Former Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis agreed to join ROC’s Board of Directors, bringing decades of leadership in public safety and policing innovation. Davis will help guide ROC as we shape the future of Vision AI — advancing technologies that protect communities, safeguard nations, and strengthen the systems that keep our world secure.
ROC Announces Board Appointment
ROC today announced the appointment of Edward F. Davis III, former Boston Police Commissioner who guided the city through the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing response, to its Board of Directors. Commissioner Davis brings more than 35 years of frontline leadership in law enforcement, crisis management, and public safety innovation.
As Boston’s 40th Police Commissioner, Davis’s tenure was defined by steady leadership during one of the most consequential domestic terrorism events in recent U.S. history. The response set a modern benchmark for inter-agency collaboration, uniting federal, state, and local agencies under intense global scrutiny. His balance of command and public trust reshaped how major cities approach preparedness and joint response.
| In a dual role as Independent Board Director and Chair of ROC’s Audit Committee, Davis will provide strategic guidance and oversight as ROC expands its AI-powered biometrics, video analytics, and decision intelligence platform to serve defense, law enforcement, and commercial partners worldwide. |
A Continuity of Mission
The connection between Davis and ROC’s leadership is rooted in a shared history. While serving at the FBI, ROC CEO B. Scott Swann led a major after-action study of video analytics following the Boston Marathon bombing — the very event where Davis’s leadership was tested on the ground. That study exposed critical gaps in the FBI’s enterprise-wide video capabilities, and two of ROC’s founders, Brendan Klare and Josh Klontz, supported Swann during the effort as contractors at Noblis and MITRE.
Today, Swann, Klare, and Klontz lead ROC, whose tactical video analytics and decision intelligence platform directly addresses many of the challenges identified in the aftermath of Boston. Adding to this sense of continuity, ROC Senior Advisor Sam Cava, former head of the FBI’s Multimedia Exploitation Unit (MXU), was instrumental in maturing the Bureau’s video and digital evidence capabilities after the study. Many of Cava’s former MXU team members are now part of ROC, further tying ROC’s mission to the lessons learned from those pivotal events.
Perspectives Grounded in Experience
Davis’s voice carries weight because it comes from decades of leading through crisis and innovation in policing.
“I’m honored to join the ROC board at a time when technology is reshaping how law enforcement, intelligence, and security organizations operate. I have watched ROC evolve from its roots in mission-driven research to a mature platform company. The convergence of video analytics, biometrics, and real-time intelligence is exactly where agencies need to go. I look forward to helping guide ROC as it grows and supports public safety and national security agencies across the country.”
– Ed Davis, Board Member, ROC
“After an extensive search, we are privileged to welcome Commissioner Ed Davis to ROC’s Board. His leadership during one of the most consequential law enforcement events in U.S. history — the Boston Marathon bombing — gives him a unique vantage point on what real agencies need. ROC was founded and built by people who lived these missions firsthand, and Ed’s counsel will sharpen our focus as we scale our Vision AI platform to ever higher levels of impact.”
– B. Scott Swann, CEO of ROC
Leadership That Reinforces Momentum
Davis joins ROC at a pivotal time, as we continue to earn recognition for world-class performance in independent global evaluations:
NIST Face Recognition Technology Evaluation (FRTE)
ROC earned the #1 U.S. ranking, reinforcing its leadership in face recognition — powering rapid identity verification at borders, secure facilities, and public safety operations where split-second accuracy is mission critical.
NIST Evaluation of Latent Fingerprint Technologies (ELFT)
ROC achieved industry-best forensic-grade accuracy and the fastest search speeds of any vendor. This enables investigators to unlock cold cases, widen search parameters, and generate faster leads in high-sensitivity criminal and counterterrorism investigations.
These results reflect our commitment to advancing sovereign, American-made Vision AI technologies that meet the highest standards of accuracy, efficiency, and operational readiness.
The Big Picture: From Lessons Learned to Future Impact
The addition of Commissioner Davis strengthens ROC’s Board with unparalleled law enforcement and crisis leadership experience. His insights, tested in the most high-stakes environments, will help ROC stay laser-focused on building real-world Vision AI solutions for agencies, operators, and communities alike.
As ROC continues to grow, we remain anchored to the lessons of the past while building for the missions of tomorrow. With leaders like Ed Davis guiding us, ROC is positioned to push Vision AI to new levels of excellence and impact.
About Ed Davis
- Led the Boston Police Department as its 40th Commissioner (2006–2013), overseeing the response, investigation, and manhunt following the Boston Marathon bombing.
- Pioneered community policing strategies as Superintendent of the Lowell, MA Police Department (1995–2006), credited with major reductions in crime.
- Founder and CEO of The Edward Davis Company, advising government and private sector clients on security, risk management, and crisis response.
- A leading national voice on homeland security and policing, serving as a frequent analyst and Congressional witness on terrorism and public safety.
About ROC
ROC is a U.S. leader in Vision AI, building sovereign biometric, video analytics, and digital evidence solutions. ROC’s platform unifies identity and intelligence into a single ecosystem — providing faster, more accurate, and cost-efficient technology trusted by defense, law enforcement, and enterprise partners worldwide.