Protecting the Obama Inauguration
Note: The Washington DC Metropolitan Police Department deployed RealityVision during President Obama’s Inauguration festivities. The following notes were taken contemporaneously with the event.
As I watched the Wreath Laying Ceremony from the warmth of the Intelligence Operations Center (IOCC), I couldn’t help but think about the significance of that moment. I was watching history in the making and hundreds of thousands of visitors were sharing the moment with me. Sunday was just a preview of what was to come. On Inauguration Day, millions of visitors poured into our nation’s capital.
In an effort to maintain order and keep our guests safe, a state of emergency was declared for the District. This provided federal funds to help the city cover the daunting cost of security. Initially, I was a little confused by this decision. Such declarations are usually reserved for earthquakes, hurricanes, and other natural disasters. In fact, never before has a state of emergency been declared for anything other than a natural disaster.
The Inauguration was also designated as a National Special Security Event. When an event is designated as a National Special Security Event, the Secret Service is the lead agency in charge of formulating and executing security plans. As expected, a very comprehensive plan was laid out. Law enforcement officers from 58 federal, state, and local agencies collaborated with the Secret Service to ensure all ran smoothly. Thousands of cameras kept vigil on the city, while snipers sat perched on rooftops, ready to spring into action. Finally, let’s not forget those dreaded bridge closures!
The center of all this activity was located inside The Metropolitan Police Department’s (MPD) Headquarters. That is where the Reality Mobile team was located.
During Inauguration Week, Reality Mobile’s Project Management Team was in Washington, spending time in the IOCC with the MPD and other law enforcement agencies. As a Project Manager, my task was to provide support for the MPD’s use of RealityVision during the Inaugural festivities. I was enthusiastic about the thought of us sitting in the middle of the action. Imagine sitting in the IOCC, surrounded by people tasked with protecting the city and our next president!
After the coverage of the Wreath Laying Ceremony finished, I was finally able to take a good look around the IOCC. Physically, the IOCC was what one would expect from a command center. It was sparsely decorated, occupied by two rows of computers and a large projection screen that covered the front wall. The projection screen displayed several news broadcasts, one of the thousands of fixed camera feeds from around the city, and even the movie Independence Day. The mood of the IOCC was in stark contrast to the command center portrayed in the movie. While Hollywood’s version was loud and chaotic, the real life version seemed quiet and unruffled. I expected a bit more commotion, so this was both a surprise and a reassurance. That week was certainly one of significance, not just for RealityVision, but for all of us.