About the Book
The world's longest border is also one of its most complex frontiers.
Stretching more than 5,500 miles across forests, rivers, lakes, and remote towns, the U.S.-Canada border is often called "undefended." Yet as this book reveals, it is anything but unguarded - and its security has never been more strategically important.
From the narcotics routes of the St. Lawrence Valley to the cyber vulnerabilities of customs systems, from Arctic sovereignty patrols to the tragedy of climate-driven migration, the northern border is a theater where history, geography, and geopolitics collide. Organized crime, terrorism plots, blockades, pandemics, wildfires, and disinformation campaigns all find their way into the daily fabric of enforcement and resilience.
Drawing on case studies as vivid as the 1999 Millennium Plot, the 2022 Ambassador Bridge blockade, and the 2025 Akwesasne human smuggling tragedy, this book demonstrates that the northern frontier is not a quiet backwater but a strategic crossroads. It is where national security meets community trust, where technology meets civil liberties, and where sovereignty is shared not only between nations but also with Indigenous peoples whose homelands long predate the line.
Written in a rigorous yet accessible style, this work combines policy analysis with narrative depth, making it both a scholarly contribution and a strategic briefing. Each chapter blends historical insight with contemporary threats and forward-looking scenarios, culminating in a roadmap for resilience to 2035 and beyond.
This is not a call for militarization. Instead, it is a vision of a border that is:
Resilient against shocks - natural or man-made,
Integrated across U.S., Canadian, and Indigenous partnerships, and
Legitimate, grounded in ethics, rights, and community trust.
For policymakers, security professionals, scholars, and engaged citizens, this book offers an unprecedented exploration of a frontier that will shape the future of North American security, prosperity, and liberty. Author Bio
Wayne J. Gombar is an author, researcher, and practitioner with a career spanning defense, security, and strategic analysis. His work in both CONUS and OCONUS environments has shaped his understanding of the intersection between national security, technology, and governance.
As a writer, Wayne's portfolio is remarkably diverse. He has produced in-depth academic studies on geopolitics, intelligence history, incarceration policy, and education reform, while also authoring works of fiction, satire, and cultural commentary. His scholarship draws on historical case studies, contemporary security practice, and forward-looking scenario analysis, reflecting his commitment to bridging scholarly rigor with real-world application.
In Northern Border Security, Wayne turns his attention to one of the world's most overlooked but strategically vital frontiers: the U.S.-Canada border. He situates the northern border in its broader historical, economic, and geopolitical context, highlighting not only traditional concerns such as terrorism, smuggling, and organized crime, but also emerging challenges including cyber threats, pandemics, climate change, and Indigenous sovereignty. The book blends policy analysis with narrative storytelling, drawing on vivid case studies to make complex security issues accessible to scholars, policymakers, and general readers alike.
Wayne lives with his family in the United States, where he continues to write, research, and consult on projects at the nexus of defense, security, and public policy. His work reflects a deep belief in the importance of resilience, trust, and cooperation as the true foundations of security in the 21st century.
