NewzIntel.com

Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI Canada: B.C. fast-tracks recruitment of international doctors as U.S. campaign delivers results

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    In just two months, B.C. has received almost 780 job applications from qualified health professionals across the United States, reflecting strong momentum from the Province’s co-ordinated U.S. recruitment campaign.

    Building on this success, new strategies are underway to further attract internationally trained doctors.

    “When we began recruiting in the U.S. in March, we were confident it would yield strong results, and this success confirms that British Columbia’s universal health-care system and vibrant communities continue to stand out,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. “With the support of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of B.C., we’re now making it easier than ever for internationally trained doctors to bring their skills to our province.”

    Since the campaign began, more than 2,250 doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses and allied health professionals have signed up for webinars and expressed interest in working in B.C. This includes 827 physicians, 851 nurses, 254 nurse practitioners and 256 allied health professionals.

    To further improve recruitment, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of B.C. (CPSBC) implemented bylaw changes on July 7, 2025, that benefit doctors trained outside of Canada. Since then, CPSBC has received 29 registration applications from U.S. doctors.

    “CPSBC is always looking to evolve its bylaws, processes and procedures as health-care needs evolve,” said Dr. Patrick Rowe, CPSBC registrar and CEO. “These bylaw amendments are part of our work with government to find opportunities that will help British Columbians receive more accessible and timely care.”

    The bylaw changes implemented by CPSBC are:

    • U.S.-trained doctors can now become fully licensed in B.C., without the need for further assessment, examination or training if they hold certification from the American Board of Medical Specialties, American Board of Family Medicine or the American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians. It means that U.S.-trained and certified doctors can often be registered in a matter of weeks.
    • Doctors trained outside of Canada and the U.S. who are applying for registration and licensure in B.C. are no longer required to hold the Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada. This change saves applicants approximately $1,500, which is the cost of the Medical Council of Canada Qualify Examination Part 1, and shortens the licensing process by several weeks.

    Additionally, CPSBC is doing public consultations on a proposed bylaw change to further streamline the registration and licensure process for certain specialties from jurisdictions where training is recognized and approved by the Canadian national certification bodies, the College of Family Physicians of Canada and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

    Internationally trained physicians wishing to practise in B.C. would have a direct pathway to full licensure if they completed a minimum of two years of accredited postgraduate training in family medicine in the U.S., Australia, United Kingdom or Ireland, or if they have completed postgraduate training and received a completion of training certificate and certification in certain specialties from Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, United Kingdom or Ireland.

    Quotes:

    Dr. Avi Kopstick, Canadian doctor in Texas who will move to Kelowna soon –

    “I am joining the team at Kelowna General Hospital in mid-August. I have taken the decision to relocate, together with my husband and my two Maine coons, Rummy and Bella, because I’m drawn by B.C.’s values-driven health-care system and the opportunity to help expand local access to higher levels of care.”

    Dr. Kyle McIver, Canadian doctor previously based in Massachusetts who is now practising in Terrace –

    “Originally from Ontario, I fell in love with B.C. on a ski trip to Whistler at 10 years old. I did medical school in Ireland, my residency in Kelowna and Fort St. John, and then my return of service in Terrace. I went to Massachusetts to be closer to my wife who was doing her residency as an obstetrician gynecologist. With hopes and dreams we moved back to B.C. to raise our family in the place we wanted to be. We are involved with our community, we love our jobs and happy to help our colleagues from the U.S. make the jump.”

    Dr. Adam Hoverman, a U.S. East Coast doctor now practising in Nanaimo –

    “I chose to move from the U.S. to practise family medicine in B.C. as I can see the future of health care being born here, with improvement science and co-production of health and social care at the core of a system with the spirit, energy, optimism and cultural humility needed to improve. It is deeply inspiring and joyful to work in a system that values asking and meaningfully answering the question, ‘What matters to you?’ ”

    Dismus Irungu, Los Angeles nurse now practising in Vancouver –

    “I was drawn to B.C. mainly by the technologically advanced Blusson Spinal Cord Centre at Vancouver General Hospital, where I now work in Vancouver Coastal Health Authority. It’s one of the best in North America. The team is cohesive and supportive, and I go home from work each day feeling very fulfilled. When I calculated my costs, I am now able to save more and keep more money in my bank account than before my move. The transition was seamless and with this beautiful B.C. scenery, it has been a really great lifestyle choice.”

    Quick Facts:

    • The changes to the bylaws follow similar changes recently adopted in Alberta, Ontario, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
    • Between May and June 2025, B.C. has received nearly 780 job applications spanning all health regions: 181 for Interior Health, 154 for Fraser Health, 121 for Vancouver Coastal Health, 112 for Island Health, 70 for Providence Health Care, 66 for Provincial Health Services Authority and 63 for Northern Health (some applicants may have applied to more than one health authority).
    • The Province is taking a Team B.C. approach to recruiting health-care workers from the U.S., and is working in collaboration with health authorities, regulatory colleges and other partners.
    • The Province launched a targeted U.S. marketing campaign on June 2, 2025, in Washington, Oregon and select cities in California.

    Learn More:

    To learn about B.C.’s measures to attract doctors, nurses and other health professionals from the U.S., visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2025HLTH0013-000194

    To learn more about health career opportunities in B.C., visit: https://bchealthcareers.ca/

    To learn more about B.C.’s actions to strengthen health care, visit: https://strongerbc.gov.bc.ca/health-care/

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Hacktivist group responsible for cyberattacks on critical infrastructure in Europe taken down

    Source: Eurojust

    NoName057(16) has professed support for the Russian Federation since the start of the war of aggression against Ukraine. Since the start of the war, it has executed multiple DDoS attacks against critical infrastructure during high-level (political) events. The group has also exhibited anti-NATO and anti-U.S. sentiment. During a DDoS attack, a website or online service is flooded with traffic, overloading its capacity and thus making it unavailable. The hacktivist group has executed 14 attacks in Germany, some of them lasting multiple days and affecting around 230 organisations including arms factories, power suppliers and government organisations. Attacks were also executed across Europe during the European elections. In Sweden, authorities and bank websites were targeted, while in Switzerland multiple attacks were carried out during a video message given by the Ukrainian President to the Joint Parliament in June 2023, and during the Peace Summit for Ukraine in June 2024. Most recently, the Netherlands was targeted during the NATO Summit at the end of June.

    To execute their attacks, the group recruited supporters through a messaging service. It is estimated that the hackers were able to mobilise around 4000 users who supported their operations by downloading malware that made it possible for them to participate in the DDoS attacks. The group also built its own botnet using hundreds of servers around the world that increased the attack load, causing more damage.

    Coordination of the many international partners was crucial for the success of the operation. Through Eurojust, authorities were able to coordinate their findings and plan an action day to target the hacktivist group. The Agency ensured that multiple European Investigation Orders and Mutual Legal Assistance processes were executed. During the action day on 15 July, Eurojust coordinated any last-minute judicial requests that were needed during the operation.

    Europol facilitated the information exchange, supported the coordination of the operational activities and provided extended operational analytical support, as well as crypto tracing and forensic support during the lent of the investigation, and coordinated the prevention and awareness raising campaign, released to unidentified yet offenders via messaging apps and social media channels. During the action day, Europol set-up a Command Post at Europol’s headquarters and made available a Virtual Command post for online connection with the in-person Command.

    The investigation culminated in an action day on 15 July where actions targeting the group took place in eight countries. Authorities were able to disrupt of over 100 servers worldwide. Searches took place in Germany, Latvia, Spain, Italy, Czechia, Poland and France to gather evidence for the investigation. Additionally, authorities informed the group and 1100 supporters and 17 administrators about the measures taken and the criminal liability they bear for their actions. Seven international arrest warrants have been issued. Germany issued six warrants which are directed inter alia against suspects living in the Russian Federation. Two suspects are accused of being the main instigators responsible for the activities of NoName057(16). Photos and descriptions of some of the suspects can be found on the websites of Europol and Interpol.

    The following authorities were involved in the actions:

    • Czechia: District Prosecutor’s Office of Prague 5; Police, National Counterterrorism, Extremism and Cybercrime Agency (NCTEKK)
    • Estonia: Estonian Police and Border Guard Board
    • Germany: Prosecutor General’s Office Frankfurt am Main – Cyber Crime Centre; Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA)
    • Finland: Prosecution District of Southern Finland; National Bureau of Investigation – Cybercrime Investigation Unit
    • France: Paris Public Prosecutor’s Office – National Jurisdiction against Organised Crime (JUNALCO) ; National Cyber Unit of the Gendarmerie nationale
    • Latvia: State Police of Latvia – International Cooperation Department & Cybercrime Enforcement Department
    • Lithuania: Prosecutor General’s Office of Lithuania; Lithuanian Criminal Police Bureau
    • Netherlands: Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Netherlands and Police of the Netherlands
    • Spain: Investigative Central Court nr. 1 Audiencia Nacional; Audiencia Nacional Prosecutor´s Offices; National Police; Guardia Civil
    • Sweden: Polisen
    • Switzerland: Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland; Federal Office of Police fedpol
    • United States: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News in Brief: 317th AW showcases combat readiness in major AMC inspection

    Source: United States Airforce

    The 317th Airlift Wing completed the initial phase of its first-ever Combat Readiness Inspection, evaluated by Air Mobility Command at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas.

