Administrative Office of the United States Courts
September 2019 - Present
Risk Analysis
Bent Ear Solutions (BES) manages the communications infrastructure for the Federal Judiciary's Threat Management Branch (TMB), effectively handling emails from judiciary personnel and external agencies. BES plays a critical role in coordinating information sharing, especially during emergencies. This includes analyzing and disseminating information from various sources such as open-source, deep web, and dark web. Significant incidents managed include Typhoon Mawar in Guam (2023) and Hurricane Ian in the southeastern U.S. (2022). BES also enhances situational awareness and preparedness through risk assessments at key conferences, such as the Federal Judiciary Ninth Circuit Judges conference.
Responsibilities
BES is responsible for the day-to-day management of communications within the TMB, including monitoring and responding to emails, coordinating information dissemination during emergencies, and providing support for security assessments at major judicial conferences. This ensures effective communication and preparedness across the Judiciary.
Performance
BES has consistently managed the communications and information coordination effectively, adhering to the operational demands and timelines of the Judiciary. The project has been maintained within the operational budget, demonstrating BES’ ability to deliver reliable and efficient service.
Emergency Notification System
Bent Ear Solutions (BES) was integral in creating and enhancing the new US Courts' Emergency Notification System (ENS). This system is being rolled out to all 94 Courts, encompassing 36,000 employees across more than 900 facilities. The project includes extensive planning, configuration, and customization of the platform to meet the unique communication needs of the US Courts. This included setting up critical communication channels, customizing alert messaging features, and ensuring seamless integration within the existing U.S. Courts' infrastructure.
Responsibilities
BES was responsible for collaborating with the US Courts to assess communication requirements and system specifications, facilitating the customization and configuration of the platform to align with the judicial structure and security protocols, and managing the rollout process across multiple judicial circuits, districts, and units, ensuring each receives tailored training and system configuration to effectively utilize the platform.
Performance
BES is currently managing the project timelines and budget, ensuring that each phase of the rollout is completed as planned. The team provides ongoing support and adjustments based on operational feedback, maintaining strict adherence to the project's financial and scheduling goals.
Geographic Information System (GIS) & Technology
During a critical upgrade of their main servers, the US Courts faced potential risks of IT system downtimes. Bent Ear Solutions (BES) developed a comprehensive backup website to ensure continuous accessibility for the public. This backup site included essential contact information for every courthouse, along with dedicated pages for each circuit and district. Additionally, the site featured a survey to collect updated contact information for each court. To support internal operations, the website also hosted a secure page for court administrators to access and manage survey responses and update the status of the main website functionalities.
Responsibilities
Facilitated the collaboration of various federal, state, and local agencies to ensure a unified approach to homeland security and public safety during Fleet Week, implemented data and jurisdiction interoperability solutions, allowing real-time monitoring and coordination through Esri GIS and Microsoft Teams, and managed risk mitigation strategies as responsibilities shifted between jurisdictions, from onboard the Navy ships to the parking lots, ensuring comprehensive coverage and rapid response capabilities.
Performance
BES successfully delivered the backup website on schedule and within the allocated budget, ensuring no interruption in public access to court information during the server upgrades. The project was executed with high precision, meeting all specified requirements and operational expectations.