The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T), which has been recognized with Multi-Platinum Awards in the 2020 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Programs, is working to speed development of solutions for our nations most pressing homeland security challenges with the launch of an entrepreneurship program called Hacking for Homeland Security (H4HS).
S&T identifies, develops, and adapts technologies to meet the most pressing needs of DHS components and first responders, and through innovation, discovery and development of creative ideas, S&T identifies effective, game changing technologies to address homeland security needs.
The H4HS pilot program is a partnership between S&T, BMNT Inc. and its nonprofit arm, the Common Mission Project (CMP), along with DHS components Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and Transportation Security Agency (TSA). Through this network, the pilot aims to support real-world DHS component problems and opportunities.
The program is modeled on Hacking for Defense® (H4D), which is an undergraduate and graduate-level university course taught at more than 50 universities and represents a new platform for national service, teaching teams of university students how to use modern entrepreneurial tools and techniques to solve critical national security and intelligence community problems at start-up speed.
(Learn more about “Hacking for Defense” at Duke University, courses that challenge teams of interdisciplinary students at various stages in their education to engineer solutions – and potentially create a startup company – to address some of the toughest challenges facing the United States Army and Navy. Courtesy of Duke Engineering and YouTube.)
H4HS will provide DHS with the unique capability to drive innovative solutions and identify future interns with applied knowledge to work on DHS mission-relevant topics.
H4HS will add value across the DHS enterprise, for participating university programs, and for students who enroll in the courses, which will complement existing research programs and provide students access to a diverse group of homeland-security-minded technical experts and business mentors – who will work together to develop targeted tools, technologies, and knowledge products for use across the homeland security enterprise.
“The H4HS Program will be an opportunity for S&T and DHS components to test a unique innovation program focused on reframing problems and developing unique solutions,” explained Megan Mahle, S&T’s director of Industry Partnerships.
“This will provide an inventive environment tailored to validate DHS critical problems with minimal investment.”
The first H4HS course is being held at the Colorado School of Mines, a university with demonstrated success in H4D.
“This pilot focuses on emergency management-related problems in support of FEMA Region VIII, headquartered in Denver, and aligns with the School of Mines’ learning goals,” added Sid Saleh, associate director, McNeil Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation and instructor of the Mines’ H4HS class.
“Our capable engineers seek opportunities to apply their learning and creativity in the real world. They are very motivated and driven to serve a higher purpose: to make someone’s life better.
They want to do good with their knowledge and skills. We help them maximize and scale their impact,” said Saleh.
Over the course of the semester, undergraduate and graduate student teams are working to create and deliver innovative solutions in response to the challenges regularly faced by FEMA.
These critical issues range from predicting wildfire risk and overall forest health, to improving FEMA direct housing programs and finding ways to provide emergency microgrid power solutions.
Students will collaborate with local, state, and federal professionals, then pitch their solutions to subject matter experts and senior FEMA leadership.
“Hacking for Homeland is yet another way FEMA is harnessing innovation to focus on some of the most difficult challenges in emergency management,” said regional administrator Lee dePalo.
“Working with our partners at the Colorado School of Mines, we will find new ways to make America safer, stronger, and more secure.”
“This class allows us to solve a more diverse set of national security challenges and help us achieve our mission of inspiring a new generation of entrepreneurs who want to make the world a better place,” Alex Gallo, CMP executive director, said.
Students at H4HS universities will develop a deep understanding of the problems and needs of government sponsors in DHS, learn about entrepreneurship, and gain real-world problem-solving experience.
The next H4HS course will be offered during the Spring 2021 semester in support of CISA.
“This spring we’re looking forward to CISA’s first entrepreneurship class at Carnegie Mellon University,” said Sabra Horne, the chief of CISA’s Innovation Hub.
”Our class will engage students on a range of mission challenges in cybersecurity and policy, from securing software and network systems to making security and privacy more usable so we can defend against today’s threats while building a more secure and resilient future.”
For more information on S&T’s innovation programs and tools, visit https://www.dhs.gov/science-and-technology/work-with-st.
DHS Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate Honored in 2020 ‘ASTORS’
American Security Today’s ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards program is in its Fifth Year and continues to recognize the Outstanding Innovations of top firms and agencies in the Homeland Security and Public Safety fields.
