Mission

DHS Science and Technology's Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency (HSARPA) supports cutting edge research to produce revolutionary changes in technologies and capabilities for homeland security. 

Leadership

The director of HSARPA is Mr. Paul Benda.

Organization

Established through the Homeland Security Act of 2002, HSARPA uses innovation and modernization to push scientific limits and produce front line products that support organizations like the Secret Service, bomb squads, first responders, Transportation Security Administration, and officers along our borders. 

HSARPA conducts analysis to understand these organizations’ current missions, systems, and processes and ultimately identifies operational gaps where new technologies can have the most impact.  Program managers lead teams of national experts to develop, test, and evaluate these new homeland security technologies and capabilities. 

Select areas of HSARPA focus and their initiatives include:

• Borders and Maritime Security - Prevent contraband, criminals and terrorists from entering the U.S. while permitting the lawful flow of commerce and visitors.
• Chemical and Biological Defense Division - Detect, protect against, respond to, and recover from potential biological or chemical events.
• Cyber Security Division - Create a safe, secure and resilient cyber environment.
• Explosives Division - Detect, prevent and mitigate non-nuclear explosives attacks against people and infrastructure.
• Human Factors and Behavioral Sciences Division - Identify and analyze threats, enhance societal resilience, and integrate human capabilities in technology development.
• Infrastructure Protection and Disaster Management Division - Strengthen situational awareness, emergency response capabilities and critical infrastructure protection.