Reference no: EM131185895

1. Purpose

On Tuesday, October 27, 2009 the Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation of the Committee on Science and Technology will hold a hearing to review activities at the Science and Technology Directorate of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS S&T).

2. Witnesses

Mr. Brad Buswell is the Acting Undersecretary of the Science and Technology Directorate at the Department of Homeland Security.

Dr. Phil Depoy is the Chairman of the Homeland Security Science and Technology Advisory Committee.

Mr. David Berteau is the Senior Adviser and Director of the Defense Industrial Initiatives Group at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Dr. Cindy Williams is the Chair of the Committee on the DHS Science and Technology Directorate at the National Academy of Public Administration. She is also the Shapiro Visiting Professor of International Affairs at the Elliot School of International Affairs at George Washington University.

3. Brief Overview

The hearing will have witnesses assess and discuss various elements of DHS S&T including the strategic planning process, stakeholder involvement in setting research priorities, and the role of basic research in the DHS S&T portfolio. Many of the questions posed to witnesses are ongoing concerns that Members of the Technology and Innovation Subcommittee have expressed in past hearings. It is the goal of the Subcommittee to highlight these issues for the benefit of the incoming Undersecretary of the Science and Technology Directorate.

4. Background

The Department of Homeland Security's research and development portfolio is concentrated in the Science and Technology Directorate and the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO). With an FY2010 budget request of $968 million, DHS S&T is responsible for carrying out research on behalf of federal homeland security agencies and coordinating this research with other federal research entities. DNDO conducts research on the detection of nuclear devices and has a FY2010 budget request of $366 million.

DHS S&T is currently organized in a matrix style management structure. There are three research directors that oversee portfolios containing long-term basic research, shorter-term applied research, and technology transition. These portfolios stretch across DHS S&T's six divisions:

Chemical and Biological: detection and mitigation of chemical and biological weapons threats

Explosives: detection of and response to conventional (non-nuclear) explosives Human Factors: social science research to improve detection, analysis, and understanding of threats posed by individuals as well as how communities respond to disasters

Infrastructure and Geophysical: identifies and mitigates threats to critical infrastructure Border and Maritime: develops technologies for monitoring land and maritime borders

Command, Control, and Interoperability: research and development support for interoperable communications and cyber security R&D

5. Issues and Concerns

Science and Technology Directorate Strategic Plan

Witnesses will discuss the methods and criteria used to develop research and development priorities at DHS S&T and how these may be improved. Witnesses were asked to discuss the need for a comprehensive threat assessment accounting for the impact and likelihood of potential threats. The concern is that the DHS S&T strategic plan does not provide a justified roadmap for future research, but only describes ongoing projects. Homeland security experts contend that a true strategic plan should be grounded in comprehensive threat assessments, detailed in how research priorities align with the needs of the customer, and coordinated with the research plans of other federal research entities.

Integrated Product Teams

There are thirteen Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) in DHS S&T that provide input into the research plans based on their needs in the field. The IPT members are almost entirely made up of representatives from the various operational divisions within DHS (Coast Guard, Transportation Security Administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, etc.). Some examples of the corresponding IPTs include: First Responder, Border Security, Cyber Security, and People Screening. In past hearings, the Members of the Technology and Innovation Subcommittee voiced concerns about the fact that the nation's local first responders are a critical recipient of DHS S&T work, but were not represented in the research planning process. As a result, DHS S&T formed a First Responder IPT to address the needs of the police, firefighters, and rescue personnel.

For this hearing, witnesses will assess the IPT process and discuss whether the IPTs are fulfilling their intended role as vehicles for stakeholder input in research priorities. There are concerns over uneven levels of organization, representation, and impact of the IPTs.

Basic Research at the Centers of Excellence

DHS S&T allocates 20% of its spending to basic research and supports twelve university- based Centers of Excellence. The Subcommittee has asked witnesses to discuss the role of basic research in the S&T portfolio and how this research is executed at the Centers of Excellence. Homeland security experts have expressed concern that the basic research work is not properly integrated into later phases of DHS S&T's research. There is also concern over how basic research priorities are set without the guidance of a true strategic plan.

Science and Technology for a Safer Nation - Homeland Security - March 2008

Attachment:- Developing Research Priorities at DHS Sand Directorate.rar