DHS technology budget to exceed $1B in 2005.

An array of emerging technologies is the key to defending the United States from its enemies, according to Charles E. McQueary, undersecretary of homeland security for science and technology.

Developing those technologies is the mission of the S&T division of the Department of Homeland Security. McQueary has led the division since the Department's founding in March 2003.

Since the division stood up a year ago, the staff has increased from 60 to more than 200 "very capable, professional people, and we're not through yet," McQueary told National Defense.

The S&T budget has grown by $126.5 million--nearly 14 percent--to a requested $1.03 billion in 2005.

With those resources, S&T has accomplished "a great deal in a short amount of time," McQueary said, ticking off these examples:

Creating S&T infrastructure. The division has established a homeland security laboratory system--including national laboratories of the Energy Department, DHS agencies, and other organizations across the country--to research better ways to defeat terrorism.

The division also created an office of weapons of mass destruction operations and incident management to provide scientific and technical support in assessing and responding to threats.

S&T took over management of the Plum Island Animal Disease Center on Long Island, N.Y. The center, which previously had been run by the Agriculture Department, focuses on protecting the nation from "agricultural terrorism," McQueary said. Plum Island scientists conduct research to protect U.S. livestock against potentially disastrous foreign animal illnesses, such as foot and mouth disease, he said.

In February, McQueary convened the first meeting of the homeland security science and technology committee, which was established to provide independent planning advice to the division.

Partnering with industry. During the past year, S&T awarded $6.5 million to 66 small companies in 23 states to fund projects addressing the department's high-priority technological interests.

In April, HSARPA announced that more than a dozen teams had been selected to negotiate for $48 million in contracts to develop next-generation biological detection sensors and systems.

Next-generation scientists. Currently, S&T is reviewing applications for the 2004-2005 class of DHS's scholars and fellows program, McQueary said. Last September 100 students--chosen from more than 2,400 applicants--were named to the inaugural class.

"The program supports U.S. students who choose to pursue scientific careers and perform research in fields that are essential to the homeland security mission," McQueary explained. Selections for the 2004-2005 class should be announced sometime in the May-June timeframe, he said.

S&T has established a homeland security centers program to foster mission-relared research and education at universities around the nation, McQueary said. The University of Southern California in November was named as the first homeland security center of excellence.

With the title comes $12 million during the next three years to study risk analysis related to the economic consequences of terrorist threats and events. DHS plans to establish two more centers in coming months, one focusing on animal-related agro-terrorism and another on post-harvest food security.

International partners. S&T officials have established working relationships with counterparts from several foreign governments, including the United Kingdom, Israel, Japan, Canada and Mexico. Workshops are scheduled with additional foreign delegations to explore areas.

In October, DHS Secretary Tom Ridge and Canadian Deputy Prime Minister John Manley initialed an S&T cooperative agreement for protecting shared critical infrastructure and enhancing border security. In response to this agreement, S&T researchers are working with the Canadians to develop technologies to protect bridges, dams, pipelines, communications and power grids, enhance the ability to disrupt and interdict terrorists through surveillance and monitoring, and detect the smuggling of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear weapons.

S&T staff members and scientists from DOE's national laboratories are co-chairing the nuclear smuggling international technical working group on forensic analysis and attribution of seized radiological or nuclear material. It is an international organization that collaborates on standard action plans for any seized material, provides support and advice to law enforcement and other government agencies, and conducts international exercises involving actual nuclear material.

Aid to first responders. The S&T division manages the wireless public safety interoperable communications program, called SAFECOM for short. SAFECOM is a federal effort to state, local and federal public safety agencies to conduct interoperable wireless communications. In June 2003, S&T, SAFECOM, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the National Institute of Justice hosted the first national summit on the subject.

S&T has joined with the emergency responder community to develop standards for technology in several areas, such as detection of radiation and biological hazards, and cleaning up after incidents. In February, for example, the division issued its first sets of standards for radiological and nuclear detectors and personal protective equipment for firefighters.

S&T has been working with DHS's emergency preparedness and response division to enhance situational awareness in its emergency response center. To achieve this goal, S&T has partnered with the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement to outfit P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft with a transportable video capability.

