Science & Technology Directorate Human Factors/Behavioral Sciences Division

Mission

We will advance national security by developing and applying the social, behavioral, and physical sciences to improve identification and analysis of threats, to enhance societal resilience, and to integrate human capabilities into the development of technology.

Objectives

• Enhance the analytical capability of the Department to understand terrorist motivation, intent, and behavior  
• Improve screening by providing a science-based capability to identify unknown threats indicated by deceptive and suspicious behavior.
• Improve screening by providing a science-based capability to identify known threats through accurate, timely, and easy-to-use biometric identification and credentialing tools.
• Enhance safety, effectiveness, and usability of technology by systematically incorporating user and public input.
• Enhance preparedness and mitigate impacts of catastrophic events by delivering capabilities that incorporate social, psychological and economic aspects of societal resilience.

Leadership

Dr. Sharla Rausch is the Director for the Human Factors/Behavioral Sciences Division (HFD) within the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate.

Organization

The division strives to identify and generate the best technologies for assisting our operational customers in the areas of Personal Identification Systems, Human Technology Integration, and Social and Behavioral Threat Analysis. The primary federal customers for the division include Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Office of Intelligence and Analysis (OIA) and U.S. Secret Service (USSS). End users also include federal, state, and local emergency management officials, first reponders, and private sector infrastructure owners and operators.

The Human Factors/Behavioral Sciences Division is comprised of three Thrust areas:

• Personal Identification Systems
• Human Technology Integration
• Social and Behavioral Threat Analysis (SBTA) Thrust Area

Personal Identification Systems Thrust Area

This thrust area focuses on biometrics-based Research and Development to develop an accurate, contactless, near real-time capability to identify known threats at U.S. checkpoints while speeding the unconstrained movement of legitimate travelers. The Biometrics program develops biometrics-based technologies to identify known terrorists and criminals and prevent their movement into and out of the U.S. through effective, interoperable multi-biometrics capabilities in diverse areas, such as border crossings, ports-of-entry, and visa application sites. The Credentialing program develops and demonstrates tamper-proof credentialing systems incorporating multi-modal biometric information that can be used across the entire Department customer base.

Human Technology Integration Thrust Area

This thrust area integrates human factors into the development and use of homeland security technologies with the goal of achieving high levels of system effectiveness, safety, and acceptance. HFD conducts fundamental research designed to maximize human performance and feed the development of technologies for enhanced human performance. HFD also works with other divisions in S&T to ensure that human factors are appropriately integrated into the development and use of technologies. The Human Factors/Behavioral Sciences Division directly manages programs or, in some cases, the relevant portions of programs that are funded by other divisions by providing guidance and tools related to human systems integration.

Social and Behavioral Threat Analysis (SBTA) Thrust Area

This thrust area applies the social and behavioral sciences to improve the detection, analysis, and understanding of threats posed by individuals, groups, and radical movements. It also addresses the psychological, social, and economic impacts of catastrophic events to enhance risk analyses, risk communications, preparedness, response, resiliency, and recovery efforts. Programs within SBTA include motivation and intent; suspicious behavior detection; and community preparedness and resilience.