Transforming Border Protection with Data

Millions of travelers. Container ship after container ship stacked with goods. Across the more than 100,000 miles that make up U.S. land and water borders, and in a complex and changing world, how can federal agencies keep lawful trade and travel moving—while finding and acting on threats before they become something worse?

Vice President Amit Kohli and Principal Todd Kline are two Booz Allen leaders that share a mission to keep those borders secure.

With expertise in open systems, federal IT consulting, and systems development, Amit leads Booz Allen’s border protection and trade practice. Todd brings over 20 years of Navy Judge Advocate General (JAG) experience to his position as a principal in Booz Allen's homeland security and law enforcement portfolio.

Together with their team at Booz Allen, they’re using advanced analytics, AI-assisted technologies, and more to transform what’s possible for federal agencies and the people they serve.

One big part of the mission is using automation to speed up, streamline, and reduce processes like data entry—administrative tasks that are essential to the job, but add to the already significant pressure and cognitive load that field officers face every day as they make complex, real-time decisions.

For example, border control and law enforcement work inherently involves massive quantities of information: visa applications and passport documents, bills of lading and shipping manifests, tip line call records, and case reports, along with exponentially growing volumes of digital and video content via smartphones and social media. All of this disparate data must be collected, categorized, stored, and analyzed: This is where automation and AI come in.

“Automating processes like data entry through auto-population, field standardization, and predictive text reduces the time and energy officers spend on manual tasks—allowing them to spend more time focusing on the person in front of them,” Amit explains.

“Enabling agents to focus on the most important tasks of the day, with the ability to seamlessly shift attention only when required, that’s a game changer,” says Todd. “When you’re able make critical, time-sensitive decisions without distraction, you’re not only more efficient, but the mission is to keep the nation safe is more successful.”

AI-assisted technologies not only help individual officers, but they also support the overall law enforcement and homeland security workforce.

Agencies across this area face talent shortages and pending retirements. At the same time, surges in workload, combined with the high-stakes nature of the work itself, too often lead to burnout, poor wellbeing, and job dissatisfaction.

“These technological advancements can be valuable recruitment and retention tools,” says Amit. “By offering a more modern and supportive workplace environment, with a focus on mental and physical wellbeing, these agencies can be more competitive in attracting new talent.”

“By providing technologies that build confidence and quick decision making within such an environment,” he continues, “federal agencies can keep these valuable employees, growing in their careers and contributing to the mission.” 

But cutting-edge tools and technologies are only part of what Booz Allen has to offer, Amit and Todd emphasize. There’s a people aspect to the team’s power as well.

For example, federal border control and law enforcement involve cooperation and coordination across multiple agencies. Bringing it all together to make it work is often easier said than done.

“While these agencies’ missions are synergistic, each one deals with different pieces of the puzzle—with different restrictions on sharing and confidentiality,” Todd explains.

Booz Allen brings first-hand knowledge of these puzzle pieces, with employees at all levels who’ve worked across federal defense and law enforcement. This, coupled with a collaborative approach and strong partnerships, helps individual solutions fit within the bigger picture, today and in the future.

Furthermore, first-hand federal experience means that Booz Allen uniquely understands the task at hand, and how to use technology for innovative, impactful solutions.

“Our teams are not just technically proficient but also understand the intricacies of the federal mission areas we serve,” says Amit. “This means we understand the challenges of today and the opportunities of tomorrow, to keep our clients ahead of threats and future-ready.”