A methodology for improving the design of tactical biometric systems through the application of systems engineering

Tactical biometric devices are deployed to fix the identity of individuals in support of missions that include detainee tracking, distribution of humanitarian relief, employment vetting, and Enemy Killed in Action (EKIA) documentation. However, tactical biometric devices have traditionally been designed for and tested in benign, controlled environments, using data atypical of that collected in operationally realistic conditions. To date, limited systems engineering practices have been applied to the design of these devices and the vendor community is at a critical juncture in the design, development, and deployment of tactical biometric systems. Vendors need techniques for assessing the effectiveness of their devices in tactical environments and performance based design. Customers and stakeholders need the analytic insight derived from such techniques to ascertain which device best supports their respective Concept of Operations (CONOPS).;The objective of this work is to provide a response to these critical needs, as identified by the National Research Council report Biometric Recognition: Challenges and Opportunities. This work applies systems engineering principles to develop an Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E) methodology, a methodology for improving the design of future devices, and an alternatives analysis cost model. The OT&E methodology was developed then executed as the Tactical Biometrics Experiment (executed in 2011) and the Tactical Biometrics Evaluation (executed in 2012). These were innovative tests conducted to gauge the capabilities of the tactical biometric device market by quantifying the performance degradation associated with using these devices in tactical environments. The methodology for improving the design of tactical biometric devices was developed to leverage the results of the OT&E. It produces two distinct outputs to meet the defined needs: (1) the identification of the best commercial device to meet stakeholder requirements and (2) prioritized stakeholder requirements and performance data to inform the next generation of vendor device design.