25 Years Later: Remembering 9/11 and Looking Ahead to a Secure Future 

As we observe and reflect upon the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, the Security Industry Association (SIA) honors the approximately 3,000 individuals who lost their lives during or in the aftermath: the office workers of the World Trade Center; the U.S. Department of Defense personal; the passengers and the crew aboard the four aircraft, including the heroes of Flight 93, whose brave fight prevented an attack on our nation’s capital; the selfless first responders who put the safety of others ahead of their own; and the family we lost and miss every day. The attacks struck so many of us at a personal level. My family lost friends in New York City on 9/11. One of my good friends lost his brother, and a longtime friend lost a hero—her brother, a brave NYC firefighter. 

We also take this opportunity to remember and show our respect for the brave U.S. service members and their sacrifices. Without a doubt, the courage these heroes demonstrated in the wake of 9/11 has made us safer as a nation. The security industry is fortunate enough to have many veterans working among us. Their skills, experience and dedication inspire and strengthen us all. 

Finally, we’d like to highlight the security industry’s key role among stakeholders as we work together as a nation to address and guard against the threat of terrorism as it continues to evolve. On Aug. 31, 2026, the U.S. House Intelligence Committee released a bipartisan review of the 9/11 Commission Report, which reflected on the recommendations made by the Commission in 2004 regarding steps that must be taken to prevent America from falling victim to radical terrorism again. While significant progress has been made since 9/11, 25 years later there are still important initiatives that must be completed to fully implement them. In the review, Congress identified 20 different areas needing further action.  

A key recommendation reiterated that the U.S. must complete its implementation of the biometric entry-exit system for foreign nationals traveling in and out of the country. SIA member companies have been at the forefront of technological advancements that now allow extremely fast and accurate collection and comparison of biometric data at U.S. borders and ports of entry that can help make this possible. The review also discusses how the threat landscape has evolved to include threats posed by the hostile use of drones, which is something SIA’s Drone Security Subcommittee has been working with policymakers over the last two years to address. Another recommendation highlights the growing importance of capabilities to analyze open-source intelligence (OSINT) and the current underutilization of such capabilities by the intelligence community in particular. A number of SIA members continue to play a key role in developing and providing advanced OSINT capabilities.   

As we reflect on one of the darkest days in our nation’s history, and the loss and heartbreak that have echoed through the last quarter century, let us remember those who gave their lives, and let us remember our shared duty. We are a mission-driven community of security experts, practitioner leaders, government specialists, technology developers, integrators and consultants, and it is our responsibility to do our best to make the world a safer place. Thank you for your demonstrated commitment to that mission.