    The CRI measured the wing’s ability to rapidly deploy combat-ready forces in contested, degraded and operationally limited environments, directly supporting Air Force and Department of Defense objectives.

    “Our wing’s number one priority is ‘mission execution upon notification’,” said Col. Justin Diehl, 317th AW commander. “317th Airmen continuously train to rapidly respond with precision to the most complex operating environments in the world, and this inspection offered another opportunity to validate their timelines.”

    The inspection began with a mock 24-hour deployment notification. Airmen received scenario-based intelligence, a briefing from leadership and guidance on deployment expectations.

    “When given a sudden notification to deploy, our team has the necessary skills to move out and lead at scale,” said Chief Master Sgt. Martin Castillo, 317th AW command chief. “This gives the wing the ability to execute the commander’s intent instantly.”

    A loadmaster assigned to the 39th Airlift Squadron configures cargo rollers inside a C-130J Super Hercules during a Combat Readiness Inspection at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, July 1, 2025. The inspection evaluated the 317th Airlift Wing’s ability to rapidly generate and deploy combat-ready airpower in support of global mobility operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Adrien Tran)
    Airman 1st Class Christian Sanchez, 7th Logistics Readiness Squadron vehicle maintenance journeyman, checks an entry authorization list during a Combat Readiness Inspection at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, July 1, 2025. The 317th Airlift Wing was evaluated by Air Mobility Command during its first graded CRI. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Adrien Tran)
    Airmen assigned to the 317th Airlift Wing observe activity from the side hatch of a C-130J Super Hercules during a Combat Readiness Inspection at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, July 1, 2025. The Air Mobility Command inspection tested the wing’s ability to rapidly deploy mission-ready Airmen and equipment under realistic, time-constrained scenarios. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Adrien Tran)

    Throughout the CRI, AMC inspectors general and wing inspection team members evaluated the 317th AW’s execution of deployment operations. Airmen were tasked to rapidly generate aircraft, process cargo and mission plan while also completing the associated administrative and medical requirements.

    “The key to success in this CRI is our ‘we’re going’ mindset,” Castillo said. “Our Airmen understand that our culture is rooted in being prepared to deploy at a moment’s notice to execute high-end operations around the world.”

    Upon receiving the CRI deployment order, Airmen staged pallets and equipment for transport, loaded C-130J Super Hercules aircraft and prepared aircrews for maximum endurance operations, ensuring the 317th AW performed mission execution upon notification.

    “Our Airmen consistently meet and exceed our expectations,” Diehl said. “They think and move fast, maintaining the precision required to respond to global operations in contested environments. The CRI was another opportunity to highlight the effort they put in every day.”

    The 317th AW used the CRI to prepare to participate in the Air Force’s Department Level Exercise, an initiative designed to demonstrate the service’s readiness for complex, large-scale military operations.

    “This wing operates at the leading edge,” Diehl said. “Through the CRI, our Airmen demonstrated their ability through their advanced training to solve challenges in an increasingly complex global environment.

    The completion of the initial phase of the CRI underscores the 317th AW’s ability to generate and employ combat-ready airpower at a moment’s notice. The milestone reinforces the wing’s ‘we’re going’ mindset and highlights its vital role in delivering rapid global mobility and ensuring U.S. and coalition forces can respond to known and emerging threats decisively and effectively.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News in Brief: USNS Comfort Arrives in Dominican Republic for CP25

    Source: United States Navy

    PUERTO PLATA, Dominican Republic – The Mercy-class hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) arrived in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic for the fourth mission stop of Continuing Promise 2025 (CP25), July 15, 2025.

    16 July 2025

    From Petty Officer 2nd Class Alfredo Marron – U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command / U.S. 4th Fleet

    “It is an honor and a privilege to leave our footprint in the Dominican Republic,” said Capt. Grace Key, commanding officer, Medical Treatment Facility aboard Comfort. “From the medical site and community relations, to the repairs the Seabees will make to the facilities, we will strengthen our partnership with the people of the Dominican Republic.”

    Comfort and Dominican medical professionals will work side-by-side to provide medical care to the community of Puerto Plata. By working together and exchanging knowledge, the Dominican Republic and partners in the region can maintain regional stability as a team and work collectively in the event of natural disasters, medical catastrophes, or regional conflict.

    “Throughout Continuing Promise, the clinical staff and personnel have welcomed us with open arms at every port visit,” said Lt. j.g. Althea Caraballo, the Puerto Plata medical site assistant officer in charge. “I am excited to be in Dominican Republic and very inspired by our partnerships and the opportunity to expand our professional and cultural horizons.”

    Medical care during the Dominican Republic mission stop will be provided at Polideportivo, Puerto Plata and will include services in adult medicine, pediatrics, dental, optometry, women’s health, dermatology, cardiology, physical therapy, nutrition, preventative medicine, radiology, and pharmacy.

    “This mission is a valuable opportunity to deepen cooperation between the United States and the Dominican Republic, particularly in the areas of security and humanitarian assistance,” said Lt. Col. Lowell D. Krusinger, senior defense official/defense attaché, U.S. Embassy Santo Domingo. “We’re proud to see U.S. and Dominican medical professionals working shoulder to shoulder aboard the USNS Comfort, including seven Dominican providers who are lending their expertise to benefit communities across six countries on the ship’s tour.”

    Additionally, Comfort’s medical personnel will conduct subject matter expert exchanges (SMEE) with Dominican health professionals, to include tactical combat casualty care (TCCC) and round tables on preventative medicine, nutrition, and wound care. U.S. Army veterinarians embarked aboard Comfort from the 248th Medical Detachment Veterinary Service Support will conduct a dairy farming SMEE and K-9 tactical causality combat care.

    This visit marks the sixth Continuing Promise visits the Dominican Republic and the fifth visit from Comfort. The last time Comfort visited the Dominican Republic was during Continuing Promise 2022, where the medical team treated 4,435 patients at sites in Santo Domingo and Azua, as well as conducted 87 surgeries aboard Comfort.

    “I am excited to be here as we bring the same service offered to other countries to my home country,” said Dominican Republic 1st Lt. Luiz Rameriez, doctor of obstetrics and gynecology embarked aboard Comfort. “I am excited for the U.S. service members to tour our facilities and to see how we can improve and impact the overall health of the population.”

    The CP25 mission in Dominican Republic also includes a Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HA/DR) SMEE and a table-top exercise with local responders. Sailors aboard Comfort will also support the region through a variety of community relations events to include a beach clean-up and performances from the U.S. Fleet Forces band “Unchartered Waters.”

    “This mission is a blessing, there are people not as fortunate to receive advanced medical care and we are able to provide it while we are here,” said Hospitalman Joseclaudia Garcia, a food service associate assigned to Comfort with Dominican heritage. “The Dominican people will really feel very appreciated that we get to share these engagements with them. I am very excited my fellow service members will get to experience my culture first hand!”

    CP25 marks the 16th mission to the region since 2007 and the eighth aboard Comfort. The mission will foster goodwill, strengthen existing partnerships with partner nations, and encourage the establishment of new partnerships among countries, non-federal entities, and international organizations.

    U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet supports U.S. Southern Command’s joint and combined military operations by employing maritime forces in cooperative maritime security operations to maintain access, enhance interoperability, and build enduring partnerships in order to enhance regional security and promote peace, stability and prosperity in the Caribbean, Central and South American region.

    Learn more about USNAVSOUTH/4th Fleet news and photos, visit facebook.com/NAVSOUS4THFLT, https://www.fourthfleet.navy.mil/, X – @ NAVSOUS4THFLT, and https://www.linkedin.com/company/u-s-naval-forces-southern-command-u-s-4th-fleet

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Klobuchar joined by Thousands of Minnesotans on AARP Telephone Town Hall

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Minnesota Amy Klobuchar

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) joined AARP Minnesota State Director Cathy McLeer on a telephone town hall with thousands of AARP members in Minnesota to discuss barriers to accessing Social Security, Medicaid, food assistance and affordable prescription drugs.

    “I just believe that when you are retired, you should be able to live with dignity. When you have a health care issue after working your whole life, you should be able to get proper health care. And of course, you should be able to get your Social Security and be able to have phones be answered when you call,” said Klobuchar.

    “AARP is in your corner, fighting for issues that matter to you, including protecting that hard earned Social Security and achieving some common sense solutions that will help Minnesota unpaid family caregivers both save time and money and, of course, protect seniors’ access to health care and long term care,” said Cathy McLeer, State Director of AARP Minnesota.

