National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL) Annual Report 2015

In 2015, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL) celebrated its 69th year of service to the nation and its 12th year as the test and evaluation resource for the national first responder community as a homeland security laboratory.

With its locations in downtown New York City and the Chicago metropolitan area, NUSTL worked directly with federal, state and local first responders across the country and used its metropolitan locations to test and evaluate numerous and diverse technologies under development to prepare and protect our nation.

Throughout 2015, NUSTL interacted daily with first responders and homeland security representatives, which enabled them to bridge information and communication gaps between technology developers and first responder end users. The laboratory relayed first responder issues and needs to developers while advising first responders on innovative solutions from the technology development community.

The laboratory also continued to execute its Radiological/Nuclear Response and Recovery (RNRR) Research and Development (R&D) program, which aims to improve the first responder community’s ability to respond and recover from radiological and nuclear incidents through R&D advancements in knowledge, technology policy and procedures.