2020 has been a very challenging year for everyone due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the much heralded AST ‘ASTORS’ Awards Winners Presentations and exclusive Luncheon at the Jacob Javits Center in NYC has been canceled and rescheduled for 2021 due to the virus.
However, the 2020 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program was again a huge success and many new categories were added including a section for COVID-19 Detection and Innovation.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate
Excellence in Homeland Security
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The COVID-19 pandemic is a global threat with life and death consequences, the enormity of which many of us have never seen before.
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It is also a scientific challenge in need of innovative solutions and S&T is using every tool at its disposal to join the fight; including harnessing the knowledge of it’s experts on technology deployments, international collaboration, scientific breakthroughs, and support for America’s frontline workers.
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S&T has focused its efforts on laboratory research and providing valuable resources to inform the broader response community and help keep front line responders safe.
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Highlights of S&T’s response efforts can be found in our Battling the Invisible Enemy report.
DHS S&T Chemical Security Analysis Center (CSAC)
Excellence in Homeland Security
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CARD, a chemical synthesis and chemical informatics centric data system (e.g. boiling point, melting point, toxicity, or spectroscopic information) containing both unclassified and classified data, is accessible from a classified website maintained on a server hosted by the Department of Defense.
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The website is available to appropriately cleared personnel from DHS, Department of Justice (e.g. FBI), other United States Government interagency offices, and state and local agencies, and provides information on how chemicals of interest could be produced.
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There is a detailed description of how each chemical is prepared to include information relevant to each step, the reagents and reactants that are needed and the conditions necessary for the reactions to take place, such as time, temperature, mixing—like a recipe.
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If law enforcement were to discover a table full of labeled chemicals in a clandestine laboratory, they would put these names as a list in CARD to find out what the suspects are making – illicit drugs, poisons, or warfare agents.
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CARD can be used the other way around. If police find an illicit drug or a warfare agent, they can search in the website to see what chemicals can be used to make it.
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For example, if police capture a suspect with a vial of sarin gas (a nerve agent that can kill in minutes after inhalation), they can use CARD to determine which chemicals are used to make it. Police can then search the suspect’s illicit lab for those chemicals and obtain further evidence of wrongdoing.
DHS S&T National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL)
Excellence in Public Safety
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Hoist Rescue Gloves for Aerial Rescue
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Rescue helicopter hoist operators need gloves to protect the hand that guides the hoist cable during rescue descents and ascents, using a significant amount of force to mitigate the cable swinging for situations from hurricane evacuations and dive rescues to rescuing stranded hikers on a mountain side, missions vary and no two are ever alike.
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A partnership between S&T and Higher Dimension Materials, Inc. (HDM) resulted in an enhanced rescue hoist glove with increased flexibility, durability, and dexterity.
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The glove design uses cushioning materials offering protection to the thumb crotch (purlicue) area, the index and little finger, and a leather guard to alleviate inconsistent glove performance when wet,” said Jones-Holt.
(See the enhanced Hoist Rescue Glove in action. Courtesy of DHS Science and Technology Directorate and YouTube.)
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate
Excellence in Homeland Security
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The Slash CameraPole is a self-triggering platform with wireless data retrieval to detect and give warning of suspicious activities at the U.S.-Canada border, specifically a cleared stretch of land at the border that is approximately 20-feet wide, 1,349 miles long, and is referred to as the “Slash.”
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This man-made, treeless zone is mandated by the International Boundary Commission and presents a formidable surveillance challenge, against such threats as illegal crossings, drug and illegal contraband smuggling and human trafficking.
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Using the Slash CameraPole system, Border Patrol has been able to establish an advanced border surveillance capability where none existed before.
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Partnering with MIT Lincoln Laboratory and several private companies to create the Slash CameraPole with numerous ingenious features, such as s olar panels and a back-up fuel cell system make it independent of the power grid, multiple infrared cameras (two long-range, one foreground, and one base imager with a fisheye lens) mean it doesn’t miss a thing.
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An in-ground cement foundation and electrical enclosure ensures it can withstand brutal winter conditions. Should its unobtrusive appearance manage to draw the attention of would-be vandals, the Slash CameraPole is resistant to small arms fire and other tampering.