    Klobuchar noted that the passage of her Empowering Medicare Seniors to Negotiate Drug Prices Act demonstrated how progress on these bipartisan policies is still possible, and outlined how to strengthen social security.

    “That should give you some hope that good things do happen. They happen when people stand up, regardless of political ideology. And that’s what we need to do right now on Social Security. I have supported more funding for the Social Security Administration to reduce wait times. And to ensure Social Security solvency indefinitely… I have called for allowing for the Social Security tax to be assessed on people making over $400,000 a year,” said Klobuchar. “We can do all this. It just means that the most wealthy among us – they have to pay a little more in taxes that they can afford.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville Introduces Dr. Brian Christine of Mountain Brook in Senate HELP Hearing

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)

    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) introduced Dr. Brian Christine during his nomination hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee (HELP). President Trump nominated Dr. Christine of Mountain Brook, Alabama to be Assistant Secretary for Health at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). During their exchange, Sen. Tuberville and Dr. Christine discussed the importance of the Make America Health Again movement, along with Dr. Christine’s goals for improving rural healthcare.

    Read excerpts from their exchange below or on YouTube or Rumble.

    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you very much. It’s an honor to introduce my friend and constituent, Dr. Brian Christine. Also thrilled to welcome today his wife, Helena, and sister, Kathleen. Thank you for being here.

    Dr. Christine is a board-certified urologic surgeon with nearly 30 years of clinical experience serving patients in Birmingham, Alabama. A recognized medical expert, Dr. Christine is known for teaching and demonstrating advanced surgical techniques, both nationally and internationally. Born in West Germany to a decorated U.S. Army combat veteran and the grandson of Italian immigrants, he will bring a lifelong dedication to service, resilience, and American values to this role. Dr. Christine attended college in Georgia, what’s going on here? And earned his medical degree from Emory University. He later moved to Birmingham for his residency and has since dedicated his career to caring for the men and women of Alabama. Beyond the operating room, he has supported local law enforcement by volunteering as a trauma surgeon with tactical police units. If confirmed, Dr. Christine will oversee critical public health programs, regional health offices and U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps where he has pledged to accept a commission and lead with a Main Street medicine approach. 

    His top priorities include addressing chronic disease such as diabetes, hypertension, pediatric obesity, mental health, and the nation’s physician shortage crisis. He is particularly focused on expanding access to primary care and improving health in rural and underserved communities.

    With deep medical expertise, leadership experience, and a clear vision for reform, he is well equipped to serve as Assistant Secretary for Health, and I hope my federal colleagues will support his nomination – Dr. Christine.”

    DR. CHRISTINE: “Senator Tuberville, thank you so much for your kind words. Thank you also for the service that you’ve rendered to our nation here in the U.S. Senate and the service you have and will render to our home state of Alabama.”

    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Dr. Christine, in my lifetime, I’ve never seen the deterioration of an institution like we have in the trust of the American people after COVID. How are you gonna try to put that back together? Because we desperately need some help in getting a positive attitude towards our hospitals and our doctors back to the American people.”

    DR. CHRISTINE: “Yes, Senator Tuberville, number one, thank you so much for being here. Again, thank you for your introduction. Thank you for meeting with me before today’s hearing. I’m truly appreciative. The loss of trust that we have seen in our healthcare institutions and the healthcare policies emanating from this city are the worst that I’ve seen in over three decades of practice. People feel that during the pandemic particularly they were led astray, some people feel they were lied to. We have to work to restore that trust. Secretary Kennedy is 100% committed to doing that, as is President Trump.

    In my career as a surgeon, I’ve had to earn the trust of my patients, allowing me to operate on them, literally take their life within my hands. I believe I have the ability to communicate to patients and now hopefully to the American public at large and approach them and give them a sense that what I’m saying, what I’m telling is truly for the good of the country [and] comes from a position of honesty and transparency. I’ve had to do that for over 30 years as a surgeon and as a physician. I truly believe I can bring that skillset to the office of the Assistant Secretary for Health.”

    TUBERVILLE: “Yeah. The American people are tired of being lied to about their food, the ingredients, things that we’re now finding out that are detrimental to our health. And up here, you know, we seem to overlook all that, but we need to start looking out for the American people. How do you plan to help the Secretary with that?”

    DR. CHRISTINE: “Well, we know that Secretary Kennedy is absolutely committed to the Make America Healthy Again agenda to remove toxins from our foods, to make sure that all have access to clean water, that we focus on not just treating chronic disease, but finding out what causes chronic disease, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and work to not only cure those diseases, but really prevent and eliminate those diseases. Secretary Kennedy is always wanting to approach things from the foundation of science. He truly believes in that. I agree with the Secretary on all of those things. I intend to support him. I intend to work diligently if I have the privilege of being confirmed. To support him in that quest to make Americans healthier than they’ve ever been.” […]

    TUBERVILLE: “Dr. Christine, rural America. We got problems getting healthcare. Our state is 60% rural in Alabama. Most of the south is rural. How do we handle that problem?”

    DR. CHRISTINE: “Yes, Senator. [I think] one of the things you’re speaking about are healthcare deserts – those areas where men, women and their children don’t have ready access to primary care services such as pediatrics or gynecologic services or family practice. We have to find ways to bridge those gaps. I think that absolutely telehealth can help provide a bridge to these individuals. We’ll see what AI brings in the future. But again, technology can help bridge this gap. We absolutely must encourage and must increase the number of primary care physicians, family practitioners, pediatricians, gynecologists and opticians and primary care nurses […] to help bridge this gap as well. Now that takes a while to spin that up. But in the interim, we have to find ways to bridge the gaps. We do have to use technology. I believe that I, as Assistant Secretary for Health, one of the things that I intend to do, if I’m privileged to be in that position, will be to be a true evangelist to really go out and encourage young men and women who are in medical school and nursing school to serve in these areas. Young men and women getting into healthcare, they want a mission. Wanna help them understand that that mission to serve our brothers and sisters in rural America and healthcare deserts is truly noble and is worthwhile.”

    TUBERVILLE: “And one thing we need to sell to in rural hospitals is loyalty to the people in these communities to go to these rural hospitals so we can save them. It’s not just that they’re not being served. It’s just we have to have loyalty in those areas. Thank you.”

    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Estes Op-ed Celebrates Historic Legislation to Restore Foundational Values and Support Families

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas)

    U.S. Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas) published an op-ed in the Daily Wire on why the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act is the most pro-family, pro-life piece of legislation in American history. 

    “The Big Beautiful Bill Act is unquestionably one of the most pivotal pieces of tax legislation to ever be passed into law,” wrote Rep. Estes. “It will get the United States back on track, lower taxes for everyday Americans and lay the groundwork for economic prosperity in the country. But embedded in the wonky tax policy is a reflection of a larger American desire to return to the foundational values that made our country great. It’s a statement that the commitment to life and family is still a pillar of this nation.”

    Read the op-ed here or below.

    How the Big Beautiful Bill Will Help Make Big Beautiful Families

    Most of the conversation about the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act has rightly focused on the bill’s pro-growth economic reforms. But something that deserves more attention is the fact that the bill is the most pro-life and pro-family piece of legislation signed into law in decades.

    For years, the federal government has been funneling Medicaid funds to Planned Parenthood, skirting the Hyde Amendment and Congress’ intent. That is both wrong and a betrayal of taxpayers. Medicaid, a program meant to help protect and preserve life, should not be used to end it.

    The Big Beautiful Bill directly addresses this issue by prohibiting Medicaid funding from being directed to Planned Parenthood through Fiscal Year 2026, and allowing Congress essential time to permanently enshrine this in law. This comes on the heels of a Supreme Court ruling that states can block Medicaid payments to Planned Parenthood.

    The urgency of protecting life is underscored by recent data. In Kansas, birth rates have dropped to just 11.7 per 1,000 people, the lowest in more than a century. This mirrors a nationwide trend: in 2022, our birth rates hit a historic low of 1.67 births per woman, indicating that American families are simply not having enough children.

    For the United States to maintain economic and societal stability, experts assert that our country should have a birth rate of 2.1 births per woman. The long-term consequences of missing this marker are serious, from a shrinking workforce to a weakened social safety net. 

    Republicans in Congress addressed this issue in the Big Beautiful Bill Act by making meaningful adjustments to support American families. The legislation enhances and adjusts for inflation the Child Tax Credit (CTC), raising it to $2,200 per child and indexing it to inflation. The law also boosts the adoption tax credit by ensuring it will be partially refundable for up to $5,000 and similarly indexed for inflation. These provisions are significant victories for life, for children yet to be born and for families across America. 

