year the conference again will take place at the Tamaya Hyatt Regency resort in Santa Ana Pueblo, north of Albuquerque.

“We try to bring in national leadership for the conference, with the goal of working as a group to move forward to make UAS applications and developments more accessible,” Hottman said. “It’s an idea exchange and a place to discuss research and development.”

The conference begins Dec. 7 with a keynote address from Dyke Weatherington, deputy director of Unmanned Warfare in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense, followed by Air Force Brig. Gen. Robert P. “Bob” Otto, director of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities with the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance at USAF headquarters in Washington, D.C.

The Dec. 8 session kicks off with remarks from U.S. Air Force Gen. Will Fraser, commander, Air Combat Command. Air Force Maj. Gen. Michael C. Kostelnik (ret.), assistant commissioner with the Office of Customs and Border Patrol in U.S. Customs and Border Protection, will join Gen. Fraser. The day will include a small UAS demonstration.

The Dec. 9 session takes place at a classified facility and is open to U.S. citizens with a minimal secret security clearance only. A complete agenda for the three-day event may be found at http://psl.nmsu.edu/uav/conferences/2010/agenda.php.

To register for the conference or for more information, visit http://psl.nmsu.edu/uav/conferences/2010/index.php. General session registration is $700, and registration for the classified session is $250. The registration deadline is Nov. 25.

The NMSU UAS team emphasizes research, development, test and evaluation activities to address a broad range of requirements and capabilities, including UAS development (platforms, communications, command and control) and evaluations of flight hardware technology such as airframes, engines, communications systems, flight control systems and payload. NMSU has unique capabilities in critical operational elements such as planning, airspace coordination and integration, standard processes and procedures, concepts of operations, human factors and training. The university is home to the only FAA-approved UAS testing space in the nation, with 15,000 square miles of airspace in which to operate.

The Arrowhead Center, NMSU’s economic development center, also plays a key role in the UAS TAAC Conference. The center is working to develop opportunities for aerospace businesses in southern New Mexico and beyond, partly in concert with the nearby Spaceport America, located near Truth or Consequences, N.M. The explosive growth and development of UAS, and the FAA-approved testing space, makes the area ideal for aerospace business and research firms, which also will be discussed at the conference.

The January meeting of the MVEDA Business on the Border Forum will be held on Tuesday, January 5, 2010 from 11:30 AM until 1:00 PM at the Day’s Inn Columbus Conference Center, 901 Avenida de Mesilla.  The meeting will begin with a hot entree buffet, followed by an update by MVEDA staff.

Gary Gomes, President of the High Tech Consortium of Southern New Mexico (HTC), will be the featured speaker.  The High Tech Consortium of Southern New Mexico is a grass roots non-profit organization established in 2003 to create a strong high tech business climate in Southern New Mexico and further the quality of life of our community.

The High Tech Consortium’s vision is to make New Mexico a regional technology leader and a national center for technical excellence. The organization’s goals are to:

• Promote a business atmosphere conducive to growing the high-tech sector in Southern New Mexico.
• Be the regional voice representing and advocating the political and business related interests of the technology sector.
• Establish partnerships that promote high-tech industries in Southern New Mexico.
• Support the development and retention of a qualified high-tech workforce in the region.
• Actively foster an environment that produces excellence in education at all levels.
• Support endeavors that enrich the quality of life in the region.

HTC’s areas of focus are:

• Broadband
• Commercial Space
• Digital Media
• Homeland Security
• Renewable Energy

Luncheon cost is $15.00 per person, payable by cash, check or major credit card. The meeting is open to the public and reservations are not required

The 2009 Domenici Public Policy Conference will be held September 16 – 17, 2009 on the campus of New Mexico State University. The conference is hosted by New Mexico State University and the Pete V. Domenici Institute for Public Policy.

Topics covered in this year’s conference will include: the U.S. Economy; Nuclear Energy; Homeland Security and the U.S./Mexico Border; and National Security.  Speakers will include: U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano; Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. James Cartwright; Former U.S. Senator Pete Domenici; U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu; Former Congresswoman Heather Wilson; Nuclear Energy Institute Senior Vice President Alex Flint; and Former Director of the Government Accountability Office David Walker.

Registration fees are $25.00 per person. Conference information, including on-line registration and agendas are available on-line: http://domenici.nmsu.edu/index.html.

Visitors may obtain an E-Permit for each day of conference attendance on-line: http://www.campusvisitor.com/.