The Science and Technology Directorate’s (S&T’s) First Responder Capability program provides technical assistance and develops innovative solutions to the most pressing challenges faced by first responders, emergency managers, and incident commanders as they respond to hazardous situations. The program strengthens the abilities of our communities to protect the homeland and respond to disasters.
S&T works hand-in-hand with members of all first responder disciplines—law enforcement, fire services, emergency medical services and emergency management officials, as well as innovators and industry—to develop capabilities that:
- Make first responders safer
Improve communication tool security and effectiveness- Enhance data and information sharing during daily, emergency or joint operations
- Promote and sustain partnerships with responders and responder organizations across the nation at all levels
- Help investigate cybercrime and cases involving digital evidence
- Secure 911 emergency call systems from cyberattacks
See First Responder Capability Program Fact Sheet
Visit S&T Impact: First Responders to discover technologies making a real difference and to read several compelling scenarios featuring innovation in action.
- Feature Article: What if Law Enforcement Could ‘See’ Through Walls?
- Feature Article: Picturing the Future of Firefighting
- Feature Article: Putting Our Heads Together for Firefighter Safety
- Feature Article: Reimagining Gunshot Detection for Enhanced Community Safety
- Feature Article: Channeling NEXTGEN TV so Responders Can Answer the Call
- News Release: DHS S&T Develops Portable Outdoor Gunshot Detection Technology for Law Enforcement
- Feature Article: Strong Relationships with First Responders are an Investment in R&D
- News Release: DHS Releases Recommendations to Protect National Public Warning System from EMPs
- Feature Article: Urban OpEx—New York City Is a Testbed for First Responder Tech
- Feature Article: Will the Sun Soon Power First Responders?
- Feature Article: Field Testing a New Firefighter Respirator
- Feature Article: 3D X-Ray Makes it Easier to Detect Hidden Explosive Weapons
- News Release: New Digital Indoor Mapping Capability Now Available for First Responders
Podcast
- Technologically Speaking Podcast: Getting Creative About How to Get the Message Through
- Technologically Speaking Podcast: The First Responder Group Doesn't Just Do Widgets
- TechSpeak Minisode Podcast: Understanding What Responders Need
- TechSpeak Minisode Podcast: All Hazards Focused
- Technologically Speaking Podcast: 300 People Per Hour Per Lane
Videos
- 5 Things You Probably Don’t Know about S&T’s EDGE Virtual Training
- ADvanced CIRCulation (ADCIRC)
- Android Team Awareness Kit (ATAK)
- Assistant for Understanding Data through Reasoning, Extraction and Synthesis (AUDREY) S&T Tech Talk
- Burn Saver
- ERAD Prepaid Card Reader
- Explosive Detection Canines
- Improved Structure Firefighting Gloves
- Next Generation First Responder II
- Precision Outdoor and Indoor Navigation and Tracking for Emergency Responders (POINTER)
- QuickRoute
- Radiological Dispersal Device (RDD) Response Guidance Planning for the First 100 Minutes
- Regional Explosives Detection Dog Initiative
- Respiration Protection for Overhaul
- Securing Surface Transportation
- Shaken Fury
National Laboratories
As a federal laboratory organized within DHS S&T, the National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL) brings together the interests and initiatives of the Homeland Security Enterprise with the first responder community. The laboratory’s mission activities in test and evaluation and research and development help first responders prepare, protect and respond to homeland security threats.
Technology Centers
Contact FRC_STMCS@hq.dhs.gov.
Learn more about our R&D mission and discover how you can Work with S&T to help strengthen the nation's homeland security!