Interested in what we’re working on? Our First Responder News page provides publications, videos, and information about first responder technologies and resources. For a complete listing of first responder news articles, visit the S&T Responder News page.

Recent News

• Drone Safety and Wildfires – Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Needs Your Help
  Aug. 20, 2018 -- Did you know that unauthorized drones should never be flown over or near an active wildfire? When firefighters see an unauthorized drone, they must stop all helicopter and airplane operations. The FAA is seeking assistance from our law enforcement and public safety partners to help us inform the public that a collision with a drone could cause serious injury or death to fire crews in the air, endanger firefighters and members of the public on the ground, and drastically limit fire suppression efforts.
• Snapshot: Intergovernmental Cooperation Helps Enhance Communication, Maritime Domain Awareness
  July 31, 2018 -- Sometimes, being out of touch with the rest of the world can be a relaxing change – like when you are on a much anticipated vacation. But for law enforcement officers coordinating and participating in a dangerous operations across air, land, and sea to stop drug trafficking, patchy cellphone services can prevent agents from completing their missions and put them in harm’s way even more!
• Snapshot: Bomb Disarming with High- and Low-Tech Solutions
  July 24, 2018 -- To ensure bomb techs are on the cutting edge of technology as they address evolving threats, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) created the Response and Defeat Operations Support (REDOPS) program. REDOPS connects the 466 bomb squads of varying sizes and budgets across the country with the tools and information they need to perform their duties better, faster and more safely.
• S&T Supports Radiation Preparedness
  July 17, 2018 -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) identified the need for a systematic platform where technically accurate and decision-making information could be easily shared across state, municipal and tribal jurisdictions. They contacted the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) – DHS’s research and development arm – for assistance.
• News Release: DHS S&T Partners with Texas First Responders for Operational Experimentation
  WASHINGTON, July 9, 2018 -- DHS S&T has partnered with several public safety agencies from the Harris County, Texas, area for the Next Generation First Responder (NGFR) – Harris County Operational Experimentation (OpEx) set for December 2018.
• News Release: U.S. and Canada Kick off Joint Next Generation First Responder Initiative with Artificial Intelligence Field Experiment
  WASHINGTON, July 6, 2018 -- A new initiative kicks off today to evaluate the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and situational awareness technologies during critical incidents. The effort is a joint partnership between DHS S&T and Canada’s Department of National Defence science and technology organization, Defence Research and Development Canada Centre for Security Science (DRDC CSS) to ensure both American and Canadian next generation first responders are better connected, protected and fully aware during critical incidents.
• S&T Partners with New Innovators to Bring Smart Cities Technologies to First Responders
  WASHINGTON, June 25, 2018 -- S&T and its research and development partners today selected 13 U.S. and international companies to develop smart cities technologies to assist public safety. The research and development work will focus on in-building sensors, unmanned aerial systems and on/off-body mobile SmartHubs, each of which will combine communications and sensors to increase responder situational awareness, building security and enhance mission-critical operations.

For a complete listing of First Responder news articles, visit the S&T Responder News page.

Recent Publications

• Activation of Body-Worn Cameras without Responder Manipulation Operational Field Assessment Report
  The DHS S&T National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL) conducted an OFA of the prototypes and critical event sensors on March 27, 2018, at NUSTL in New York, New York. Four individuals from law enforcement organizations in Arizona, Illinois, New York and Virginia served as evaluators. The evaluators used the prototypes and critical event sensors in different operationally relevant scenarios to assess their suitability for use by law enforcement personnel.
• Resilient Communications Project: Body Worn Camera Perception Study Phase 1 Memorandum Report
  This report is a literature review summary of the current state of research and associated findings related to law enforcement personnel perceptions of an incident/event compared with data/video acquired from BWC devices.
• Identity, Credential, and Access Management (ICAM) Implementation Guide
  This document serves as a source of Identity, Credential, and Access Management (ICAM) Implementation Guides resulting from the evaluation of publicly available documents and the implementation of ICAM-enabled systems in a sandbox.
• S&T First Responders Infographic
  DHS S&T works closely with first responders, academia, research and development organizations, industry, innovators and venture capitalists to use science to help strengthen our first responders and the nation. Check out our infographic to learn more on how S&T is helping protect our homeland.
• Boston Components Communications Experiment Report
  As part of its support to the NGFR Apex Program, S&Ts NUSTL participated in an experiment on two communications systems, Mutualink and datacasting, in Boston, Massachusetts, to address requirements defined in Section 212 of Public Law 114-120 2015 (U.S. Congress, 2015). The findings and conclusions from the experiment have been incorporated into this report.
• Advanced Multi-threat Base Ensemble for Responders (AMBER™): Final Report
  This report documents the Advanced Multi-threat Base Ensemble for Responders (AMBER) research conducted by the Textile Protection and Comfort Center (T-PACC) within the College of Textiles at North Carolina State University (NC State) between September 2014 and December 2017.
• Identity, Credential, and Access Management (ICAM) Acquisition Guidance
  The Public Safety Communications (PSC) Identity, Credential, and Access Management (ICAM) Working Group (WG) performed an assessment of available policy, procurement, grant, and other solicitation sources for ICAM procurement language across the Federal and State marketplace. This document provides guidance to the Public Safety Community (Community) to enhance existing infrastructure to include ICAM principles.
• Identity, Credential, and Access Management (ICAM) Common Appendices
  This document familiarizes readers with frequently used terms in ICAM which are used in other accompanying documents like the ICAM Executive Primer and Acquisition Guidance.
• Identity, Credential, and Access Management (ICAM) Executive Primer
  This document provides the educational background of ICAM for all levels of any organization (Executive Leadership, Project Managers and Solution Architects).
• Tactical Eyewear Focus Group Report
  Seven emergency responders from various jurisdictions who collectively have expertise in policing, criminal investigation, firefighting, paramedics, special weapons and tactics, and bomb squads took part in the tactical eyewear focus group. Their recommendations are documented in this report.
• Next Generation First Responder Case Study: Situational Awareness
  This study identifies and explains the technologies used in the TechEx and presents a case study that can be used by public safety agencies as an example of how first responder agencies can implement situational awareness systems.

