National Border Security Award Winners Announced
New program recognizes federal and local leaders for innovation in border protection and technology.
- By Jesse Jacobs
- Apr 03, 2026
Homeland Security Today has revealed the winners of its first National Border Security Awards, a program designed to recognize individuals and organizations for advancements in border protection.
The awards were introduced at the 14th Annual Border Security Symposium. The program follows a month-long nomination process and will conclude with an official ceremony on May 5 in Phoenix, Arizona, held alongside the Border Security Expo.
The 2026 honorees include representatives from federal, state, and local agencies, as well as private industry partners. The awards focus on several categories, including operational leadership, technological innovation and interagency collaboration.
Among the individual winners, Thomas Homan was named Border Security Person of the Year at the federal level, while Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier received the state-level honor. J.R. Villarreal of the Texas Department of Public Safety was recognized as the local recipient.
Several U.S. Customs and Border Protection teams were honored for technical achievements. The Unattended Ground Sensors Team and the Linear Ground Detection System Team received awards for their work in leveraging technology. Additionally, the Cross-Border Tunnel Threat Team was cited for excellence in information sharing.
The awards also recognized private sector contributions. D-Fend Solutions received the award for Most Innovative Border Security Solution for its EnforceAir2 system, and ECS Federal was named Industry Partner of the Year.
The award program highlights various aspects of the border mission, including counter-drone capabilities, artificial intelligence and data integration. Organizers stated the program aims to highlight the impact of leadership and technology on national security outcomes.