    The law also supports families through newly-established Trump Accounts, which set up American children for success, providing a financial “welcome” of $1,000 to every newborn American citizen. Similar to a Health Savings Account or 529 education savings plan, Trump Accounts empower parents to make tax-free contributions over time that can eventually be used by the child for education, housing, health care or any other qualifying expense to jumpstart their entrance into adulthood. It also allows churches, charities and employers to contribute up to $5,000 a year to the accounts.

    As the former Kansas State Treasurer, I have a deep appreciation for programs that empower families to take control of their finances and build financial stability for their families’ well-being. The Trump Accounts encourage early and consistent saving, establishing the foundation for hardworking families and everyday Americans to develop generational wealth. 

    In addition, the Big Beautiful Bill Act increases the Employer-Provided Childcare Credit so that working families can afford quality early education while continuing to participate in the workforce. It also makes permanent Paid Family and Medical Leave so that families have a lifeline if the breadwinner becomes ill or in the case of a family emergency.

    The Big Beautiful Bill Act is unquestionably one of the most pivotal pieces of tax legislation to ever be passed into law. It will get the United States back on track, lower taxes for everyday Americans and lay the groundwork for economic prosperity in the country.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cranial Drill Recall: Integra LifeSciences Recalls Codman Disposable Perforators Due to Risk of Device Disassembly

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 3

    This recall involves removing certain devices from where they are used or sold. The FDA has identified this recall as the most serious type. This device may cause serious injury or death if you continue to use it.
    Affected Product

    Product Name
    Unique Device Identifier (UDI)

    Codman Disposable Perforator 14 mm
    10381780513599

    Codman Craniotomy Kit Containing Disposable Perforator 14 mm, Cranio-blade, Wire Pass Drill
    10381780513629

    Lot/Serial Numbers: Full List of Affected Lots
    What to Do:

    Stop using and immediately quarantine all affected products.
    Review inventory and identify affected lot numbers using the provided lot list.

    On April 11, 2025, Integra LifeSciences sent all affected customers an Urgent Medical Device Recall Notification recommending the following actions:

    Stop using and quarantine all affected product immediately.
    Review your inventory and identify impacted lot numbers.
    Complete and return the appropriate Acknowledgement Form to Integra via email at FCA3@integralife.com or fax to 1-609-750-4220.
    Notify all appropriate clinical or distribution staff.
    Return affected product after receiving a Return Material Authorization (RMA). Credit will be provided for returned affected lots.

    Reason for Recall
    Integra LifeSciences is recalling specific Codman Disposable Perforators and Craniotomy Kits due to an inadequate ultrasonic weld (a “proud weld”) on the outer sleeve of the device. This weld defect may cause the perforator to disassemble before, during, or after use in craniotomy procedures. In some cases, the device may fail to disengage, preventing the device from stopping immediately.
    The use of affected product may cause serious adverse health consequences, including damage to the dura, bleeding, brain injury, extended surgery, irreversible brain damage, and death.
    There have been 10 reported injuries including those from procedural delay, device becoming lodged in the patient’s skull during use, difficulty removing device fragments, bleeding, dural injury, and cerebral injury. There have been no reports of death.
    Device Use
    Codman Disposable Perforators are single-use surgical tools used in neurosurgical procedures to drill access holes into the skull. They are designed to automatically disengage once drilling is complete.
    Contact Information
    Customers in the U.S. with questions about this recall should contact Integra LifeSciences at 1-800-654-2873.
    Additional FDA Resources (listed in order of most to least recent):
    FDA’s Enforcement Report:

    Medical Device Recall Database:

    Unique Device Identifier (UDI)
    The unique device identifier (UDI) helps identify individual medical devices sold in the United States from manufacturing through distribution to patient use. The UDI allows for more accurate reporting, reviewing, and analyzing of adverse event reports so that devices can be identified, and problems potentially corrected more quickly. 

    How do I report a problem? 
    Health care professionals and consumers may report adverse reactions or quality problems they experienced using these devices to MedWatch: The FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program. 

    Content current as of:
    07/16/2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Software Catalog Puts Agency Solutions at Innovators’ Fingertips

    Source: NASA

    NASA’s latest open Software Catalog, released Wednesday, offers more than 1,200 downloadable codes developed by agency engineers that could enable faster solutions to energize the space economy and stimulate American ingenuity. The catalog is part of NASA’s effort to place advanced technologies, including agency software, into the hands of businesses, researchers, and entrepreneurs to foster economic growth and innovation.
    Agency developers will provide more information about the Software Catalog, the only repository of its kind in the federal government, during NASA’s summer software webinar series beginning Tuesday, July 22.
    “NASA has droves of talented experts creating software to automate elements of agency missions,” said Dan Lockney, program executive, Technology Transfer at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “The resulting efficiency benefits humankind, and its public value increases exponentially when the agency provides access to those software programs for companies, enabling them to save time and money, improve commercial offerings, and build their businesses.”
    The four webinars accompanying this year’s NASA Software Catalog feature developers of popular programs for mission planning, systems design, propulsion analysis, and more, each consisting of a presentation followed by a live question-and-answer session.
    Programs offered in NASA’s 2025-2026 Software Catalog are grouped into 15 categories that may be useful for organizations working with spacecraft and aircraft. For example, the Vehicle Management category includes a tool for designing satellite constellations and a software library for minimizing public safety risks around expendable launch vehicles. The Aeronautics section includes several programs that are widely used by industry for creating, modifying, and analyzing aircraft designs.
    Although the categories have specific themes, the codes are meant to be useful to various innovators. Companies can use aircraft programs NASA wrote to design cars, trucks, and countless other products. The catalog’s Business Systems and Project Management section includes software for estimating project costs, building and assessing complex schedules, and uncovering root causes of mishaps. Other popular programs support 3D rendering for simulation and virtual reality, bring hyper-accuracy to GPS tracking, and analyze electrical power system architectures.
    NASA released its first Software Catalog more than a decade ago in 2013, and since then, the agency’s annual rate of software downloads has skyrocketed, reaching up to 5,722 downloads in a single year.
    The Software Catalog is a product of NASA’s Technology Transfer program, managed by the agency’s Space Technology Mission Directorate. NASA routinely makes improvements to the Software Catalog website, ensuring the process is fast and easy. Access restrictions apply to some software that may be limited to use by U.S. citizens or for U.S. government purposes only.
    View and learn more about NASA’s Software Catalog by visiting:
    https://software.nasa.gov
    -end-
    Jasmine HopkinsHeadquarters, Washington321-432-4624jasmine.s.hopkins@nasa.gov   

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Sees Key Progress on Starlab Commercial Space Station

    Source: NASA

    As NASA continues its transition toward a commercial low Earth orbit marketplace, an agency-supported commercial space station, Starlab, recently completed five development and design milestones. Starlab’s planned design consists of a service module and a habitat that will be launched to orbit on a single flight.
    The milestones, part of a NASA Space Act Agreement awarded in 2021, focused on reviews of Starlab’s preliminary design and safety, as well as spacecraft mockup and procurement plans. Each milestone provides NASA insight into the company’s development progress.
    “As we work toward the future of low Earth orbit, these milestones demonstrate Starlab’s dedication to building a commercial space station that can support human life and advance scientific research,” said Angela Hart, program manager for NASA’s Commercial Low Earth Orbit Development Program at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. “Both the insight shared by Starlab and the expertise shared by NASA are critical to future mission success.”
    Starlab recently completed a preliminary design and safety review of its station’s architecture and systems. The company now will begin detailed design and hardware development, culminating in a critical design review later this year. Critical design reviews are an important step in a station’s development, assessing design maturity before proceeding with fabrication and assembly.

    Starlab also has begun construction of a full-scale, high-fidelity mockup of the station. The mockup, which will be housed in the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility at NASA Johnson, will be used for human-in-the-loop testing, during which participants perform day-in-the-life walkthroughs and evaluate the interior design, crew training, procedure development, hardware checks, and in-flight issue resolution.
    In addition, Starlab completed reviews of the system design architecture, procurement plan, and Northrop Grumman Cygnus spacecraft docking system design. In 2023, Northrop Grumman teamed up with Starlab to provide cargo logistics services and engineering consultation to support the commercial space station. These reviews included design configuration updates of solar arrays, docking ports, crew quarters, and more.
    NASA supports the design and development of multiple commercial space stations through funded and unfunded agreements. Following the design and development phase, NASA plans to procure services from one or more companies as part of its strategy to become one of many customers for low Earth orbit stations.
    Learn more about commercial space stations at:
    www.nasa.gov/commercialspacestations

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Citizen Science and Your Career: Stories of Exoplanet Watch Volunteers