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The Slash CameraPole also employs advanced motion detection algorithms and automated alerts designed to improve classification of targets and lower the chance of false alarms from factors such as wild animals or vegetation moving in the wind.
Technology and threats evolve rapidly in today’s ever-changing environment, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is charged with monitoring those threats and to rapidly capitalize on technological advancements, develop solutions and bridge capability gaps at a pace that mirrors the speed of life.
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*DHS S&T Programs have now been recognized in their Fifth Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program.
The 2020 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program is sponsored by ATI Systems, Attivo Networks, Automatic Systems, Desktop Alert, X.Labs and Reed Exhibitions, every one a returning Sponsor from 2019.
Why American Security Today?
The traditional security marketplace has long been covered by a host of publications putting forward the old school basics to what is Today – a fast changing security landscape.
The traditional security marketplace has long been covered by a host of publications putting forward the old school basics to what is Today – a fast changing security landscape.
American Security Today is uniquely focused on the broader Homeland Security & Public Safety marketplace with over 75,000 readers at the Federal, State and local levels of government as well as firms allied to government.
American Security Today brings forward a fresh compelling look and read with our customized digital publications that hold readers eyes throughout the story with cutting edge editorial that provides solutions to their challenges.
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The AST Digital Publications is distributed to over 75,000 qualified government and homeland security professionals in federal, state and local levels.
‘PROTECTING OUR NATION, ONE CITY AT A TIME’
AST Reaches both Private & Public Experts, essential to meeting these new challenges.
Today’s new generation of public safety and security experts need real-time knowledge to deal with domestic and international terrorism, lone wolf attacks, unprecedented urban violence, shifts in society, culture and media bias – making it increasingly difficult for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Military and Private Security Professionals to implement coordinated security measures to ensure national security and improve public safety.
These experts are from Government at the federal, state and local level as well as from private firms allied to government.
AST provides a full plate of topics in our AST Monthly Magazine Editions, AST Website and AST Daily News Alerts, covering 23 Vital Sectors such as Access Control, Perimeter Protection, Video Surveillance/Analytics, Airport Security, Border Security, CBRNE Detection, Border Security, Ports, Cybersecurity, Networking Security, Encryption, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Campus Security, Security Services, Corporate Facilities, and Emergency Response among others.
AST has Expanded readership into integral Critical Infrastructure audiences such as Protection of Nuclear Facilities, Water Plants & Dams, Bridges & Tunnels, and other potential targets of terrorism.
Other areas of concern include Transportation Hubs, Public Assemblies, Government Facilities, Sporting & Concert Stadiums, our Nation’s Schools & Universities, and Commercial Business Destinations – all enticing targets due to the large number of persons and resources clustered together.
To learn more about the 2020 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Award Winners solutions, please be on the lookout for the 2020 ‘ASTORS’ CHAMPIONS Edition Fully Interactive Magazine – the Best Products of 2020 ‘A Year in Review’.
The Annual CHAMPIONS edition includes a review of the ‘ASTORS’ Award Winning products and programs, highlighting key details on many of the winning firms products and services, includes video interviews and more.
It will be your Go-To source throughout the year for ‘The Best of 2020 Products and Services‘ endorsed by American Security Today, and can satisfy your agency’s and organization’s most pressing Homeland Security and Public Safety needs.
From Physical Security (Access Control, Critical Infrastructure, Perimeter Protection and Video Surveillance Cameras and Video Management Systems), to IT Security (Cybersecurity, Encryption, Data Storage, Anti-Malware and Networking Security – Just to name a few), the 2020 ‘ASTORS’ CHAMPIONS EDITION will have what you need to Detect, Delay, Respond to, and Mitgate today’s real-time threats in our constantly evolving security landscape.
It also includes featured guest editorial pieces from some of the security industry’s most respected leaders, and recognized firms in the 2020 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program.
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For a complete list of 2020 ‘ASTORS’ Award Winners, click here.
For more information about the Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards or All Things American Security Today, please contact Michael Madsen, AST Publisher at mmadsen@americansecuritytoday.com.
AST strives to meet a 3 STAR trustworthiness rating, based on the following criteria:
- Provides named sources
- Reported by more than one notable outlet
- Includes supporting video, direct statements, or photos
