Developing Research Priorities at DHS’s Science and Technology Directorate
Date: Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Time: 02:00 PM
Location: 2318 Rayburn House Office Building
Opening Statement By Chairman David Wu
I want to welcome everyone to this afternoon’s hearing on the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate. Research and development efforts at the Directorate are critical to supporting not just the missions of the agencies within DHS, but our country’s first responders. This subcommittee continues to do all it can to assist the Directorate in its mission to deliver quality technical solutions to all stakeholders.
In past hearings, this subcommittee has made many recommendations to the Directorate and I am very pleased to see that some of these recommendations have been acted upon. In response to stakeholder and Subcommittee requests, the Directorate has added a 13th Integrated Product Team—the First Responder IPT—to give local fire, rescue, and police workers a direct voice into federal research priorities.
I am also pleased to see that funding for basic research is now 20 percent of the Directorate’s portfolio. As you know, this Subcommittee firmly believes that basic research plays a critical role in the R&D process. By increasing the presence of basic research at the Directorate, it has shown a commitment to not only solve today’s problems, but position itself to meet future issues head-on.
While there have been many improvements at the Directorate, I continue to have many concerns. Although the Integrated Product Teams now include all of the major stakeholders, there seems to be an inconsistency with how efficiently and effectively the IPTs operate. I would like to hear from witnesses about ways we can ensure that the IPT process is properly organized to enable the highest levels of collaboration amongst the Directorate and its stakeholders.
Finally, there is one area of great concern that has yet to be addressed by the Directorate. Over the course of multiple hearings, this Subcommittee has expressed the need for a comprehensive threat assessment to use as a foundation for determining research priorities. The current strategic plan does little to define the direction of research activities and is not grounded in a comprehensive, formal threat assessment. It is unacceptable that plans are made without a proper analysis of threats and the dangers they pose, especially when considering that we rely on the Directorate’s plans to protect our country from future threats.
While I am encouraged by progress in many areas of the Science and Technology Directorate, I am increasingly frustrated at the lack of such a crucial element to the effectiveness of an almost one billion dollar research investment. I am eager to hear the witnesses’ expert opinions on these concerns and more, and would strongly encourage the incoming undersecretary to address these issues with the utmost urgency.
Witnesses
Panel
0 - Mr. Brad Buswell
Acting Undersecretary of the Science and Technology Directorate Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
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0 - Dr. Phil Depoy
Chairman Homeland Security Science and Technology Advisory Committee (HSSTAC) Homeland Security Science and Technology Advisory Committee (HSSTAC)
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0 - Mr. David Berteau
Senior Adviser and Director Defense Industrial Initiatives Group Center for Strategic and International Studies Defense Industrial Initiatives Group Center for
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0 - Dr. Cindy Williams
Chair of Committee on the DHS Science and Technology Directorate National Academy of Public Administration Shapiro Visiting Professor of International Affairs N
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