    Source: NASA

    Doing NASA Science brings many rewards. But can taking part in NASA citizen science help your career? To find out, we asked participants in NASA’s Exoplanet Watch project about their experiences. In this project, amateur astronomers work together with professionals to track planets around other stars.
    First, we heard from professional software programmers. Right away, one of them told us about getting a new job through connections made in the project.
    “I decided to create the exoplanet plugin, [for citizen science] since it was quite a lot of manual work to check which transits were available for your location. The exoplanet plugin and its users got me in contact with the Stellar group… Through this group, I got into contact with a company called OurSky and started working for them… the point is, I created a couple of plugins for free and eventually got a job at an awesome company.”
    Another participant talked about honing their skills and growing their confidence through Exoplanet Watch.
    “There were a few years when I wasn’t actively coding. However, Exoplanet Watch rekindled that spark…. Participating in Exoplanet Watch even gave me the confidence to prepare again for a technical interview at Meta—despite having been thoroughly defeated the first time I tried.”
    Teachers and teaching faculty told us how Exoplanet Watch gives them the ability to better convey what scientific research is all about – and how the project motivates students! 
    “Exoplanet Watch makes it easy for undergraduate students to gain experience in data science and Python, which are absolutely necessary for graduate school and many industry jobs.”
    “Experience with this collaborative work is a vital piece of the workforce development of our students who are seeking advanced STEM-related careers or ongoing education in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics) fields after graduation… Exoplanet Watch, in this way, is directly training NASA’s STEM workforce of tomorrow by allowing CUNY (The City University of New York) students to achieve the science goals that would otherwise be much more difficult without its resources.”
    One aspiring academic shared how her participation on the science team side of the project has given her research and mentorship experience that strengthens her resume. 
    “I ended up joining the EpW team to contribute my expertise in stellar variability… My involvement with Exoplanet Watch has provided me with invaluable experience in mentoring a broad range of astronomy enthusiasts and working in a collaborative environment with people from around the world. … Being able to train others, interact in a team environment, and work independently are all critical skills in any work environment, but these specific experiences have also been incredibly valuable towards building my portfolio as I search for faculty positions around the USA.”
    There are no guarantees, of course. What you get out of NASA citizen science depends on what you put in. But there is certainly magic to be found in the Exoplanet Watch project.  As one student said:
    “Help will always be found at Hogwarts, to those who need it.” Exoplanet Watch was definitely Hogwarts for me in my career as an astronomer!”
    For more information about NASA and your career, check out NASA’s Surprisingly STEM series highlighting exciting and unexpected jobs at NASA, or come to NASA Career Day, a virtual event for students and educators. Participants must register by September 4, 2025. The interactive platform will be open from September 15-19, with live panels and events taking place on September 18.

    Exoplanet Watch volunteer Bryan Martin
    Credit: Bryan Martin

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ejection Mechanism Design for the SPEED Test Architecture

    Source: NASA

    The The Stratospheric Projectile Entry Experiment on Dynamics (SPEED), a two-stage stratospheric drop test architecture, is currently under development to bridge the state-of-the-art gap that many NASA flagship missions require to reduce system risk and enable more optimized designs via margin reduction. To do this, a two-stage vehicle will drop from a high-altitude balloon and use the first stage (an LV-Haack cone aeroshell) to accelerate the sub-scale test model to supersonic conditions. The onboard avionics will then release the test model into freestream flow at the proper altitude in Earth’s atmosphere for dynamic Mach scaling to the full-scale flight trajectory. SPEED leverages low-cost methods of manufacturing such as 3D printing and laser/water-jet cutting to enable 8 or more two-stage vehicles to be dropped in a single test, making the science-to-dollar density much higher than any current ground-test facility NASA has at its disposal. The goal is to develop a robust ejection system that can reliably introduce the test models into supersonic flow with a tight variance on initial condition perturbation. The separation system must be capable of handling a range of initial angle-of-attacks, keep the test model secure in the first stage during take-off and descent, and eject the test model in such a way that it does not linger behind the first stage and be affected by the resulting wake. As current ejection system designs are conceptual, complex, and untested, NASA is looking for alternative ideas that can be incorporated into the design of their next iteration of SPEED flight vehicles to increase system reliability. We are challenging the public to design innovative concepts for a separation mechanism that can be used to assess NASA and commercial reentry vehicle stability.
    Award: $7,000 in total prizes
    Open Date: July 14, 2025
    Close Date: September 8, 2025
    For more information, visit: https://grabcad.com/challenges/ejection-mechanism-design-for-the-speed-test-architecture

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Funds Early Career Employee Research

    Source: NASA

    Sylvie Crowell, a materials researcher at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, has received a NASA Early Career Initiative (ECI) award for a research proposal titled “Lunar Dust Reduction through Electrostatic Adhesion Mitigation (L-DREAM).” The research focuses on developing a passive lunar dust mitigation coating for solar cells and thermal control surfaces. 
    Operated under the NASA Space Technology Mission Directorate, the award will fund Crowell’s research in fiscal year 2026, beginning Oct. 1, 2025.  
    NASA’s ECI is a unique opportunity for the best and brightest of NASA’s early career researchers to lead hands-on technology development projects. The initiative aims to invigorate NASA’s technological base and best practices by partnering early career NASA leaders with external innovators. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Following Trump cut to LGBTQ youth suicide hotline, California steps up to fill the gap

    Source: US State of California 2

    Jul 16, 2025

    What you need to know: On July 17, the LGBTQ support option on the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline will end thanks to the Trump administration – but California is stepping up and doubling down on life-saving support for young gay people in crisis. 

    LOS ANGELES – Just weeks after the Trump administration announced that they would eliminate specialized suicide prevention support for LGBTQ youth callers through the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, California is taking action to improve behavioral health services and provide even more affirming and inclusive care. Through a new partnership with The Trevor Project, Governor Gavin Newsom and the California Health and Human Services Agency (CalHHS) will provide the state’s 988 crisis counselors enhanced competency training from experts, ensuring better attunement to the needs of LGBTQ youth, on top of the specific training they already receive.

    This partnership builds on existing collaborations, like those under California’s Master Plan for Kids’ Mental Health, and reflects a shared commitment to evidence-based, LGBTQ+ affirming crisis care. Callers to 988 will continue to be met with the highest level of understanding, respect, and affirmation when they reach out for help.

    “While the Trump administration continues its attacks on LGBTQ kids, California has a message to the gay community: we see you and we’re here for you. We’re proud to work with the Trevor Project to ensure that every person in our state can get the support they need to live a happy, healthy life.”

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    “To every young person who identifies as LGBTQ+: You matter. You are not alone. California will continue to show up for you with care, with compassion, and with action,” said Kim Johnson, Secretary of CalHHS. “Through this partnership, California will continue to lead, providing enhanced support for these young people.”

    “There could not be a more stark reminder of the moral bankruptcy of this Administration than cutting off suicide prevention resources for LGQBT youth. These are young people reaching out in their time of deepest crisis—andI’m proud of California’s work to partner with the Trevor Project to creatively address this need. No matter what this Administration throws at us, I know this state will always meet cruelty with kindness and stand up for what’s right,” said First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom.

    California’s crisis call centers

    Across California, twelve 988 call centers remain staffed around the clock by trained crisis counselors, ready to support anyone in behavioral health crises, including LGBTQ youth.

    If you, a friend, or a loved one are in crisis or thinking about suicide, you can call, chat, or text 988 and be immediately connected to skilled counselors at all times. Specialized services for LGBTQ youth are also available via The Trevor Project hotline at 1‑866‑488‑7386, which continues as a state-endorsed access point.
     

    State supports

    California’s Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI), a key component of Governor’ Newsom’s Master Plan for Kids’ Mental Health, offers behavioral health services and supports for children, youth, and families.  In addition to focused messaging for LGBTQ youth within three ongoing statewide youth mental health campaigns, CYBHI has funded more than a dozen community organizations to provide targeted services for LGBTQ youth by establishing or expanding LGBTQ community spaces, increasing workforce supports, reducing behavioral health stigma, and raising awareness about suicide prevention. 

    Additional free continuum-of-care services are available to help address concerns before they become crises, including peer support through CalHOPE and virtual behavioral health services platforms BrightLife Kids and Soluna. These resources are available for all California youth, young adults, and families, regardless of insurance or immigration status.

    Why this matters

    LGBTQ youth are four times more likely to attempt suicide than their peers, and without affirming services, their risk increases dramatically. Since its launch in 2022, the 988 LGBTQ+ “Press 3” line connected more than 1.5 million in crisis.

    How to get help 

    Call, text or chat 988 at any time to be connected with trained crisis counselors.

    Text PRIDE, or dial 1‑866‑488‑7386, to reach Trevor Project specialists.

    Visit CalHOPE for non-crisis peer and family support.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two MS-13 Members Sentenced for Racketeering

    Source: US FBI

    Defendants responsible for murder in Chelsea, Mass. in 2010

    BOSTON – Two members of La Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13, were sentenced today in federal court in Boston for their roles in a previously-unsolved murder.

    Jose Vasquez, a/k/a “Cholo,” a/k/a “Little Crazy,” 31, was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Court Judge William G. Young to 25 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. In May 2025, Vasquez pleaded guilty to violent crime in aid of racketeering. Vasquez was already serving a 212-month prison sentence for a May 2018 federal conviction for conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise. In total, Vasquez will serve a total of 37 years for his MS-13-related crimes.