Borders and ports. S&T has begun research to develop techniques to determine whether a person seeking to enter the U.S. has been handling radioactive materials or has been immunized against or exposed to dangerous pathogens or chemicals. These techniques would be integrated into existing procedures at borders, prompting officials to take a closer look at those who test positive.

In August, S&T formally assumed management of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey's radiation test bed, which was previously operated by DOE. Radiation detection equipment will be installed at tunnels, bridges, seaports and airports in the New York City metropolitan area, and all functions associated with their operational use will be evaluated.

The division is working with the U.S. Coast Guard to build a prototype integrated maritime surveillance system that will cover Port Everglades, Miami, and Key West, Fla.

This $4 million, 24-month program will integrate existing facilities and upgrade equipment to detect, track and identify vessel traffic in ports, in the zones around them and over the horizon.

Shoulder-Fired Missiles. S&T has established a program office to oversee DHS efforts to counter the threat to commercial aircraft posed by man-portable air defense systems, or shoulder-fired missiles. This office is intended to help determine the viability, economic costs and effectiveness of adapting existing technology from military to commercial aviation use.

After an 18 to 24 month analysis, prototype demonstration and testing program, DHS plans to recommend the system most likely to succeed against these weapons. In January, teams led by BAE Systems, Northrop Grumman and United Airlines were selected to develop plans and test prototypes.

Critical infrastructure. S&T is developing a system that can be used by local, state and federal governments to help make decisions to protect the nation's critical infrastructure. This system will include results of threat assessments, vulnerability studies and other analyses performed beforehand in order to help decision makers in their deliberations.

The division is creating a virtual Cyber Security Research and Development Center to help protect the nation's computer networks from terrorist attacks. The center will provide a homeland-security focus for research, leverage cyber-security efforts underway in defense, intelligence, academic and private laboratories.

Biological and chemical threats. A "biowatch" program has been deployed to more than 30 major urban areas across the nation. Run by S&T in cooperation with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, biowatch employs environmental sampling devices to detect biological agents quickly, in time to distribute life-saving drugs to affected residents.

In January, Ridge and Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson announced a proposal for a $274 million "bio-surveillance" program, as part of the administration's 2005 budget request. As proposed, this initiative would bolster current surveillance programs in such areas as human, animal and plant health and environmental monitoring, and integrate them into one comprehensive system.

S&T also is working with HHS and other agencies to begin developing and deploying the next generation of vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics as part of a proposed "bioshield" project. The administration's 2005 budget proposes $2.5 billion to encourage the development and medical measures necessary to counter weapons of mass destruction.

S&T has cooperated with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority in deploying the program for response options and, technology enhancements for chemical/biological terrorism to more than six subway stations in the nation's capital. Owned and operated entirely by the transit authority, the system is designed to detect and respond to chemical agents and will be expanded eventually to 20 stations.

At the San Francisco International Airport, the division is involved in a pilot program entitled protective and responsive options for airport counter-terrorism. This program is intended to in integrate networking sensors with the operation of ventilation systems, enabling contaminated air to be redirected and allowing time for safe evacuations to occur. Program officials are attempting to develop a comprehensive biological and chemical defense plan that can be used at airports across the country.

Division scientists are studying the results of a month-long joint urban 2003 atmospheric dispersion study that was conducted in Oklahoma City, Okla. During the study, winds and other meteorological qualities were measured at nearly 200 locations in an around the city, and inert stimulants were released and tracked as they flowed through the air. Participants plan to use the extensive data from the study to improve understanding of urban atmospheric dispersion.

Despite all that has happened in the department's first year, much more remains to be done, McQueary said.

DHS, for example, is evaluating proposals for a homeland security institute, which would provide scientific, technical, and analytical support in resolving homeland security issues, McQueary said. The institute would be a federally landed research organization, similar to the Institute for Defense Analysis, the Center for Naval Analysis, and the MITRE Corporation, he said. The department plans, within days, to award a five-year contract to operate the institute, which would employ scores of people in the Washington area, McQueary said.

DHS is in a hurry to get things done. "We're trying to build a reputation that what we do, we do very quickly," McQueary said. "Our view is, if we know what to do, let's get on and do it."