Turning Legacy Systems Smart: Inside TIS3’s Groundbreaking Federal IoT Project

In an era where data drives decisions and connectivity is everything, TIS3 (Taylor Integrated Systems 3) is turning the impossible into reality. Founded in 2016 by Richard Taylor and Curtis Taylor Jr., this 8 (a) certified service-disabled veteran-owned small business has carved a niche at the intersection of innovation and national security.  

Specializing in enterprise IT services and program management for federal agencies, TIS3 transforms fragmented, outdated systems into smart, connected networks, giving agencies like US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) the tools to make faster, safer, and more informed decisions. With a bold vision and technical expertise, TIS3 is redefining how government organizations operate. 

When the U.S. government put out a call to industry for solutions to its mounting legacy hardware challenge, few companies were positioned to respond. Federal agencies had accumulated generations of disconnected equipment, from generators to surveillance towers, that operated in silos. The majority of devices in the field could not be monitored in real time, leaving critical assets vulnerable and invisible. But for TIS3, this was the breakthrough moment. 

The request came through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, a congressional initiative designed to fund rapid technology deployment. As Curtis Taylor explains, “It’s typically difficult for new companies to get government work because the first question they ask is, ‘What have you done, and where have you done it?’ Without past performance, you have to bring something that stands out.” SBIR provided the opening: a merit-based pathway from concept to commercialization. 

In Phase One, TIS3 submitted a white paper that outlined how they could use Internet of Things (IoT) technology to retrofit disconnected equipment, giving legacy systems the same kind of monitoring that consumers expect when checking a refrigerator temperature from their phone.  

The U.S. Air Force awarded the team $50,000 to develop the concept further. “That initial win wasn’t about money,” says Richard Taylor. “It was about proving our idea had merit, and that it could solve a problem the government had struggled with for decades.” 

Phase Two marked the turning point. With a $1.5 million grant, TIS3 built a working prototype: a sensor package paired with a proprietary gateway, a compact device that functions like a mini satellite, feeding data securely into the cloud. The system could be deployed in remote, disconnected locations, collect data at the edge, and return it in digestible formats while meeting zero-trust security standards. The duo recalls how Customs and Border Protection (CBP) applied it to remote towers. 

The results were immediate. Agencies could monitor fuel levels, power outages, and system integrity in real time. For field operators, it meant faster responses, improved safety, and greater operational efficiency. “We needed to create a device that could bridge the old and the new, securely and reliably,” Curtis Taylor explains. “What we delivered was a system that made legacy hardware smarter and agencies more effective.” 

Advancing beyond SBIR’s research phases is no easy feat, but TIS3’s solution was different, moving into Phase Three, commercialization, a step requiring agencies to fund deployments directly from their own budgets. CBP adopted the technology, confirming its value by purchasing units for operational use. “There aren’t many companies that make it to Phase Three,” Richard Taylor notes. “Your product has to be so effective that it displaces something already in use. That’s the level we achieved.”  

The technology, known as the TIS3 Edge Device Module (EDM) and affectionately nicknamed the “Colonel” after the company’s late founder, is now being deployed across the Department of Homeland Security. Its architecture, sensor, gateway, and IoT platform have been demonstrated in various settings, integrated into DHS networks, and adapted for diverse field conditions. Its flexibility to connect any legacy system into a secure, end-to-end IoT ecosystem is its defining strength. 

“No project on this scale can be done in a silo. We had to pull together the best of the best, from our solutions architect, Dr. Richard Goodwin, to each and every member of the team. We pulled together and created something truly special that resonated with our customers' pain points,” adds Curtis Taylor. 

TIS3’s journey in spearheading the project began with a simple white paper that today has become a transformative tool for government agencies, bridging decades of technological gaps and improving the nation’s security posture. The TIS3 IoT system is proof that with vision, expertise, perseverance, and American ingenuity, even the most entrenched challenges can be solved.