Established at Northeastern University in 2008, the Awareness and Localization of Explosives-Related Threats (ALERT) Department of Homeland Security Emeritus Center of Excellence addresses the characterization, detection, mitigation, and response to explosives-related threats. 

Providing ultra-reliable screening, improving the ability to detect explosives at a distance, and providing a seamless transition of research to the field are among the real-world challenges ALERT addressed through DHS Office of University Programs funded research. Explore the materials and resources created by ALERT researchers, staff, and stakeholders in the center’s digital repository.

Learn More:

• Correlation of Luggage and Specific Passengers (CLASP) Algorithm Maturation and Deployment
• Enhanced Trace Explosives Detection (ETED)
• Fundamental Research Areas

• First Responder Capability Program
• Supporting First Responders Through Science and Technology
  • Fighting Fires and Saving Lives Through Science and Technology
  • Managing Emergency Response with Science and Technology
  • Providing Police Backup Through Science and Technology

S&T's countering illegal jamming program conducts research on the impacts of radiofrequency jamming on federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial communications. Communications provide a mission-critical lifeline for first responders and law enforcement, ensuring they can do their jobs to protect and serve our nation. Illegal jamming of communications systems—including jamming of GPS, radio and wireless systems—poses a threat to law enforcement and public safety across the country. S&T partners with ICE, CISA, CBP, and the FCC to evaluate evolving jamming threats, and will share recent operational insights and required jamming incident reporting information.

The National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL) is a federal laboratory organized within the Science and Technology Directorate. Building upon its proud history since 1947, NUSTL provides the national first responder community with the necessary services, products and tools to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to and recover from homeland security threats and events.

Learn More:

• NUSTL Fact Sheet
• Radiation and Nuclear Response and Recovery Fact Sheet
• Radiological Dispersal Device (RDD) Response Guidance Planning for the First 100 Minutes (2017)
• Nuclear Detonation Response Guidance (PDF, 105 pgs., 5.8 MB) 
• SAVER Program Fact Sheet
• SAVER Project List
• SAVER Document Descriptions

The emergency management threat landscape is evolving at an unprecedented pace due to challenges like climate change, urbanization, and technological advancements. This shifting landscape requires a dynamic and adaptable approach. S&T has partnered with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) to execute the Emergency Management of Tomorrow Research (EMOTR) program to assess the emergency management research landscape, elicit capability needs from stakeholders, conduct validation exercises, and identify where technology can help our emergency operations centers.

S&T has also partnered with PNNL on the first responder project, the First Responder Capability Roadmap (PDF, 412kb, pg.1). Representative’s from PNNL will be onsite to conduct interviews with first responders to better understand their technology needs. First responders, active and retired, are invited to stop by booth #2382 to be briefly interviewed for the project.

Learn More:

• Overview of the Emergency Management of Tomorrow Research (EMOTR) Program (PDF, 1mb, pg.2)
• Shaping the Future of Homeland Security Video - (YouTube)

S&T works closely with first responders to improve their safety and effectiveness—lending expertise, conducting research and development, and funding innovation to ensure our nation’s public safety services are well-equipped to provide aid in times of crisis.

Refer to S&T’s Providing Police Backup Through Science and Technology document to learn more about our work supporting the law enforcement community.

Established at Northeastern University in 2021, the Soft Target Engineering to Neutralize the Threat Reality (SENTRY) Department of Homeland Security Center of Excellence addresses the many challenges of protecting soft targets and crowded places in our homeland. 

SENTRY strives to ensure the existence of safe, secure public spaces by creating functional and adaptable solutions to detect and mitigate targeted violence. The center’s mission is three-fold: to conduct stakeholder-informed research to better secure soft targets and crowded places, implement the Virtual Sentry Framework strategy, and educate the current and future homeland security workforce in this space.

Learn More;

• SENTRY Fact Sheets
• Research Areas

The Public Safety and Violence Prevention (PSVP) program works to prevent acts of terrorism and targeted violence and understand the ever-evolving threat landscape by conducting research and evaluation. PSVP research will aid first responders and policy makers in making informed decisions while also providing prevention programs and practitioners with the tools they need. This work is vital to strengthening societal resistance against perpetrators of violent extremism and broadening awareness of the threat of terrorism and targeted violence. 

Learn More:

• Threat and Risk Assessment Measurement: A State of the Science Review
• Human Behavioral Responses After a Targeted Improvised Explosive Device (IED) Attack at Soft Targets and Crowded Places
• Screening for Insider Threats in U.S. Law Enforcement: A National Sample of Department Policies and Practices – State of Practice Guide
• Screening for Insider Threats in U.S. Law Enforcement: A National Sample of Department Policies and Practices – Plain Language Summary
• Screening for Insider Threats in U.S. Law Enforcement: A National Sample of Department Policies and Practices – Self-Assessment Toolkit