    William Pineda Portillo, a/k/a “Humilde,” 31, a Salvadoran national who was unlawfully residing in Everett, was sentenced by Judge Young to 16 years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. He is subject to deportation upon completion of the imposed sentence. In May 2023, Pineda Portillo pleaded guilty to conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise (RICO) conspiracy.

    Pineda Portillo and Vazquez were indicted by a federal grand jury along with other MS-13 members in September 2024. Specifically, Pineda Portillo and Vasquez conspired with others to murder a 28-year-old man on Dec. 18, 2010, in Chelsea, Mass. That evening, law enforcement responded to a 911 call in the vicinity of the Fifth Street on-ramp to Route 1 in Chelsea. There, the victim was found with approximately 10 stab wounds to his chest and back, along with injuries to his head. The victim was transported to the hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds. A recent reexamination of evidence collected during the initial investigation identified members of MS-13, including Vasquez, as having committed the murder.  

    In the week leading up to the incident, Vasquez and other MS-13 members conspired to murder the victim because they believed the victim belonged to a rival gang. Evidence revealed that on the day of the murder, Pineda Portillo picked up Vasquez, other MS-13 members and the victim in Allston. Driving a vehicle registered to his father, Pineda Portillo took the MS-13 members and the victim to Chelsea where Vasquez and the other gang members led the victim to an area under an on-ramp to Route 1. Once in the secluded area under the highway, an MS-13 member hit the victim in the head with a rock and another MS-13 member stabbed the victim with a machete. During the attack, Vasquez stabbed the victim with a knife. Vasquez’s palm print was identified on the handle of a silver kitchen knife recovered from the murder scene. The victim’s blood also was found on the knife.

    An undercover recording obtained approximately six weeks after the murder, captured one MS-13 member acknowledging his participation in the murder and other gang members disciplining him for leaving Massachusetts after the murder without the gang’s permission.

    Pineda Portillo fled to El Salvador before investigators could interview him about his role in the murder. On or about April 29, 2015, after Pineda Portillo returned to the United States, he arranged to sell a firearm loaded with eight rounds of ammunition to a cooperating witness, in exchange for money. On or about June 1, 2015, Pineda Portillo conspired to murder an MS-13 member he incorrectly believed had been arrested and was cooperating with law enforcement. Specifically, in a conversation recorded by law enforcement, Pineda Portillo said, among other things: “I want that son of a bitch killed, man. . . . You will see, homeboy! We are going to do a complete thing to that son of a bitch, dude.”

    Pineda Portillo originally was indicted in 2017. Shortly before the indictment was returned, he was deported to El Salvador. Approximately five years later, on May 10, 2022, Pineda Portillo was arrested as he tried to return to the United States, illegally crossing the border into Texas from Mexico. According to court documents, after being arrested at the border, Pineda Portillo admitted that he was a member of MS-13. A fingerprint analysis indicated that there was a warrant for his arrest. Pineda Portillo was then returned to the District of Massachusetts where he remained in custody.

    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Geoffrey D. Noble, Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police; Chief Shumeane Benford of the Somerville Police Department; and Chief Keith Houghton of the Chelsea Police Department made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Boston Field Division; United States Customs and Border Protection; United States Citizenship and Immigration Services; and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Pohl, Meghan C. Cleary and Brian A. Fogerty of the Office’s Criminal Division prosecuted the case.

    This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former State Employee Charged with Providing K2-Laced Paper to a Federal Prison Inmate; Inmate Indicted for Possessing K2

    Source: US FBI

    Inmate granted clemency on Jan. 17, 2025 reducing 2022 federal prison sentence for drug distribution

    BOSTON – A Bridgewater, Mass. woman and a federal inmate have been charged with providing and possessing a controlled substance in the form of a synthetic cannabinoid, also known as “K2,” at the federal prison FMC Devens. The inmate had been granted clemency on Jan. 17, 2025, reducing his 2022 federal prison sentence for drug distribution. 

    Tasha Hammock, 43, a former employee with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, is charged by Information with providing contraband to a prison inmate. Raymond Gaines, 45, an inmate at FMC Devens, has been indicted by a federal grand jury with possessing contraband by a prison inmate. In March 2025, Hammock and Gaines were charged by criminal complaint.

    According to court documents, on Jan. 25, 2022, Gaines was sentenced to more than seven years in prison after pleading guilty in federal court in Boston to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. At the time he committed the offenses, he was on federal supervised release after serving a prison sentence resulting from a 2017 conviction for distributing cocaine base within 1,000 feet of a school. In both prior cases Gaines was alleged to be an associate of the Orchard Park Trailblazers, a street gang in Boston. On Jan. 17, 2025, Gaines received an Executive Grant of Clemency, reducing his current federal sentence to five years in prison.  

    It is alleged that on Aug. 18, 2024, Hammock, while visiting Gaines in the prison, surreptitiously passed K2-laced papers to Gaines, which he pocketed. At the time, Hammock was employed with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. Hammock also allegedly previously handled money connected with the distribution of K2 to Gaines in FMC Devens and she allegedly received K2 at her residence for distribution into the prison. Court records allege that law enforcement obtained a cellphone that had been smuggled to an inmate in the prison (“Inmate A”). In September 2023, Inmate A allegedly sent messages on the cell phone to another person (“Person 1”), discussing obtaining K2 in prison. Inmate A allegedly told Person 1 that the drugs could be delivered to a particular address in Bridgewater – later determined to be Hammock’s residence – and that Inmate A’s “co” would arrange for the drugs to be brought into the prison from there.  

    As described in court documents, K2 presents a health problem at FMC Devens, where inmates have become sick from smoking paper believed to contain K2, as well as prison staff who have been exposed to the secondary smoke.    

    The charges of providing a prohibited object to a prison inmate, and receiving a prohibited object by a prison inmate, each carry a penalty of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston; and Ryan Geach, Special Agent in Charge of the Northeast Regional Office of DOJ-OIG, made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Special Investigative Services Unit at FMC Devens. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan O’Shea of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.  

    The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Serial Bank Robber Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Robbing a Manchester Credit Union While on Federal Supervised Release

    Source: US FBI

    CONCORD – A Manchester man was sentenced yesterday in federal court for bank robbery, Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack announces.

    Jesse Hippolite, 37, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Paul J. Barbadoro to 60 months in federal prison.  On April 22, 2025, Hippolite pleaded guilty to one count of bank robbery.

    “The defendant is a prolific bank robber with a long history of victimizing bank employees to line his own pockets,” said Acting U.S. Attorney McCormack.  “His choices have made him a danger to the public, and thanks to the efforts of law enforcement, he will spend the next five years in federal prison.”

    “Jesse Hippolite was a crime spree unto himself, robbing a dozen banks before this one” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. “This sentence nips his burgeoning bank robbery career in the bud and holds him accountable for menacing innocent people who are just trying to make an honest living.  This case is just one example of how the FBI continues to support our partners in pulverizing violent crime to improve public safety.”

    According to the plea agreement and statements made in court, Hippolite has multiple state and federal convictions for robbery in New York.  In 2011, he went on a bank robbery spree in New York City and was involved in multiple separate robberies.  Each time, he was unarmed but passed a note threatening to kill people if his demands for money were not met.  He was released from federal prison, in connection with those convictions, in February 2023. He then moved to New Hampshire, where he remained on federal supervised release.

    In February 2025, Hippolite robbed a credit union in Manchester.  He wore a disguise and was unarmed.  Hippolite passed a note to three tellers reading:

    $100,000

    ALL $100 Bills

    *No Dye Packs

    Give Back Note

    Hippolite stole $3,139 before fleeing.  He was subsequently identified on nearby surveillance cameras.

    The FBI and Manchester Police Department led the investigation.  The U.S. Probation Office provided valuable assistance.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen prosecuted the case.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Ensuring comprehensive value chain emissions reporting through the prompt adoption of CountEmissions EU – P-002356/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    1. Since December 2024, after both co-legislators had adopted and the European Parliament confirmed their positions on the file, the Commission has urged the trilogues to start. Denmark recently confirmed that it will take up the CountEmissionsEU file under its Presidency. A swift start of the trilogue negotiations is underway and the date for the opening trilogue meeting is already agreed.

    2. The Commission is ready to support and facilitate the discussions between the co- legislators to achieve a timely adoption of the CountEmissions EU regulation. If the adoption were to be significantly delayed, the objectives of the Commission proposal to harmonise the calculation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of transport services to enable customers to choose more sustainable transport options while encouraging the uptake of GHG accounting by businesses, and thereby to contribute to the overall EU’s climate objectives, would be further pushed back. Lack of a unified EU framework would also mean continued use of divergent methods across operators, reducing comparability and interoperability and creating extra burdens to industry. Green transport solutions might not be rewarded properly in the market due to possible greenwashing and consumer mistrust in published information.

