Biometrics in Support of Military Operations ─ Lessons from the Battlefield

Biometrics is a vital tool that can identify insurgents or terrorists despite their efforts to remain anonymous. It can also be used to determine which individuals to allow access to our overseas bases, which local nationals to hire, and which will receive military or related training. This book evaluates recent U.S. military experiences in Iraq or Afghanistan and examines areas for improvement. It also reviews the various technologies and which are best suited for various applications. The book concludes with a look at the future of biotechnology and emerging applications for the military.

William C. Buhrow was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky. He attended Wake Forest University and graduated in 1983 with a BA in history and a commission as a Military Intelligence Officer in the United States Army. He earned a master’s degree in strategic intelligence from the Defense Intelligence College before leaving active service in 1993 as a civilian intelligence analyst with the Defense Intelligence Agency. He returned to active service in 2003 as an intelligence officer for the Army’s Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence (G2). In 2007, he began a series of active duty tours with the Army’s Biometrics Task Force/Biometrics Identity Management Agency. He retired from the Army in 2012 and currently works as a contractor supporting the Department of Defense in the areas of biometrics and identity intelligence.