Project

Prisoner Operations Division Business Integration Center

Challenge

The Prisoner Operations Division (POD) Business Integration Center (BIC) was created to facilitate communication and information sharing among the seven POD offices and to update and standardize POD policies and standard operating procedures.  The BIC is also responsible for developing and managing POD courses provided to the 94 USMS districts.

Solution

• SiloSmashers standardized POD policies and developed a template for standard operating procedures (SOP) based on lean six sigma principals.
• Revised POD SharePoint portal to enhance document sharing, improve search functionality, and more intuitive site structure.
• Worked with the Training Division to develop an online Conditions of Confinement Training for District jail inspectors to become certified to conduct inspections of Intergovernmental agreement (IGA) facilities that house USMS prisoners.
• Facilitate working group sessions to develop the first job-specific training course for POD focused on preparing General Operating Supervisors with the knowledge and skills to manage $1.6B detention management operations.

Results

POD operational and administrative staff are more collaborative and better able to share information as a result of clearly defined SOPs for division functions and better document sharing due to improvements in SharePoint design and structure. POD has developed mission essential training to the 94 USMS districts and is developing career training for new supervisors supporting detention management.  Finally, Silosmashers has facilitated working groups and developed policies and SOPs to support the continuing integration of POD and the legacy Office of the Detention Trustee (OFDT) organizations.

Project

Web-based Training and Content Development

Challenge

The Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) had a requirement for eLearning development. The requirement was to update existing web-based training using commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) desktop authoring tools and work with eFLETC management staff to develop new eLearning content for inclusion into an academic Learning Management System (LMS). This effort was in direct support of FLETC’s new university level online campus for federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement training.

Solution

• Establish SiloSmashers team of content developers with Instructional System Design experienced personnel to support FLETC’s requirements.
• Collaborate as a team to ascertain the actual size and requirements of the project.
• Develop a process to update current available web-based training that includes quality assurance and 508 compliance.
• Work directly with Subject Matter Experts (SME) to ensure newly developed training is of the highest quality technically, functionally, and grammatically.
• Develop a tracking tool that allows total visibility of the process and progress of each individual WBT or new training for eFLETC’s reporting requirements.
• Assist in the alignment of all WBTs to existing FLETC lesson plans.

Results

Created a highly skilled development team – Through collaboration the team converted 140 hours of eFLETC’s web-based training courses updating the functionality and quality assurance.  All WBT’s were published and functional in Adobe Connect, their current Learning Management System and Blackboard, their new Learning Management System. The team developed a thorough process that addressed design, development and a rigorous quality assurance program. The process applies to all new training and sets a base for accreditation of eFLECT. The team aided in the creation of a tracking and verification process of all WBTs to an existing FLETC lesson plan. The team then updated all WBTs to meet the requirements of the lesson plans and SMEs.

Client Benefits

• Enabled a repeatable process in accuracy and quality of all WBTs.
• Reduced systemic problems of users and WBT functionality on the Internet
• Provided the Module Development Tracker (MDT) that tracks the process and allows visibility of development progress in every stage.
• Provided the means to use metrics derived from the MDT to determine actual development time and isolate areas that may delay the development process
• SiloSmashers/eFLETC team efforts provided:
  • Awareness of the benefit of WBTs in the classroom to current instructors.
  • Awareness of enhanced capabilities of WBT as prerequisite for existing classes reducing time and cost for ”stand up” instruction.

Project

Information Assurance and ISSO Support

Challenge

The DHS Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is tasked with researching and organizing the scientific, engineering and technological resources of the United States and leveraging these existing resources into technological tools to help protect the homeland. To assist in that effort, SiloSmashers provides information assurances services and project management through an ISSO team that is responsible for securing and fully supporting the authority to operate (ATO) and transition to Ongoing Authorization for classified and unclassified S&T systems to further their mission. SiloSmashers provides thought leadership on security posture, drives process improvement, assesses and analyzes risk, recommends mitigation and remediation strategies.

Solution

• Led an aggressive, integrated effort between Operations, Engineering and Information Assurance to address wide-spread vulnerability and patching issues which led to aggressive remediation activities.  This ensured a more current, near real-time representations of data used to develop the FISMA scorecard.  Took S&T from ‘worst to first’ in FISMA scorecard standings for the Department.
• Developed standardized scanning profiles and methodology for all S&T laboratory components and headquarters.
• Created Review/Comment process for S&T and began policy document review.
• Authored a Vulnerability Management Policy that provides the structure, process and procedures for a Vulnerability Management Team.
• Developed root cause analysis for systemic programmatic and operational issues within the S&T environment.
• Worked closely with the CISO to drive the current IA standardization project which includes creating ‘Gold’ system images for S&T, (pilot/rollout/phased migration for Windows, Mac, and Linux).

Results

Through these efforts, changes in the applications, data processing and transfer have had a positive impact DHS-wide, resulting in more accurate and timely data being presented through the scorecard to DHS leadership. S&T’s FISMA scores now lead the Department and have set a benchmark for all of the agency components.  In addition, SiloSmashers was recognized as the Information Systems Security Officer of the Year for S&T.  Integration of teams and purpose, building an ‘economy of effort’ and providing leading edge expertise are hallmarks of the SiloSmashers team.

Client Benefits

• Enhanced security posture.
• S&T Recognition from peer DHS components as a thought leader in integration and methodology.
• Significantly improved patching and vulnerability ‘time to remediate’ response.
• Repeatable processes to ensure continued integration of effort and resources.