Tim Brock has been part of the Angstrom Technologies, Inc., team since Feb. 1995. He is our director of sales operations and has been a huge part of our success. In addition to being a major part of our team, Tim has also been an active contributor to our industry.
Tim joined NASPO in 2011 and has served in various roles for 12 years.
The North American Security Products Organization (NASPO) International is an ANSI-accredited standards developer and a certifying body that oversees security standards.
These standards govern the best practices of printing facilities producing and security printing technologies products in all aspects of producing secure documents. The NASPO International membership comprises experts in all aspects of the creation of secure documents. Printers, manufacturers of specialty pigments, inks, holograms, varying types of imbedded security features as well as specific printing presses are represented.
Tim has served on multiple committees and as the vice chairman and was elected chairman of NASPO in 2016. He finished his tenure as chairman this past year in 2023.
Read on to learn more about Tim and his time serving on NASPO. Thank you for serving our industry, Tim. You have truly been a game-changer for us and others around the world.
Q: How has NASPO changed since you first started at the organization in 2011?
A: NASPO was formed right after 9/11. The emphasis on securing Identity documents was a very high priority at that time. Priorities have shifted over these 12 years, and our political climate has diluted this effort. As an example, the “Real ID Act” was written and passed in 2004. In 2023, it is still not completely implemented nationwide. NASPO has changed with our political climate, and many younger Americans who have now joined the workforce were very young and have a different perspective on the events of 9/11.
Q: What has been your favorite part of serving on NASPO?
A: Working closely with other experts in the field of document security. Learning about many other security features offered by other organizations and forming new relationships, both business and personal.
Q: What has been the most challenging part of your tenure?
A: As discussed earlier, priorities around security have softened since 2001. This, coupled with COVID-19, could have ended NASPO. Keeping NASPO relevant through the pandemic was my biggest challenge as Chairman.
Q: What has been the most rewarding part of being NASPO chairman?
A: The relationships formed through our work. In business, I can call on many different experts to assist in solving problems for our customers. Personally, I have formed very close relationships.
Q: You were part of committees that helped develop new standards. Can you talk about those standards and why they’re important?
A: The “ANSI/NASPO Security Management Standard” was completed prior to 2011. That standard was used to make ISO 14298 “Graphic Technology – Management of Security Printing Processes.” NASPO audits to both. Many government bids to print high-security documents require certification of one or the other.
The “ANSI/NASPO Minimum Security Requirements for Secure Documents Standard” was the first standard I was involved with as an expert. It is a guidance standard completed in 2014 and is used by many in the industry when designing a new document to gauge the efficacy of adding various security features.
The “ANSI/NASPO Identity Proofing and Verification Standard” was an 8-year endeavor by NASPO to create a standard for organizations who provide identity documents such as Passports and Driver’s Licenses, a process by which they can properly verify the identity of that person prior to issuance. This standard was used verbatim by NIST (National Institute of Science and Technology) to create their standard NIST – 800-53. This NIST Standard has been adopted by most states in the US for the issuance of “Real ID Driver’s Licenses.”
The “ANSI/NASPO Minimum Security Requirements for United States Birth Certification Documents” addresses the fact that the US currently has approximately 10,000 different designs of birth certificates that are valid in circulation. I was on the panel of experts involved with the development of this standard as well. NASPO is currently working closely with NAPHSIS (National Association for Public Health Statistics and Information Systems), a non-profit organization that pulls together vital records issuance organizations from 57 different jurisdictions nationwide. Through this organization, NASPO is looking to increase awareness of the need to increase the security around this breeder document. The birth certificate is often referred to as a breeder document because it is often used to acquire all other identity documents (Real ID Driver’s Licenses as well as passports).
Q: What challenges and opportunities will the industry face over the next 5 years?
A: The biggest challenge will be to reprioritize the need for security in the USA before another 9/11 forces us to.
Q: What advice would you give the current NASPO chairman?
A: Don’t give up.