For a complete listing of First Responder publications, visit the FRG Publications and FRG Fact Sheets pages.

Recent Videos

Web-based HURREVAC
When a hurricane threatens, emergency planners need sophisticated tools to plan and execute necessary evacuations. The new Web-based HURREVAC system provides exactly what’s needed to anticipate hurricane impacts and train for and provide timely, accurate evacuations to protect lives and property.

Deployable Public Safety Networks
First responders often work in environments where cellular and land mobile radio services are unavailable. The portable LTE system being developed by S&T enables responders to establish reliable voice and data communication networks wherever they need them.

Visit First Responders Videos for a complete video listing.

Responder Spotlights

Randall T. Sterett
Meet Bomb Technician and First Responder Resource Group member Randall T. Sterett, a 30-year veteran of Orange County (CA) Sheriff’s Department.

Jeremy DeMar
S&T’s First Responders Group relies on experienced emergency response and preparedness professionals—the First Responder Resource Group—to guide its research and development efforts. Meet one of the group’s newest members: Jeremy DeMar, public safety emergency communications supervisor at the Rochester (New York) Emergency Communications Department and Monroe County 911 Center.

Jill Ramaker
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate’s (S&T) First Responders Group (FRG) relies on experienced emergency response and preparedness professionals to guide its research and development efforts. The First Responder Resource Group (FRRG) fills that role. Our latest FRRG member spotlight focuses on Jill Ramaker, director of the Northeastern Illinois Public Safety Training Academy (NIPSTA).

Dan Dooley
New York City Police Department Captain Dan Dooley discusses his work on the Narcotics, VICE, and Gang Squad in South Manhattan along with his take on becoming a member of the First Responder Resource Group.

Robert McLafferty
There is never a “typical day” for Fire Chief Robert McLafferty, fire chief of the Herman Volunteer Fire Company (VFC) and 911 Coordinator for Butler County, Pennsylvania. In his view, every day presents different challenges and new opportunities.

Jack Hanagriff
At eight-years old, Jack Hanagriff already knew exactly what he wanted to do when he grew up: he wanted to serve the public. “Public service is in my blood,” he said. “I just knew I wanted to do something that allowed me to help people, and this is one of the best ways to be able to do that."

Shannon Buhl
First responders, such as the Cherokee Nation’s Marshal Shannon Buhl, in tribal jurisdictions face many challenges on a daily basis. Marshal Buhl explained what it’s like being a tribal responder in a remote area.

Patricia J. Dukes
Meet Patricia J. Dukes, Deputy Chief of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) for the George Washington University Medical Faculty Associates and a longtime member of the FRRG.

Paul D. Laney
The Sheriff of Cass County, North Dakota is a member of the DHS S&T First Responder Resource Group.

Jason Smith
Jason Smith had planned on a life in the military. But one of life’s unexpected turns left him with a severed Achilles tendon and an end to his ROTC scholarship. Suddenly looking for other options, Smith knew he wanted to take on a career that would allow him to serve his community and have a positive impact on other people’s lives.

Soheila Ajabshir
Meet Soheila Ajabshir, GIS Systems analyst and programmer with the Miami-Dade County Information Technology Department and member of the DHS S&T First Responder Resource Group.

Dave Saitta
Meet Lt. Dave Saitta, Calumet City, Illinois, firefighter and paramedic. Like many in the field of public safety, his personal story influenced the path of his career — which, believe it or not, initially began in the construction field.

Josh Dennis
Meet Joshua Dennis, Chicago Fire Department District Chief and member of the DHS S&T First Responder Resource Group.

Dr. Carol A. Cunningham
Dr. Carol Cunningham has taken every opportunity to teach, learn and further her education, and has received a multitude of degrees, licensures and certifications throughout her medical career.

Andrew Wordin
Meet Battalion Chief Andrew Wordin of the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD). An FRRG member for five years, Wordin has advised FRG on the development of several technologies, most recently the EDGE Virtual Training project.

Anne Jensen
Meet Anne M. Jensen, a paramedic and Resource Access Program (RAP) Coordinator for the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS).

Steve Vandewalle
Meet Steve Vandewalle, paramedic and firefighter for the San Diego Fire Department (SDFD). Vandewalle’s participation in recent field tests for FRG’s Improved Structure Firefighting Glove was instrumental to the project’s progress, and we were curious about how this protective equipment might enhance his daily performance.