Biometric Domain 

 January 2013 

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ANSI/NIST-ITL Standard 

2 

• Requirement: 

Domain stewardship is required for establishing and 

maintaining a NIEM Biometrics Domain, and for 

participation in NIEM governance activities. 

• 2008 version was first with XML 

• Schedule of NIEM and ANSI/NIST-ITL not in sync 

• Portions of NIEM core based upon early drafts of the 

standard 

• Need to update the standard meant conflict with NIEM 

core 

• Process was very awkward 
ANSI/NIST-ITL Standard (Cont) 

3 

• 2011 version -- new approach needed 

• Biometrics Domain to be updated based upon ANSI/NISTITL schedule 

• Maintain backward compatibility to maximum extent 

possible 

• Separate governing structure from ANSI/NIST-ITL since it 

is a consensus standard without a formal management  

Biometrics Domain Management 

• No changes to Biometrics Domain in NIEM affecting 

ANSI/NIST-ITL without approval of ANSI/NIST-ITL 
National Information Exchange Model (NIEM) 

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• Data Dictionary of Harmonized Terms and Definitions 

• Reusable Data Models and Schemas 

• Set of Rules for Building NIEM Components 

• Clearinghouse of Reusable Information Exchange Package Documentation (IEPD) 

• Tools, Training, Knowledge Center, and Helpdesk 

• Library of Supporting Documentation 

• Partnership of Local, State, Tribal, 

and Federal organizations 

• Operational Practitioner Driven - YOU 
 NIEM Components & Authorities 

 Repeatable, reusable process for business users to 

document information exchange requirements 

Components of NIEM 

• Executive Order 13356 

• 2004 -develop common standards for the sharing of terrorism information by 

agencies within the Intelligence Community 

• The 2012 “National Strategy for Information Sharing and Safeguarding” 

Built and governed by the business users at Federal, State, Local, Tribal and Private Sectors 

5 

“Common Language” for Information Exchange 
Engaging Stakeholders 

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Standards 

Alignment 
NIEM Biometric Domain Alignment

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Executive Steering 

Council (ESC) 

Policy 

Advisory Panel 

National Priority 

Exchange Panel 

NIEM Program 

Management Office 

(PMO) 

Business Architecture 

Committee (NBAC) 

Technical Architecture 

Committee (NTAC) 

Communication & 

Outreach 

Committee (NC&OC) 

Requirements to or from NIEM PMO 

Biometric Domain 

DHS US-VISIT 

Steward 

DoJ / FBI 

Vice-Chair

US-VISIT 

Chair

NIST 

Ombudsman
Continuous Stakeholder Engagement

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•Coordinate with USVISIT leadership and 

NIEM PMO and NIST 

•Complete Domain 

Charter in coordination 

with NIST 

•Establish Domain 

Management Plan 

•Conduct Stewardship 

meeting 

Assume NIEM 

Stewardship

•Working with NIST to 

mature the Charter 

•Establish COI 

•Baseline Biometric 

Schema & IEPD 

needs (Data Model) 

•Establish Domain CM 

•Identify 

harmonization target 

IEPDs 

•Organize COI WG 

Establish Core

Community

•Promote schema to 

NIEM 

•Working with COI in 

developing IEPDs 

•Define domain maturity 

development roadmap 

•Refine Domain 

configuration 

management 

Reaffirm Vision 

•Promulgate NIEM 

standards and IEPDs 

to industry partners, 

vendors, and other 

partners 

Increase outreach 
Review Process and Timeline 

9 
 Acknowledgements for this version 

• Executive Committee’s Member:

• Chair: Will Graves, NPPD US-VISIT 

• Vice-Chai: Justin Smith, DoJ FBI 

• Ombudsman: Brad Wing, NIST 

• Working group participants: 

• DoD: William Zimmerman, Ryan Triplett, Jeffrey K. Schultz 

• FBI/DoJ: Jennifer Stathakis, Cathy Wimer, Joe Pancaro, Omar F 

Cuadra, Cherie Hayes 

• US-VISIT: David Bouis 

• TSC: Mike Patnode 

• Other COIs and organizations: Bonny Scheier(SABER),Brian 

Finegold(Noblis), Charlie Schaeffer(State of Florida),Stephen 

Dunbar(NEC),Rene Pape(Plass Data), Alexij 

Kochetkov(Neurotechnology), CJIS 

• NBD Facilitator Team (CSE support team): 

• Kamran Atri, Shuchita Bora, Lain McNeill, Brian Orledge 

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NIEM Biometric Domain Membership 

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Collaboration Site
For More Information

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Individuals or organizations interested in learning more about the 

NIEM Biometric Domain or registering for a Community of Interest 

membership and participation can visit: 

https://www.niem.gov/communities/biometrics/Pages/about-bm.aspx

or 

send an email to NIEM-BD-Facilitator@cse-corp.com

Project Lead Architect 

CSE CTO 

http://www.cse-corp.com

Kamran Atri 
Formalizing the NIEM Biometric Domain 

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Foundation Activities: 

• Establish the Domain within NIEM.GOV

• Define administrative and managerial assets 

 - NIEM Facilitator 

 - Domain Steward (US-VISIT Program) 

 - Executive Management Committee (Chair, Co-Chair, 

 Ombudsman)

• Create Domain Charter and Domain Management Plan 

- Governance framework aligned to NIST 

Engagement Activities:

• Using Domain CoI vet, facilitate, and authorize the 

Biometric Schema for NIEM 3.0 inclusion

• Promote Biometric CoI contribution via NIEM 

 Biometric Domain Working Groups 

• Increase COI NIEM alignment through IEPD 

 development (Training and Technical support) 

• Create a IEPD Repository (promote reusability)