Be it in times of peace and prosperity or discord and struggle, the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) will always support its vital missions—and that includes supporting cyber and physical security. Here are just a few highlights from the past year:
Launched Trusted Mobile System (TrustMS) code-based protection mechanism to monitor and safeguard application software. “TrustMS is a groundbreaking technology that will help to greatly enhance the security of the most touched parts of the mobile ecosystem—devices and apps—as well as embedded systems.” – Vincent Sritapan, former S&T program manager
- Released the Resilient PNT Conformance Framework to standardize position, navigation and timing equipment requirements and secure cyber infrastructure. Supports Executive Order 13905, “Strengthening National Resilience through Responsible Use of PNT Services” and encourages industry innovation.
- Commercialized Framework for Analysis and Coordinated Trust (FACT) technology developed through Silicon Valley Innovation Program, which analyzes and validates critical software updates for Internet-of-Things devices—providing a FICO score for software trustworthiness.
Brought TruVoice ID technology to market with Small Business Innovation Research funding of Illuma Shield™ voice authentication and fraud prevention platform.
- Secured our northern border through transition of the wireless, self-triggering Slash CameraPole system to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). System is a low-cost, low-power and low-maintenance solution to securing the “Slash,” a cleared stretch of land approximately 20-feet wide and 1,349 miles long.
- Improved Transportation Security Administration operations through implementation of S&T international standard 62945 for measuring the imaging performance of x-ray computed tomography (CT) security-screening systems. S&T has partnered with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to develop three different standards to ensure the safety and effectiveness of technologies that detect liquids in luggage and carry-on items.
- Completed first technical assessment of a modified CT system, the IDSS Detect 1000, equipped with an automatic opioid detection algorithm. Collected 15,000 CT images of concealed opioids.
Developed R&D 100 award-winning shoe scanner to meet Transportation Security Administration’s requirements for passengers to pass through checkpoints without removing their shoes.
- Established technology pilots and testbeds to perform critical research, development and testing on Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System technologies.
- Convened a town hall, Faced with Disruption: Securing Your Digital Connection, to explore investments in capabilities to secure digital connections and maintain uninterrupted critical infrastructure operations. This was the second installment of S&T’s Securing our Future Now: S&T’s Path Forward webinar series.
The virtual event with representatives from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and Sandia National Laboratories touched on cross-government R&D partnerships for building a strong cyber defense and resilient communities.
- Partnered with U.S. Customs and Border Protection to improve operations by creating a migrant models integration decision support tool to evaluate how resource, policy or process changes impact the flow of migrants. Decision makers used model results to inform White House leadership and members of Congress and avoid over $1 billion in costs.