    Last updated: 16 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Effect of the emissions trading system on the attractiveness of the outermost regions for air and sea transport – the case of Guadeloupe – E-001915/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The Commission is aware of the permanent constraints faced by the outermost regions, notably their heavy dependence on air and sea transport. This is why these regions benefit from specific conditions under the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS[1]).

    Nearly 100%[2] of all the emissions from flights to/from Guadeloupe are connected to France and therefore not priced under the ETS before 2031[3].

    Despite these flights not being subject to carbon pricing, the ETS provides a higher level of support when sustainable aviation fuels[4] are uplifted at airports in outermost regions, when 100% of the cost difference with traditional kerosene is covered.

    Similarly, until end of 2030, the ETS imposes no surrendering obligation for maritime transport emissions from voyages between a port in an outermost region and a port in the same Member State.

    The FuelEU Maritime Regulation[5] also covers only half of the voyages to/from outermost regions, and Member States can fully exempt voyages between two outermost regions until 2029.

    The Commission is carefully monitoring the implementation of the ETS and FuelEU in relation to maritime, taking due account of outermost regions.

    The first Commission report[6] does not find any evidence of major changes in the market being directly attributable to the introduction of the ETS — including for outermost regions. The Commission will continue its monitoring activities and propose, if necessary, measures to ensure the effective implementation of the ETS.

    In terms of support mechanisms, Member States are required to use all revenues generated by the ETS to tackle climate change, including in outermost regions. Several other EU instruments include favourable conditions for these regions to address their transport needs[7].

    • [1] Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 October 2003 establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community and amending Council Directive 96/61/EC (OJ L 275, 25.10.2003, p. 32).
    • [2] Eurocontrol data indicates that, in 2024, the emissions from flights to and from Guadeloupe were 98.7% domestic.
    • [3] Flights to/from an outermost region within the same Member State are exempt, thus no additional costs stem from the application of the ETS.
    • [4] https://climate.ec.europa.eu/document/download/7eace0de-fbc8-46c5-b52c-80d50f406c58_en?filename=policy_transport_aviation_airport_100_support_en.pdf.
    • [5] Regulation (EU) 2023/1805 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 September 2023 on the use of renewable and low-carbon fuels in maritime transport, and amending Directive 2009/16/EC (OJ L 234, 22.9.2023, p. 48, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/1805/oj).
    • [6]  COM(2025) 110 final — https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:52025DC0110.
    • [7] The European Regional Development Fund supports airport infrastructure and compensates for their higher operating costs. The Connecting Europe Facility supports transport infrastructure with higher co-financing rates in these regions. Moreover, several Public Service Obligations ensure connectivity with outermost regions. Social aid schemes support air transport for residents of remote regions.

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Aircraft noise around Schiphol – P-002158/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    1. Regulation (EU) No 598/2014[1] (hereafter the ‘Regulation’) requires a balancing of economic and environmental interests when Member States implement noise related measures at airports. The noise situation should be regularly assessed, and Member States may implement measures including operating restrictions.

    2. The regulation refers to the method, indicators and noise information to be provided when Member States intend to implement noise-related operating restrictions. Another very important element of the process is carrying out appropriate stakeholder consultations and the cost-efficiency. All elements should allow a thorough analysis on which measures are needed to achieve the desired noise objective.

    3. On 5 March 2025, the Commission adopted its decision[2] on the notified operating restrictions for Schiphol airport, which is publicly available.

    • [1] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2014/598/oj/eng.
    • [2] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32025D0519.
    Last updated: 16 July 2025

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Cancellation of VPAs and replacement by Forest Partnerships – E-001647/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The Commission proposal for termination of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) with Liberia is based on a decade of dialogue and close monitoring through joint EU-Liberia management structures and five independent audits. These assessments consistently found deep-rooted issues in Liberia’s implementation of the VPA, especially the lack of a functional Legality Assurance System, weak institutional capacity, and limited law enforcement.

    While the Boakai administration has renewed efforts to advance the VPA — reactivating joint committees, imposing a moratorium on carbon concessions, and resuming logging revenue payments — these steps have not addressed the deep-rooted structural and implementation issues.

    As a result, the limited likelihood of Forest Law Enforcement Governance Trade licenses combined with low timber trade flows, reduce the relevance of the VPA. The Commission has explained the reasons behind this proposal, notably at the Joint Implementation Committee meeting in November 2024[1].

    The termination of the VPA and the possible transition to a Forest Partnership (FP) open the door to a new phase of cooperation which will support Liberia in aligning with the EU Deforestation Regulation[2] and advancing broader forest governance reforms through more flexible support mechanisms.

    The governance structures under the FPs build on those under the VPA, with participation of all stakeholders, including civil society. The EU Council and the European Parliament exercise scrutiny and provide consent on the conclusion and termination of VPAs. Whilst FPs are a more flexible agreement, they also require scrutiny.

    • [1] https://loggingoff.info/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/EU-GoL2024-AideMemoire-12thVPA-JIC-28-Nov-24-NoAnnexes.pdf.
    • [2] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32023R1115.
    Last updated: 16 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Cancellation of VPAs and replacement by Forest Partnerships – E-001647/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The Commission proposal for termination of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) with Liberia is based on a decade of dialogue and close monitoring through joint EU-Liberia management structures and five independent audits. These assessments consistently found deep-rooted issues in Liberia’s implementation of the VPA, especially the lack of a functional Legality Assurance System, weak institutional capacity, and limited law enforcement.

    While the Boakai administration has renewed efforts to advance the VPA — reactivating joint committees, imposing a moratorium on carbon concessions, and resuming logging revenue payments — these steps have not addressed the deep-rooted structural and implementation issues.

    As a result, the limited likelihood of Forest Law Enforcement Governance Trade licenses combined with low timber trade flows, reduce the relevance of the VPA. The Commission has explained the reasons behind this proposal, notably at the Joint Implementation Committee meeting in November 2024[1].

    The termination of the VPA and the possible transition to a Forest Partnership (FP) open the door to a new phase of cooperation which will support Liberia in aligning with the EU Deforestation Regulation[2] and advancing broader forest governance reforms through more flexible support mechanisms.

    The governance structures under the FPs build on those under the VPA, with participation of all stakeholders, including civil society. The EU Council and the European Parliament exercise scrutiny and provide consent on the conclusion and termination of VPAs. Whilst FPs are a more flexible agreement, they also require scrutiny.

    • [1] https://loggingoff.info/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/EU-GoL2024-AideMemoire-12thVPA-JIC-28-Nov-24-NoAnnexes.pdf.
    • [2] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32023R1115.
    Last updated: 16 July 2025

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Rights of air passengers with disabilities – E-001935/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    In 2023, the Commission proposed[1] a targeted revision of the EU passenger rights legislation with a focus on effective enforcement, including Regulation (EC) No 1107/2006[2] (the ‘Regulation’).

    A broad stakeholder consultation required by the Better Regulation framework[3] preceded the adoption of the Commission proposal, to which representatives of persons with disabilities also contributed.

    The regulation already includes several provisions that oblige operators to actively engage with representatives of persons with disabilities and persons with reduced mobility (PRM).

    For instance, when establishing quality standards for assisting PRM, airport managing bodies are required to collaborate with organisations representing these individuals[4].

    Similarly, airport managing bodies must work with such organisations when designating arrival and departure points where PRM can announce their presence at the airport[5].

    Additionally, Recital 10 of the regulation emphasises that airports and air carriers should have regard to ECAC Doc No 30, Part I, Section 5[6], when organising disability awareness and assistance training for their personnel.

    This document underscores the importance of cooperation between airport managing bodies, air carriers, and organisations representing PRM in developing training programs, policies, and procedures.

    Accordingly, the Commission did not consider that there was a need to impose new obligations on airports and airlines to consult representatives of persons with disabilities.

    • [1] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52023PC0753.
    • [2] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2006/1107/oj/eng.
    • [3] https://commission.europa.eu/law/law-making-process/better-regulation_en.
    • [4] See Article 9(1) of the regulation.
    • [5] See Article 5(1) of the regulation.
    • [6] The latest version of the document (13th Edition, December 2023) can be found at: https://www.ecac-ceac.org/images/activities/facilitation/ECAC-Doc_30_Part_I_Facilitation_13th_edition_13_Dec_2023.pdf.

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – The Commission’s study on environmental vignettes for low-emission zones – E-002188/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The Commission has indeed commissioned a study to identify and map EU interoperable technical solutions for demonstrating compliance with access rules, which is the goal of current (physical) eco-stickers when entering low emission zones. The purpose was to inform possible solutions for increasing the efficiency, user-friendliness and non-discriminatory aspects of urban vehicle access regulations (UVARs) across the EU for both vehicle users and city authorities.

