TRANSCOM officials improve military supply chain security Published Sept. 9, 2008 SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. (AFPN) -- Officials of the U.S. Transportation Command here recently deployed a container security system that detects tampering and helps protect military container shipments moving from Afghanistan to Pakistan. TRANSCOM officials introduced the CommerceGuard container security system, provided by GE Security Inc., a business of GE Enterprise Solutions, to protect its container shipments better. Based at Scott Air Force Base, TRANSCOM members direct and supervise execution of the military supply chain for the Department of Defense. The command staff required quick action to add high technology intrusion detection and tracking to containers being transported to the port of Karachi in Pakistan. Realizing the CommerceGuard solution's ease of deployment, GE Security officials responded immediately to TRANSCOM's request for a reliable container security solution. "We're pleased that CommerceGuard is proving effective for TRANSCOM. Within three weeks of receiving their call, we were able to get reliable container intrusion detection deployed in the Afghanistan-Pakistan trade lane," said Randy Koch, the president and CEO of CommerceGuard. The system provides shipment security throughout the supply chain. TRANSCOM contractors use CommerceGuard handheld readers at specific checkpoints in the supply chain to read container security devices on the command's containers. The devices report the security status of each container, alerting TRANSCOM officials if doors have been opened without authorization. Logistics managers can use the data to determine when and where containers were opened. U.S. military personnel mount the container security devices inside the container doors when the containers are filled with supplies, then use a handheld reader to arm the devices for shipment. "In addition to heightening our security measures with intrusion alerts, the data made available through the CommerceGuard global information network adds efficiency to our processes by confirming that our containers are secure throughout this vital supply chain. This allows our supported commanders to focus their attention on operations," said Navy Vice Adm. Ann Rondeau, the TRANSCOM acting commander. "We have been pleased with the quick deployment, ease of use, and effectiveness of this system." The CommerceGuard container security system is commercially used by shippers today, and fixed readers are deployed at more than 20 leading seaports around the world. It is available through a global business collaboration consisting of GE Security, Mitsubishi Corporation, Samsung C&T Corporation, and Siemens Building Technologies. TRANSCOM officials provide air, land and sea transportation for the DOD, both in time of peace and time of war, and are responsible for creating and implementing world-class global deployment and distribution solutions in support of president, secretary of Defense, and combatant commander-assigned missions. As the DOD distribution process owner, TRANSCOM officials coordinate and oversee the department's end-to-end distribution system to develop distribution process improvements that enhance the defense logistics and global supply chain management system. GE Security, Mitsubishi Corporation, Samsung C&T Corporation, and Siemens Building Technologies jointly own the CommerceGuard container security solution. CommerceGuard features the first market-ready container security device that is located inside an intermodal cargo container and registers door openings. The container security device communicates with fixed and handheld readers to send alerts of security breaches and to record shipment status in the CommerceGuard Information Network, where data is accessed at no additional charge by customers and government officials from anyplace in the world. Comment on this story (comments may be published on Air Force Link) View the comments/letters page