-Newest Additions To IBIA Roster Represent Global Provider Of Biometrics Products And Services, Global Leader In Rapid DNA Technology, and Trusted Government Agency Partner-

Washington, D.C. (August 20, 2025)—The International Biometrics + Identity Association (IBIA) announced today the addition of Aware, Inc. and ANDE as the organization’s newest members, with Aware’s Ajay Amlani and ANDE’s George Heinrichs also joining IBIA’s Board of Directors. In addition, Todd Morris, recently appointed president of NEC National Security Systems (NEC NSS), will also join the IBIA Board.

Aware, which is rejoining IBIA following their CEO’s succession, is a global leading provider of biometrics software products, solutions, and services, including identity verification and management solutions that support financial services, enterprise security, healthcare, human resources, citizen ID, border management, law enforcement, defense, and intelligence. ANDE was founded in 2004 and in 2016 became the first Rapid DNA system to receive FBI regulatory approval. NEC NSS is a leading provider of biometric identity and AI technology for federal government agencies in defense, intelligence, law enforcement, and homeland security agencies.

“We are excited to add Aware and ANDE to IBIA’s roster of members and to the IBIA Board of Directors, and are also excited to welcome Todd Morris to the IBIA Board,” said IBIA Executive Director Rob Tappan. “All three companies are demonstrated leaders in their respective sectors within the biometrics and identity industry.”

“Aware’s CEO, Ajay Amlani, has a long history in this space, from co-founding the CLEAR technology which now serves more than 12 million members in dozens of airports to leading biometric security initiatives in the U.S. government,” Tappan continued. “His perspective from these roles in government and industry will be invaluable as a member of the IBIA Board.”

“We are also thrilled to have ANDE join our membership and Board,” Tappan continued. “DNA is one of the oldest modalities in the identity and biometrics industry and the work that ANDE is doing to implement rapid DNA technologies is revolutionary and has countless applications that benefit the public good.”

“Lastly, we welcome Todd Morris to IBIA’s Board of Directors, assuming the role previously held by Dr. Kathleen Kiernan, who recently retired as NEC NSS president,” Tappan said. “Dr. Kiernan was a model member of IBIA’s governance and while she leaves big shoes to fill, we know that Todd’s background in this space will be an asset to all of our members.”

Aware has provided biometrics software products since 1993, when it helped the FBI design and optimize the “WSQ” fingerprint image compression algorithm for the first large-scale fingerprint digitization effort. Shortly thereafter, Aware was the first to commercialize WSQ as a commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) software development kit (SDK) product. Over the following 25 years, Aware has consistently introduced a diverse array of software products used to integrate advanced biometrics functionality quickly and easily into systems for a variety of applications.

Using a sample swab, the ANDE system can generate a DNA ID without the need for a technical user or laboratory in less than two hours. The system can test many sample types for a human DNA ID, including buccal (cheek) swabs, blood, bodily fluids, body tissue, bone, touch items, beverages, cigarettes, steering wheels, weapons, clothing, and others. The system is designed to analyze samples from a single individual and produce their DNA ID in accordance with US NIST standards.

NEC NSS is a subsidiary of NEC Corporation of America and a leading provider of biometric identity and AI technology for federal government agencies in defense, intelligence, law enforcement, and homeland security agencies. Based in Arlington, Va., NEC NSS deploys proven groundbreaking technology for access control, identity verification, scene processing, advanced analytics, fiber optic sensing, border control, and transportation security, among other applications.

About IBIA

IBIA is an advocacy and educational organization that represents the developers, manufacturers and systems integrators of biometric and identity technologies and services. IBIA advances the adoption and responsible use of technology-based identification solutions to enhance security and safety, protect privacy, and to facilitate convenience and productivity for government, business, and consumers. To that end, IBIA engages with elected officials, policymakers, the media, and the general public to help them better understand these technologies and to advocate for the responsible use and ethical implementation of biometric solutions to confirm and validate identity. For more information, please visit www.ibia.org.