Science and Technology Directorate Infrastructure and Geophysical Division

Mission

The Science and Technology Directorate Infrastructure and Geophysical Division’s (IGD) mission is to improve and increase the nation’s preparedness for and response to natural and man-made threats through superior situational awareness, emergency response capabilities, and critical infrastructure protection. 

Objectives

IGD develops technical solutions, modeling and simulation tool and reach back capabilities to improve federal, state, local, tribal, and private sector preparedness for and response to all-hazards events impacting the U.S. population and critical infrastructure. The division also concentrates on developing improved preparedness and response capabilities to protect the nation’s emergency responders in the field.

In addition, IGD developed capabilities can determine how various scenarios will affect critical infrastructure sectors, they provide decision support tools to guide decision makers in identifying gaps and vulnerabilities, and they develop predictive tools and methods to aid in preparing for and responding to various catastrophes. 

Leadership

Christopher Doyle is the Director for the IGD within the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate.

Organization

The IGD's primary federal customers are the Department's National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD), specifically the Office of Infrastructure Protection (IP), and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).  These agencies represent end-users including first responders; federal, state, and local emergency managers; and critical infrastructure owners and operators. 

There are three major thrust areas within IGD:

• Critical Infrastructure Protection
• Preparedness and Response
• Geophysical

Critical Infrastructure Protection Thrust Area

This thrust area focuses on the 18 critical infrastructures key resources (CIKR) sectors identified in the National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP). This thrust area addresses the requirements of the Office of Infrastructure Protection and supports Homeland Security Presidential Directive 7 (HSPD-7), Critical Infrastructure Identification, Prioritization, and Protection. Critical Infrastructure Protection provides the overarching approach for integrating the nation’s many CIKR protection initiatives into a single, national effort.  The CIKR sectors are:

	Agriculture and Food		Banking and Finance		Chemical
	Commercial Facilities		Communications		Critical Manufacturing
	Dams		Defense Industrial Base		Emergency Services
	Energy		Government Facilities		Healthcare and Public Health
	Information Technology		National Monuments and Icons		Nuclear Reactors, Materials and Waste
	Postal and Shipping		Transportation Systems		Water

Preparedness and Response (P&R) Thrust Area

This thrust area develops and deploys capabilities that improve the ability of the nation to prepare for, respond to, and recover from all-hazards emergencies. P&R applies the best available science and technology to the safety and security of our emergency responders and homeland security professionals so that they can effectively and efficiently perform their jobs – saving lives, minimizing damage and restoring critical services. All programs will be compliant with National Incident Management System (NIMS), National Response Framework (NRF), and in accordance with all Homeland Security Presidential Directives that enable all government, private-sectors, and nongovernmental organizations to work together during domestic incidents of all sizes.

Geophysical Thrust Area

This thrust area develops technologies and systems to address the geophysical concerns of the nation, for example, hurricanes, flooding and earthquakes.  The thrust area includes the Southeast Regional Research Initiative (SERRI) program.