Series 3: Mitigating Evolving Threats and Understanding the Convergence of Breakthrough Technologies

Welcome to Series 3: Mitigating Evolving Threats and Understanding the Convergence of Breakthrough Technologies—the third installment of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate’s (S&T) four-part Virtual Whole-of-Government Research and Development (R&D) Showcase!

Especially in the COVID era, getting ahead of emerging threats is a top priority for the U.S. government. Industries of the future and emerging scientific fields are changing our world, security posture, and perspectives on the role of technology in addressing evolving threats. In adapting to these new realities, government research organizations are assessing critical infrastructure and lifeline services to determine better approaches, methods, and tools for securing the homeland. In this series, discover how investments in technology development present new challenges and opportunities for our government to stay ahead and mitigate risks, improve decision-making, and enhance prediction and preparedness capabilities for vital sectors our society depends upon.
 

Expert Panel 1: 20 Years Since 9/11: Why Interoperability Still Matters—As we approach the 20th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, this discussion will focus on the state of emergency communications interoperability for first responders nationwide. S&T’s Office for Interoperability and Compatibility (OIC), in partnership with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) Emergency Communications Division, the Department of Transportation, and other federal agencies, continues to play an important role in advancing secure, trusted, and reliable communications during day-to-day and large-scale incidents. The ability for responders from different agencies using different equipment to talk to one another during an emergency response situation was an identified failure in the 9/11 commission report. Congress created OIC to establish a comprehensive research and standards program for improving interoperable emergency communications. Discover how OIC is following the science and leveraging advanced technologies to improve emergency comms and save lives.

Expert Panel 2: CyLab: Advanced Analytics Environments to Protect Critical Infrastructure—The Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack and the Solar Winds hack were stark reminders that our nation’s critical infrastructure is vulnerable to rapidly evolving threats in the physical and cyber environments. To meet these challenges, S&T has teamed up with CISA to build CyLab, a multi-cloud environment where new tools and software can be researched and tested against live data. In CyLab, S&T and CISA will collaborate to test cutting-edge artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies, next-generation cyber threat hunting, advanced analytics, and a host of other capabilities needed to ensure that S&T, CISA, and partners throughout the homeland security enterprise and in industry can keep the nation’s critical infrastructure safe today and tomorrow. 

Expert Panel 3: Securing Identity in Modernizing the Future of Air Travel—Have you thought about how the government can change your travel experience by reducing wait times and enhancing security? S&T has, and it is executing this vision. Advances in biometrics and digital identity provide fast forward capabilities that will change the way you fly within the decade. S&T is building new capabilities to keep pace with the volume of the traveling public and presence of complex threats. This discussion will give you an inside look at how S&T technology investments are improving the passenger experience and flow of commerce as well as getting the country moving again and protecting the frontline workforce.

Expert Panel 4 Part One: Building and Securing Air Domain Awareness—The proliferation of drones presents an emerging threat for border security. To combat this threat, S&T is partnering with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Coast Guard to enhance capabilities that stop the use of illegal manned and unmanned aircraft systems. Tune in to learn how investments in research, technology, and standards development are supporting law enforcement efforts to reduce risks by detecting, tracking, and identifying low, slow-flying unmanned aircraft used by drug smugglers, malicious actors, and potential terrorists who are attempting to enter the country.

Expert Panel 4 Part Two: Building and Securing Air Domain Awareness—Greater unmanned aircraft system (UAS) use has significant implications for U.S. airspace, opening new possibilities to deliver a variety of goods and services, while also adding security issues. To prepare for the future, this new capability requires traffic management. Learn how S&T is taking a whole-of-government approach to develop an UAS Traffic Management system, which will safely and securely integrate UAS into the national airspace. Learn how experts from S&T, the Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Defense and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration are coming together to establish airspace flight corridors, geofencing, route planning, terrain avoidance guidance, and weather alerts, among other capabilities.
 

EBook

This companion document offers a glimpse of the exciting efforts discussed in our expert panel discussions. View the downloadable PDF to learn about vital S&T programs addressing advanced analytics, drones, biometrics, and interoperability. 

Related Stories

The resources listed offer additional information on various S&T research efforts related to advanced analytics, drones, biometrics, and interoperability.