    The study has mapped the following technical solutions: (i) a EU Digital Wallet based solution, (ii) facilitating the use of the European Car and Driving License Information System (EUCARIS) by creating an ‘Opt-in’ for private consent giving for sharing vehicle data cross-border for UVAR purpose, (iii) Cooperative-Intelligent Transport System (C-ITS) solutions, with a more long-term perspective.

    The Commission is in the process of finalising the analysis of the study results and will consider the best options for moving forward.

    Last updated: 16 July 2025

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Ensuring fair and quality access to on-demand transport services for passengers and drivers in the EU – E-002252/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    Passenger transport-on-demand services such as service offered by taxis and Private Hire Vehicle with driver (PHV) complement the local public transport offer. Taxi and PHV offer overwhelmingly local passenger transport services. Cross-border services exist, notably in border regions, but account only for a very small fraction of all taxi and PHV services. The sector is therefore fragmented by nature.

    There is no specific EU legislation in the field of taxis and PHV and Member States are responsible for regulating the sector, in line with general/horizontal EU law, such as the Treaties (notably Article 49 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union[1] which guarantees the freedom of establishment).

    In this context, the Commission continues to pursue infringements of EU law, notably the freedom of establishment enshrined in Article 49 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which constitutes one of the fundamental pillars of the Single Market.

    The Commission has, in its 2022 Notice on well-functioning and sustainable local passenger transport-on-demand (taxis and PHV)[2], clarified the limits established by EU-law of how Member States may regulate the sector. It does not exclude to update this Notice and/or to take another initiative, the details of which have still to be defined.

    • [1] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/treaty/tfeu_2008/art_49/oj/eng.
    • [2] OJ C 62, 4.2.2022, p. 1.
    Last updated: 16 July 2025

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Improving workplace health and safety to prevent deaths from sudden cardiac arrest – E-002329/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The Commission refers to its reply to Question E-001716/2025, noting that the EU’s occupational safety and health (OSH) acquis provides comprehensive protection against all occupational risks, without explicit provisions for specific medical conditions.

    As detailed in the above Commission reply, the development and implementation of specific measures fall under the prerogative of Member States. Nevertheless, there are several EU actions addressing various cardiovascular disease risks.

    The Council, in its conclusions on the improvement of cardiovascular health in the EU[1], among others, invited the Member States to address hazards for cardiovascular health in their OSH policies, as well as to consider promoting the installation and use of automated external defibrillators ( AEDs) in and out of hospital settings, including in communities and physical activity centres.

    There are various EU funding programmes that Member States can use to help fund initiatives for the installation of AEDs in different high-capacity environments. For example, the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) can be used to fund the purchase of AEDs to be used in public schools, workplaces and similar high-capacity environments as part of a wider operation (and not as a standalone purchase).

    The Commission is currently reviewing the Workplace Directive[2] and the Display Screen Equipment Directive[3] to address new ways of working.

    • [1] Cardiovascular health: Council calls for more robust efforts to help prevent cardiovascular diseases — Consilium.
    • [2] Council Directive 89/654/EEC of 30 November 1989 concerning the minimum safety and health requirements for the workplace (first individual directive within the meaning of Article 16 (1) of Directive 89/391/EEC). OJ L 393, 30.12.1989, p. 1-12. — https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/1989/654/oj/eng.
    • [3] Council Directive 90/270/EEC of 29 May 1990 on the minimum safety and health requirements for work with display screen equipment (fifth individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16 (1) of Directive 89/391/EEC) (90/270/EEC). OJ L 156 21.6.1990, p. 14. — https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/1990/270/oj/eng.
    Last updated: 16 July 2025

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Sener Levent, who was awarded the European Citizen’s Prize in 2018, once again faces Turkish persecution – P-002839/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Priority question for written answer  P-002839/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Giorgos Georgiou (The Left)

    Sener Levent, who was awarded the European Citizen’s Prize in 2018, is once again being persecuted by Türkiye. To be specific, the Turkish Cypriot journalist and publisher of the ‘Avrupa’ newspaper is at risk of being extradited to Türkiye by the pseudo-state and subsequently imprisoned in connection with an article and a cartoon that were considered to be ‘publicly insulting the nation, the State, the National Assembly, the government, the judiciary, the army and the security forces of Türkiye’! This development is another arbitrary and illegal extension of Türkiye’s growing interference and pressure in relation to the internal issues of the Turkish Cypriot community.

    In view of the long-standing attempts by the Turkish State to silence and intimidate Sener Levent and other journalists, activists and politicians, as well as the right of all citizens to freedom of opinion and expression, what immediate measures does the Commission intend to take to protect Sener Levent, a European citizen who has been awarded the European Citizen’s Prize?

    Submitted: 11.7.2025

    Last updated: 16 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Tampa Man Pleads Guilty To Robbing Two Convenience Stores With Firearms

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Ronald Brown (24, Tampa) has pleaded guilty to two robberies, conspiracy to commit those robberies, and brandishing a firearm during both those robberies. Brown faces up to 20 years in prison on each of the robbery counts. For each of the firearms counts, he faces a minimum sentence of seven years, up to life, in federal prison consecutive to any other sentence imposed. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

    According to court documents and proceedings, in July 2024, Brown conspired with others to rob two convenience stores in Tampa. Two firearms were used in, and brandished, during the robberies. Law enforcement located the suspects a few days after the robberies at a hotel in Tampa. A review of surveillance footage from the hotel showed Brown holding a rifle near the vehicle identified as being used in the robberies. Additional surveillance footage from the hotel showed Brown carrying a long box to the trunk prior to the robbery. Search warrants for multiple hotel rooms were executed and the rifle was located. The rifle belongs to Brown.

    This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, and the Tampa Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman.

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Tampa Man Pleads Guilty To Robbing Two Convenience Stores With Firearms

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Ronald Brown (24, Tampa) has pleaded guilty to two robberies, conspiracy to commit those robberies, and brandishing a firearm during both those robberies. Brown faces up to 20 years in prison on each of the robbery counts. For each of the firearms counts, he faces a minimum sentence of seven years, up to life, in federal prison consecutive to any other sentence imposed. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

    According to court documents and proceedings, in July 2024, Brown conspired with others to rob two convenience stores in Tampa. Two firearms were used in, and brandished, during the robberies. Law enforcement located the suspects a few days after the robberies at a hotel in Tampa. A review of surveillance footage from the hotel showed Brown holding a rifle near the vehicle identified as being used in the robberies. Additional surveillance footage from the hotel showed Brown carrying a long box to the trunk prior to the robbery. Search warrants for multiple hotel rooms were executed and the rifle was located. The rifle belongs to Brown.

    This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, and the Tampa Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman.

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Two Armed Carjackings

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    Defendant Admitted to Four Additional Carjackings; He and Accomplices Lured Victims Through Dating Apps

    PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Isiah Surzano-Glover, 22, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today to 168 months in prison and five years of supervised release by United States District Judge Karen S. Marston for two gunpoint carjackings.

    In March 2024, the defendant was charged by indictment, and he pleaded guilty in November to two counts of carjacking and one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.

    As detailed in court filings and admitted to by the defendant, on January 2, 2024, at 7:30 p.m., he and accomplices lured victim P.M. to the 5400 block of Walker Street in Philadelphia by posing as a female named “Mercedes” on a dating app. When P.M. arrived, Surzano-Glover and the others, all masked, approached the victim, brandished guns, and threatened to shoot P.M. if he moved. The carjackers took P.M.’s keys, wallet, and phone, and drove away in his 2011 Ford Crown Victoria.

    On January 3, 2024, at approximately 8:30 p.m., the defendant and several others, again using an app and the “Mercedes” ruse, lured R.E. to the 1700 block of Brill Street in Philadelphia. Upon R.E.’s arrival, the masked carjackers pointed handguns at him, pistol-whipped R.E. in the head with a gun, and took his keys and phone. They ordered him to run, then drove away in his 2006 Toyota Tacoma.

    Approximately 30 minutes after R.E. was carjacked, Philadelphia police officers located R.E.’s Tacoma parked unattended at 5000 Valley Street, approximately half a mile from the scene of the crime. Other officers then observed what proved to be P.M.’s Crown Victoria, parked in an alley near the intersection of Pratt and Hawthorne streets, about a quarter of a mile from 5000 Valley Street, and placed the car under surveillance.

    Around 10:15 p.m., P.M.’s Crown Victoria drove off and officers followed. The vehicle made its way to 5000 Valley Street, where a police car was alongside R.E.’s Tacoma, and then sped off, initiating a police pursuit. Multiple individuals eventually bailed from P.M.’s vehicle at the intersection of Worth Street and Margaret Street, and the defendant was arrested, following a foot pursuit.

    In addition to the above crimes with which he was charged, Surzano-Glover admitted to participating in four other Philadelphia carjackings.

    The case was investigated by the ATF and the Philadelphia Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Miller and Kwambina Coker.

    MIL Security OSI –