Directorate for Science and Technology

The Directorate for Science and Technology (S&T Directorate) is the primary research and development arm of DHS.

Mission and Objectives

The S&T Directorate, in partnership with the private sector, national laboratories, universities, and other government agencies (domestic and foreign), helps push the innovation envelope and drive development and the use of high technology in support of homeland security.

The Directorate is focusing on enabling its customers—the DHS components—and their customers, including Border Patrol agents, Coast Guardsmen, airport baggage screeners, Federal Air Marshals, and state, local, and Federal emergency responders, as well as the many others teamed and committed to the vital mission of securing the Nation.

To reach its goals, the S&T Directorate is:

* Creating a customer-focused, output-oriented, full-service science and technology management organization that is consistent with its enabling legislation
* Incorporating lessons learned since the start-up of DHS to sharpen its focus on executing mission-oriented programs
* Providing leadership and resources to develop the intellectual basis that is essential to future mission success

Organization

The Directorate is led by Under Secretary Jay M. Cohen, with six primary divisions that address critical homeland security needs—spanning basic research through advanced technology development and transition.

Leadership

* Under Secretary for Science and Technology, Jay M. Cohen

Divisions

* Borders and Maritime Security Division - Controlling our land and sea borders

The Borders and Maritime Security Division develops, evaluates, and demonstrates technologies and tools for better securing our land and maritime ports of entry. We are pilot-testing surveillance and monitoring capabilities to cover vast expanses of remote border and developing and testing security devices and inspection methods to secure the large volume of cargo entering U.S. ports daily.
We work with the Federal Aviation Administration and Federal Railroad Administration to develop and test identity verification tools, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), unattended surveillance systems, and cargo security and inspection devices to achieve operational control of our borders and ports while allowing the flow of legitimate travel and commerce.

* Chemical and Biological Division - Defending against germs and poisons

Throughout history, pathogenic organisms and toxins have posed threats to human health, agriculture, and the food supply. Chemical warfare agents also present terrorists with the potential for inflicting mass casualties on an unsuspecting public.
Our Chemical and Biological Division is conducting analyses to characterize and prioritize threats. It develops detection systems to provide early warning of a possible attack so as to minimize exposure and speed treatment of victims, conducts forensic analyses to support attribution, and works with our Federal partners who have lead responsibilities in decontamination and restoration, agrodefense, and food security.

* Command, Control and Interoperability Division - Know and counter threats through effective communication

The Command, Control and Interoperability Division focuses on operable and interoperable communications for emergency responders, security and integrity of the Internet, and development of automated capabilities that “connect the dots” to recognize potential threats.
The Command, Control and Interoperability Division is supporting our partners in Federal, State, local, and tribal emergency response; DHS operational components charged with predicting, detecting, and responding to all hazards; and our private sector partners (with the DHS S&T Infrastructure and Geophysical Divsion) who own, operate, maintain, and utilize much of the Nation’s cyber infrastructure.

* Explosives Division - Stopping the things that go “bang”

Explosives and other energetic materials are the weapons of choice for terrorists plotting to disrupt civil society and create mass casualties. Our Explosives Division focuses on the detection, mitigation, and response to explosives such as improvised explosive devices and suicide bombers.
S&T coordinates with Federal partners that include the Departments of Defense and Justice as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation in supporting our primary customer, the Transportation Security Administration.
A broad range of existing and emerging approaches to detect and lessen the impact of explosive materials is being employed, from baggage-screening devices to those that can identify explosives residue.

* Human Factors Division - Know our enemies, understand ourselves; put the human in the equation

Terrorists do not think like we do. We need to understand what motivates them and how such ideology can take root among both privileged and poor, the educated and the illiterate. Similarly, to respond better, we must understand fully why certain events trigger social disruption but others do not, and we need to know how humans best interact with technology to accomplish their missions.
S&T’s Human Factors Division applies the social and behavioural sciences to improve detection, analysis, and understanding of threats posed by individuals, groups, and radical movements; to support the preparedness, response, and recovery of communities impacted by catastrophic events; and to advance national security by integrating human factors into homeland security technologies.

* Infrastructure and Geophysical Division - Preventing rubble from manmade and natural threats

The Infrastructure and Geophysical Division focuses on identifying and mitigating the vulnerabilities of the 17 critical infrastructure and key assets that keep our society and economy functioning.
We model and simulate the Nation’s critical infrastructures to determine how various scenarios will affect each sector, provide decision support tools to guide decision makers in identifying gaps and vulnerabilities, and develop predictive tools and methods to aid in preparing for and responding to various catastrophes.

Programs:

* Homeland Security Centers of Excellence bring together leading experts and researchers to conduct multidisciplinary research and education for homeland security solutions

* Homeland Security Institute is the Department's first government "think tank" or Federally Funded Research and Development Center

* Innovation oversees the Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency (HSARPA), focusing on homeland security research and development that could lead to significant technology breakthroughs and greatly enhance departmental operations.

* Laboratory Facilities programs are executed through the Office of National Laboratories (ONL). ONL provides a coordinated, enduring core of productive science, technology, and engineering laboratories, organizations, and institutions, which can provide the knowledge and technology required to secure the Nation.

* SAFECOM is the Federal umbrella program designed to foster interoperability among the Nation’s public safety practitioners, so that they may communicate across disciplines and jurisdictions during an emergency

* SAFETY Act provides liability protections that make it feasible for sellers of qualified antiterrorism technologies to introduce homeland security solutions to the marketplace. For more details click here

* TechSolutions provides information, resources, and technology solutions that address mission capability gaps identified by the emergency response community

* Test & Evaluation and Standards program provides technical support and coordination to assist the Nation's emergency responders in the acquisition of equipment, procedures, and mitigation processes that are safe, reliable, and effective.

* University Programs engages the academic community to create learning and research environments in areas critical to homeland security