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Security Investigations Improve with Digital Fingerprinting

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS101015-17
10/15/2010

By Marlene Torres, Fleet and Industrial Supply Center San Diego Public Affairs

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Fleet and Industrial Supply Center (FISC) San Diego is leading the Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) enterprise by incorporating technology into personnel security investigations.

The FISC San Diego security office recently installed an electronic fingerprint machine to increase accuracy of taking fingerprints and reducing overall timelines for processing personnel investigations.

The machine is the first of its kind in the NAVSUP enterprise. Prior to acquiring the digital capability, hard-copy fingerprint cards were submitted to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the investigating agency, by utilizing the U.S. Postal Service or other commercial shipping companies often adding several days to an already lengthily process.

The process of mailing the cards often led to delays in processing investigations since OPM requires all documentation, including fingerprints, before beginning their investigations. Fingerprint cards would need to be redone from scratch if any errors were identified, requiring a second visit to the security office and several more days in the shipping process. Digital fingerprinting allows security to know instantly if fingerprints are acceptable for use and provides the ability to immediately transfer data, cutting the overall timeline of the process.

Because the electronic fingerprinting process is so efficient, the Navy will eventually mandate use of scanning machines for electronic submission of fingerprints. Among the advantages are requiring less than half the current time to open investigations, instantly identifying which fingers are classifiable or which fingerprints should be retaken, and instant notification from OPM that the package has been received and is acceptable for use.

The process is also environmentally friendly. The machine minimizes use and waste of fingerprint cards due to bad or unclassifiable prints, which adds up as FISC San Diego alone sends out approximately 500 personnel investigations each year for processing.