Architect of the Department of Defense ABIS and the FBI’s National Security Biometrics Systems Sharpens ROC’s Push for Federal Biometric Innovation
ROC, the leading American-made multimodal biometrics and computer vision provider has tapped Sam Cava as Strategic Advisor to guide the company’s rapid expansion into Federal, State, and Local security programs.
With CEO B. Scott Swann, who led development of the FBI’s Next Generation Identification (NGI), and now Sam Cava, the architect of DoD ABIS and the FBI’s National Security biometric systems, ROC further solidifies its leadership credentials in U.S. government biometrics.
A West Virginia native and former U.S. Air Force officer, Cava brings over 30 years of experience building and deploying biometric enterprise initiatives for high-assurance government agencies inside the FBI, DoD, and Intel Community (IC). This includes:
- Building and operating the DoD ABIS, the U.S. military’s authoritative biometric repository and identification system for enemy combatants.
- Rapid prototyping and fielding of the DoD BISA (Biometric Identification System for Access) to secure U.S. military personnel and facilities in Iraq and Afghanistan.
- Designing and deploying biometrics systems that put mission-critical tools in the hands of special agents, warfighters, and intelligence operatives.
- Negotiating the exchange of biometrics on critical known and suspected terrorists with U.S. allies and partners.
Making the World Smarter, Safer, and Stronger
Cava’s primary focus will be to lead ROC’s expansion into federal biometrics and National Security programs. His proven track record of developing and fielding biometric systems across interagency domains will accelerate the company’s capabilities to deliver classified services and expanded ABIS capabilities to USG and allied partners. Leveraging on that experience, Cava is working with State officials in the fielding of smart cities in several West Virginia counties and will lead ROC’s growing footprint in Morgantown, WV.
“Sam’s experience and leadership in the federal biometrics field is unparalleled. He has an exceptional ability to assemble and lead some of the most talented people who then turn around and deliver innovations that actually work in tactical environments. I’m excited that Sam will be a key player as we begin rolling out ROC ABIS with disruptive capabilities such as the world’s fastest latent fingerprint matcher. ROC ABIS delivers innovation that our law enforcement partners have been demanding. Watch this space.”
– B. Scott Swann, CEO of ROC
Cava previously served as Director of the DoD Biometrics Fusion Center, where he led the development of the DoD’s Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) and its deployment across defense and intelligence missions. His expertise spans multimodal biometrics, facial recognition, iris recognition, and fingerprint matching, with a focus on delivering operationally effective solutions.
Most recently, as Unit Chief of the FBI’s Multimedia Exploitation Unit, Cava was responsible for developing, managing, and operating all classified biometric capabilities for the FBI. He was also the system owner of the Digital Content Analysis Platform (DCAP), the FBI’s largest cloud-based digital evidence environment. Utilizing DCAP and leading a team of investigative personnel, Cava provided direct operational support for numerous high-profile cases, such as the Las Vegas mass shooting, Jan 6 investigation, Uvalde school shooting, and Pittsburgh synagogue attack.
“I am honored to join ROC, a company that shares my passion for building intelligence solutions that protect Americans and our way of life. The work here is driven by a culture of innovative thinking, ethics, and scientific rigor. No doubt, ROC is strategically positioned to offer transformative capabilities to government agencies around the world in support of their most critical national security missions.”
– Sam Cava, Strategic Advisor, ROC
ROC Vision AI: American Made, Globally Trusted
ROC is the only American-made multimodal biometrics and computer vision provider, trusted by the U.S. military, law enforcement, and leading global FinTech brands. Securing more than 200M identity proofing transactions each year, ROC’s fully multimodal solutions deliver gamechanging results with NIST-ranked and battle-tested reliability. ROC is employee-owned, ethics-driven, and proudly made in America. The company is headquartered in Denver, CO, with centers of excellence in Morgantown, WV, and Grand Rapids, MI.
Face recognition | Fingerprint recognition | Iris recognition | AI video analytics & threat detection | Vehicle & license plate recognition