Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Science and Technology
Encyclopedia
The Science and Technology Directorate is the research and development
arm of the United States Department of Homeland Security
.
for Science and Technology. The current Under Secretary is Tara O'Toole
, who was confirmed on November 4, 2009.
Each of the primary divisions has a different set of missions and goals:
The smaller divisions serve to support the six primary divisions:
The Under Secretary for Homeland Security Science and Technology is also affiliated with externally-administered programs:
Research facilities include:
The National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility
is proposed to replace Plum Island in 2014.
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
Homeland Open Security Technology
(HOST) is a five-year, $10 million program to promote the creation and use of open security
and open-source software
in the United States government and military. In October 2011, the directorate won the Open Source for America
2011 Government Deployment Open Source Award for the program.
Research and development
The phrase research and development , according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, refers to "creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of man, culture and society, and the use of this stock of...
arm of the United States Department of Homeland Security
United States Department of Homeland Security
The United States Department of Homeland Security is a cabinet department of the United States federal government, created in response to the September 11 attacks, and with the primary responsibilities of protecting the territory of the United States and protectorates from and responding to...
.
Leadership
The Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is led by the Under SecretaryUnder Secretary
-In the United Kingdom:*Under-secretary*Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State*Under-Secretary of State for India*Under-Secretary of State for Scotland*Under-Secretary for Ireland*Under-Secretary of State for War and the Colonies*Under-Secretary of State for War...
for Science and Technology. The current Under Secretary is Tara O'Toole
Tara O'Toole
Tara O’Toole is the Under Secretary of the Science and Technology Directorate of the Department of Homeland Security.-Background:Prior to her confirmation as Under Secretary , O’Toole founded, and served as chief executive officer and director of, the Center for Biosecurity at the University of...
, who was confirmed on November 4, 2009.
Organization
The S&T Under Secretary oversees the activities of six primary divisions: the Explosives Division; the Chemical and Biological Division; the Command, Control, and Interoperability Division; the Human Factors Division; and the Infrastructure and Geophysical Division. The Office of the Under Secretary also includes the three cross-cutting divisions of Research, Innovation/HSARPA (Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency), and Transition. A number of small offices within S&T include Strategy, Policy, and Budget; Corporate Communications; Associate General Council; Operations Analysis; Interagency Programs; International Programs; Special Programs; Test & Evaluation and Standards; and Business Operations, Services & Human Capital.Each of the primary divisions has a different set of missions and goals:
- The Border and Maritime Security DivisionDHS Science and Technology Border and Maritime Security DivisionThe Borders and Maritime Security Division is a division within the United States Department of Homeland Security that "develops and transitions tools and technologies that improve the security of our nation's borders and waterways, without impeding the flow of commerce and travelers".The division...
develops and transitions tools and technologies that improve the security of the United States' borders and waterways, without impeding the flow of commerce and travelers.
- The Chemical and Biological DivisionDHS Science and Technology Chemical and Biological DivisionThe Chemical and Biological Division of Homeland Security Science and Technology is a division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, organized within the Department's Science and Technology Directorate...
works to increase the United States' preparedness against chemical and biological threats through improved threat awareness, advanced surveillance and detection, and protective countermeasures.
- The Command, Control, and Interoperability DivisionDHS Science and Technology Command, Control, and Interoperability DivisionAccording to the DHS S&T website, the Command, Control, and Interoperability Division of Homeland Security Science and Technology "develops interoperable communication standards and protocols for emergency responders, cyber security tools for protecting the integrity of the Internet, and automated...
develops interoperable communication standards and protocols for emergency responders, cyber security tools for protecting the integrity of the Internet, and automated capabilities to recognize and analyze potential threats.
- The Explosives DivisionDHS Science and Technology Explosives DivisionThe Explosives Division of Homeland Security Science and Technology is a division of the United States Department of Homeland Security. It is responsible for the development of technologies needed to detect, interdict, and lessen the "develops the technical capabilities to detect, interdict, and...
develops the technical capabilities to detect, interdict, and lessen the impacts of non-nuclear explosives used in terrorist attacks against mass transit, civil aviation, and critical infrastructure.
