In recognition of the contribution to national security by West Virginia University’s Center for Identification Technology Research, Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin has proclaimed Wednesday (May 2) “CITeR Day in West Virginia.”
Created 10 years ago, CITeR “has established West Virginia as a key contributor of leading edge biometric research and education, focused on providing safety and protection to the United States,” the proclamation signed by Tomlin says. CITeR has also “facilitated partnerships involving federal agencies, law enforcement organizations, private companies and higher education.”
CITeR is the nation’s only National Science Foundation Industry/University Cooperative Research Center focusing on the rapidly growing areas of biometric identification and credibility assessment technology. It was established at WVU in 2002 and has since grown to encompass research work at the University of Arizona and Clarkson University. CITeR is also backed by a long list of prestigious public and private sector affiliate members that are focused on the protection of the U.S.
CITeR has attracted more than $15 million worth of biometrics research grants and served as the catalyst for recruiting and relocating new companies and hundreds of jobs to North Central West Virginia.
The governor’s proclamation noted that identification technology, biometrics and credibility assessment as pursued by CITeR are critical to the continued safety of the citizens of the nation.
“CITeR actively involves undergraduate and graduate students on projects that prepare them to assume leadership roles in the Nation’s biometric identification and credibility assessment activities geared toward protecting the United States,” the proclamation reads.
The Center’s contribution to national safety was also recognized on the federal level with official letters of recognition from U.S. Senators Jay Rockefeller and Joe Manchin of West Virginia and U.S. Rep. David McKinley representing the 1st Congressional District of West Virginia.
-WVU-
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