Match Ready: Oversight of the Federal Government’s Border Management and Personnel Readiness Efforts for the Decade of Sports
SENTRY’s Project Investigator Dr. Fred Roberts and Senior Director of Technical Program Development and Strategy Deanna Beirne contributed to the written testimony submitted to the Senate for the hearing titled “Match Ready: Oversight of the Federal Government’s Border Management and Personnel Readiness Efforts for the Decade of Sports,” held on June 10, 2025, in Washington DC. The hearing brought together key national security and infrastructure leaders to discuss the threat landscape and U.S. preparedness ahead of major international sporting events to be hosted in the United States. SENTRY’s participation and attendance highlighted its ongoing commitment to advancing soft target protection and public safety research as the nation prepares for large-scale, high-profile events such as the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.
Among the invited witnesses was Dr. Gina Ligon, Director of the National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center at the University of Nebraska, Omaha. As a leader at a fellow Department of Homeland Security Center of Excellence, Dr. Ligon emphasized the importance of research conducted by these centers, specifically highlighting its impact on counterterrorism strategies and technological innovations. Her expertise provided valuable context for evaluating border management and personnel readiness efforts in relation to the upcoming decade of major sporting events.
During her testimony, Dr. Ligon described SENTRY’s contribution to stadium security, stating, “Continuing the authorized funding of the established cooperative agreements with the designated Centers of Excellence would be a force multiplier for the existing federal workforce. For example, the Northeastern University-based COE, Soft Target Engineering to Neutralize the Threat Reality (SENTRY) is uniquely charged with developing solutions to protect soft targets. SENTRY was actively working to provide crowd management, mass transit infrastructure, and stadium security technology tools and knowledge products for the FIFA World Cup. An example of SENTRY technologies focused on supporting crowd management security and response, dynamic digital twins are capable of monitoring crowd movements in real-time. The system allows for the monitoring and analysis of crowd behavior, including predicting hot spots based on crowd size and train schedules. This S&T-funded tool also enables users to prepare and plan for events like the FIFA World Cup and the Olympics by supporting the simulation of various threats, including malicious attacks. Addressing the prevalence of bombs used in prior attacks on the homeland, SENTRY developed the Digital Dog NoseTM, a portable vapor sensor system capable of detecting and tracking threats, such as explosives, with continuous operation and unmatched sensitivity, in densely populated areas.”
As the nation looks ahead to hosting the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games and other large-scale public events, SENTRY remains hopeful that it will be able to continue this critical line of research and development. Our center is committed to equipping federal, state, and local partners with cutting-edge tools, training, and technologies that enhance the safety and security of high-density public events. Through sustained support and investment, SENTRY aims to play a pivotal role in helping define how the United States protects its people during globally significant sporting events, ensuring both preparedness and resilience in the face of evolving threats.
We encourage our partners and colleagues to tune in, watch the recording, and read the submitted testimony available here.