- The Human Factors DivisionDHS Science and Technology Human Factors DivisionAccording to the DHS S&T website, the Human Factors Division of Homeland Security Science and Technology "applies the social and behavioral sciences to improve detection, analysis, and understanding and response to homeland security threats."...
applies the social and behavioral sciences to improve detection, analysis, and understanding and response to homeland security threats.
- The Infrastructure and Geophysical DivisionDHS Science and Technology Infrastructure/Geophysical DivisionAccording to the Department of Homeland Security website, the Infrastructure and Geophysical Division of Homeland Security Science and Technology "focuses on identifying and mitigating the vulnerabilities of the 17 critical infrastructure and key assets that keep our society and economy...
focuses on identifying and mitigating the vulnerabilities of the 17 critical infrastructure and key assets that keep the United States' society and economy functioning.
The smaller divisions serve to support the six primary divisions:
- The Test and Evaluation and Standards Division works to ensure independent objective testing of technology developments by the six Divisions and across DHS. Additionally, this Office oversees standards development for the effective operation and interoperability of technology, as well as providing 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.
- The Office of Special Programs coordinates highly classified projects executed by the six Divisions.
- The Office of Operations Analysis supports risk analysis and manages the Homeland Security Institute studies and analysis efforts which helps form the Department of Homeland Security's basis for risk informed decision making.
- The Interagency and International Programs Divisions facilitate government-wide science and technology coordination and provide outreach to U.S. allies.
- The University Programs Division engages the academic community to create learning and research environments in areas critical to homeland security.
- Office of National Laboratories (ONL) liaises with the Department of Energy's National Labs.
- TechSolutions is a rapid-prototyping office that provides information, resources, and technology solutions that address mission capability gaps identified by the emergency response community.
The Under Secretary for Homeland Security Science and Technology is also affiliated with externally-administered 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
Research facilities include:
- National Urban Security Technology LaboratoryNational Urban Security Technology LaboratoryNational Urban Security Technology Laboratory is a United States government-owned, government-operated laboratory, part of the Department of Homeland Security Science & Technology Directorate....
- Plum Island Animal Disease CenterPlum Island Animal Disease CenterPlum Island Animal Disease Center is a United States federal research facility dedicated to the study of animal diseases. It is part of the DHS Directorate for Science and Technology....
- National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures CenterNational Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures CenterThe National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center is a government biodefense research laboratory created by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and located at the sprawling biodefense campus at Fort Detrick in Frederick, MD, USA. Created quietly a few months after the 2001 anthrax...
The National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility
National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility
The National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility is a planned United States government-run research facility that will replace the 1950s-era Plum Island Animal Disease Center in New York, which is "nearing the end of its lifecycle and is too small to meet the nation’s research needs." The NBAF will be...
is proposed to replace Plum Island in 2014.
Initiatives and Programs
The Under Secretary for Homeland Security Science and Technology currently administers a number of publicly-available programs to promote independent development of homeland security technologies.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
Homeland Open Security Technology
Homeland Open Security Technology
Homeland Open Security Technology is a five-year, $10 million program by the Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate to promote the creation and use of open security and open-source software in the United States government and military, especially in areas pertaining...
(HOST) is a five-year, $10 million program to promote the creation and use of open security
Open Security
Open security is an initiative to approach application security challenges using open source philosophies and methodologies. Traditional application security is based on the premise that any application or service relies on security through obscurity.On the developer side, legitimate software and...
and open-source software
Open-source software
Open-source software is computer software that is available in source code form: the source code and certain other rights normally reserved for copyright holders are provided under a software license that permits users to study, change, improve and at times also to distribute the software.Open...
in the United States government and military. In October 2011, the directorate won the Open Source for America
Open Source for America
Open Source for America consortium of various organizations established to advocate for and support the use of free and open-source software in the U.S. Federal government. It consists of various open source foundations, and companies, including GNOME, Mozilla, and Canonical. The organization...
2011 Government Deployment Open Source Award for the program.