Case Study: Pentagon Force Protection Agency achieves secure, interoperable crisis communications and rapid threat response with BlackBerry AtHoc

Critical DoD Security Agency Implements Complex Threat Response System Using AtHoc Connect

The Pentagon Force Protection Agency (PFPA), the Department of Defense unit charged with safeguarding the Pentagon, its occupants and related facilities across the National Capital Region, faced a persistent communications problem: essential personnel and partner organizations were siloed on separate networks, external contact data was maintained manually, and there was no reliable way to send, track or audit emergency alerts. PFPA needed a secure, interoperable way to reduce risk and ensure rapid, accountable notifications across dozens of facilities and more than 100 organizations.

PFPA implemented BlackBerry AtHoc Connect, a permission-based crisis communications platform that bridges disparate networks without infrastructure changes. The system provides zero-IT invitations and self-service accounts, secure cross-agency messaging, confirmation and auditing of alerts, and comprehensive after-action reporting. As a result PFPA gained scalable, secure interoperability—enabling timely, verifiable notifications to stakeholders across the region and improving emergency response and risk reduction.

Pentagon Force Protection Agency

Eddie Herchert

Systems Engineer