Smart-card group forms Physical Access Council

The Smart Card Alliance, composed of government and industry leaders, is forming a new organization focused on physical access control, officials of the alliance said.

The Physical Access Council will focus on topics important to the physical access industry and speed smart-card adoption in the market, said Randy Vanderhoof, executive director of the alliance.

The Physical Access Council is managed by a combined government and industry steering committee. Bob Merkert of SCM Microsystems Inc. of Fremont, Calif., is chairman, and Dwayne Pfeiffer of Northrop Grumman Corp. of Los Angeles is vice chairman. Steve Rogers of Integrated Engineering of Amsterdam is secretary.

"This council allows those with similar interests in physical access control to work together in an open forum under the guidance and support of the Smart Card Alliance," Merkert said.