With the number of explosive devices and suspicious packages on the rise, responders and bomb technicians look for innovative ways to assess threats. The Science and Technology Directorate’s (S&T) robotic app store allows for 3-D printed robots to be assembled on-site, providing bomb squads a way to assess threats without putting technicians and passer-by at risk. The First Responders Group used advanced materials to develop a lightweight, versatile structure glove for firefighters that increases their dexterity for precision tasks. S&T’s Cyber Security Division developed a secure testbed for researchers to find ways to combat malware, increasing the nation’s cyber resilience.

Mission

Established by Congress in 2003, S&T’s mission is to deliver effective and innovative insight, methods and solutions for the critical needs of the Homeland Security Enterprise.

As DHS’s primary research and development (R&D) arm, S&T manages science and technology research, from development through transition, for the department's operational components and the nation’s first responders. S&T’s engineers, scientists and researchers work closely with industry and academic partners to ensure R&D investments address the high-priority needs of today and the growing demands of the future.

From border security and biological defense to cybersecurity and explosives detection, S&T is at the forefront of integrating R&D across the public and private sectors and the international community. By working directly with responders and component partners across the nation, S&T strives to provide advanced capabilities and analytics to better prevent, respond to and recover from all hazards and homeland security threats.

Focus Areas

S&T works with the broader R&D community to identify and adapt existing R&D investments to meet operator needs and challenges in four general areas:

• S&T creates technological capabilities that address DHS operational and strategic needs or that are necessary to address evolving homeland security threats.
• S&T conducts systems-based analysis to provide streamlined, resource-saving process improvements and efficiencies to existing operations.
• DHS achieves more effective and efficient operations and avoids costly acquisition failures and delays by leveraging S&T’s technical expertise to improve project management, operational analysis and acquisition management.
• S&T’s relationships across DHS and the Homeland Security Enterprise contribute to the strategic understanding of existing and emerging threats and recognition of opportunities for collaboration across departmental, interagency, state and local and international boundaries.

Partnerships across the diverse R&D landscape—federal, state, local, tribal and territorial agencies; private industry; and academia—are the foundation for S&T’s successful technology foraging efforts and adaptation of existing R&D investments to homeland security mission needs. S&T’s understanding of the ever-changing threat environment and our relationships with the men and women who combat those threats every day make the organization an effective catalyst for improving the security and resilience of our nation.