FBI Holds Briefing, Presents Plans for its Next Generation Information Management Sytem, Sentinel

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Earlier this week, the FBI hosted an Industry Day with industry members to describe planning for its upcoming acquisition of its next generation information system, SENTINEL. Additionally, mission partners from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) presented information on their expectation of how SENTINEL will enhance information sharing across organizational boundaries.

Twenty-seven companies, consisting of eighty-seven representatives, attended the half-day event. Attendees were offered the opportunity to gain additional insight on SENTINEL's direction from a group of senior FBI technology officials.

SENTINEL will significantly contribute to the ongoing modernization of the FBI's Information Technology capabilities. This program will incrementally deliver capabilities to FBI users over the life of the project. SENTINEL further enables the FBI in achieving its mission priorities by enhancing information access and promoting information sharing with law enforcement and intelligence community members.

FBI Chief Information Officer (CIO) Zalmai Azmi set the tone for the day by stressing the need for strong collaboration across government and a close partnership with industry. He stated: "A partnered pursuit of SENTINEL's capabilities will significantly contribute to the FBI's technology transformation as well as bring greater security and protection to the Nation."

CIO Azmi further said: "SENTINEL moves the FBI towards a flexible technology architecture. Additionally, we are developing an internal cadre of trained and experienced project managers. We have defined our governance processes and have documented our Enterprise Architecture. We are now prepared to ask the commercial sector to join us in applying the best practices and enabling technology to advance FBI's mission to protect our Nation from an unwanted event."

The FBI informed the technology industry members of its plans to formalize SENTINEL's acquisition later this year, and solicited comments about the planning documents.