Mr. Charles R. Armstrong was the Assistant Commissioner (AC) and Chief Information Officer (CIO) of the Office of Information and Technology (OIT), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). As the AC and CIO, Mr. Armstrong was responsible for managing and integrating all of CBP’s information technology (IT) solutions in alignment with overarching Department of Homeland Security (DHS) IT strategies.

Mr. Armstrong’s responsibilities included application development, maintaining an efficient IT infrastructure that enables enforcement technology services and support, tactical communications, laboratory services, and modernization initiatives for improving the service delivery in support of CBP’s core business processes. Mr. Armstrong led OIT as the AC since June 2008. He oversaw and executed a budget of nearly 1.3 billion dollars and a workforce of about 6000 Federal employees and contractors throughout the world. During his tenure as a leader in Federal IT, OIT accomplished the following:

•  Optimized technology service delivery through enhanced border security during Fiscal Years 2011-2013.
• Network systems availability for all DHS components was an average of 99.9%.
•  Steward of forensic technology for OIT’s laboratory and scientific services provide critical forensic support on CBP enforcement actions. The Laboratory and Scientific Services (LSSD) collaboration with National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in order to explore the potential value of pollen analysis for “John and Jane Doe” deceased children cases where all other investigative leads and forensic science capabilities had been exhausted. LSSD has been providing pollen analysis in support of the CBP Office of Intelligence (OI) Attribution Forensics Intelligence Program (AFIP) since 2012, and has so far provided analysis for over 115 cases of various types. LSSD has successfully developed pollen collection procedures and generated forensic pollen profiles associated with evidence from CBP Persons of Interest, Panga Boat, and Ultralight Aircraft events, as well as from narcotics seizures, including marijuana, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and the accompanying wrapping materials.  Modernized IT infrastructure to improve performance and lower operational costs.
• OIT is moving toward cloud computing, which has allowed for the consolidation of many servers resulting in decreased operational costs, improved performance and increased availability. The C3E Cloud initiative requires less integration while increasing speed and efficiency ten-fold.
•  Enhanced technology delivery to meet mission-critical requirements to stay ahead of potential security threats. The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) and the Automated Targeting System (ATS) are two examples of new and improved technologies delivered by OIT.
•  Restructured programs to ensure large IT capital investments are delivering value and are performing as required. TECS Modernization and the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) have been restructured to deliver better investment value.  Improved efficiencies streamlined services, prioritized needs, and eliminated redundancies. In addition, OIT has re-competed contracts, insourced services, and reduced the budget annually.
•  Implemented technology standards that improved technology practices such as the adoption of the IT industry standards of Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL), the Agile methodology, and the Service Oriented Architecture (SOA).
•  Steward of cyber security for security management services for DHS and all DHS components through the OneNet Security Operation Center (SOC). The SOC ensures continuity of service by the establishment of a fully operational backup SOC and also provides cyber intelligence analysis to the security incident response team. In addition to this, they are responsible for incident reporting and response, including privacy incidents, which enables components and executives to take swift action in securing DHS information.
•  Co-chair of the Bi-National Working Group with Mexico which supports and promotes interoperability with State, Local, Tribal, Territorial and other Federal Land Mobile Radio user communities through initiatives like the Cross Border Security Connections Network (CBSCN).
• In 2014, AC Armstrong signed Appendix 1B to the Cross Border Security Communications Network (CBSCN) Procedures and Guidelines for Operations. This project addresses interoperability challenges by facilitating infrastructure sharing and identifying best practices for cross border interoperability coordination to resolve cross border emergency communications issues. CBSCN is a microwave (radio) based system located in ten 10 city pairs along the shared border. The system connects Border Patrol Station (BPS) dispatch centers in the U.S. and Mexican dispatch centers in Mexico. With assistance from the National Law Enforcement Communications Center (NLECC) in Orlando, FL, CBSCN has the capability to be used anywhere along the border that the Land Mobile Radio (LMR) networks provide coverage.  Implemented Email-as-a-Service across the entire CBP organization to effectively monitor email usage. During the beginning of Fiscal Year 2014, CBP email and calendars were moved to the cloud for better governance.
•  Delivered upgraded and expanded radio coverage in Houston, Texas and Maine Border Patrol sectors via the TACCOM initiative. Also a part of TACCOM, the Digital-In-Place (DIP) program delivered upgraded and replacement of tactical voice communication infrastructure with digital technologies to the Border Patrol Sectors in Texas in 2014Mr. Armstrong has more than 30 years of leadership and technology experience in IT operations and management. After beginning his career with the Department of the Navy, he worked for the U.S. Customs Service and CBP in various capacities. He served as the Executive Director, Customs Modernization. He also served as the CIO, DHS Border and Transportation Security prior to serving as the DHS Deputy CIO from 2005 through 2008. While at DHS, Mr. Armstrong was a champion of the Department’s IT initiatives for improving secure information-sharing capabilities. Mr. Armstrong graduated from Old Dominion University with a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems and obtained a Master’s Certificate in Management from National Louis University. He is a Harvard Senior Executive Fellow and a graduate of the General Services Administration Strategic and Tactical Advocates for Results (STAR) Program. Mr. Armstrong is a Certified Information System Security Professional (CISSP). Mr. Armstrong is the recipient of the prestigious Presidential Rank Award given out by the President to a small group of career Senior Executives and career employees who are strong leaders, professionals, and scientists who achieve results and consistently demonstrate a relentless commitment to excellence in public service. In July 2013, he received the esteemed Most Valuable Player award from the Government Technology and Services Coalition (GTSC) for accomplishments in modernizing and improving program performance and service delivery capabilities. In 2011 and 2001, he was recognized by Federal Computer Week’s Federal 100 as one of the top executives from government, industry, and academia who had the greatest impact on the government information systems community.

Mr. Armstrong joins the Coalition to work with members to help them understand the CBP mission and assist CBP officials to find the technologies and services they need in the rapidly evolving homeland security threat environment.