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| Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency | |
|---|---|
| Name | Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency |
| Formed | 2018 |
| Jurisdiction | United States Department of Homeland Security |
| Headquarters | Washington, D.C. |
| Chief1 name | Director |
| Parent agency | United States Department of Homeland Security |
Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency is an innovation office created to accelerate applied research and advanced development for United States Department of Homeland Security mission needs. Modeled on agencies such as Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, and National Institutes of Health, it focuses on transition of technologies into operational use by organizations like United States Customs and Border Protection, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and Transportation Security Administration. The agency interacts with research performers across the National Laboratories, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, and University of California, Berkeley.
The office was established following legislative action in the aftermath of reviews tied to Homeland Security Act of 2002 reform and recommendations from reports such as those by the Congressional Research Service and panels including members from National Academy of Sciences and Office of Management and Budget. Early milestones involved memoranda of understanding with Department of Defense entities and pilot initiatives inspired by rapid-technology efforts like DARPA Grand Challenge and programs at Defense Innovation Unit. Key historical engagements included collaborations after events such as Hurricane Maria, operations linked to 2015 European migrant crisis best practices, and responses informed by incidents including Boston Marathon bombing.
The agency’s mission echoes language found in authorizing statutes passed by the United States Congress and aims to accelerate novel capabilities for agencies including U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and U.S. Secret Service. Objectives emphasize technology transition, rapid prototyping, and risk reduction for systems used by Customs and Border Protection field units, Federal Protective Service personnel, and Transportation Security Administration checkpoints. Strategic goals align with national strategies like the National Strategy for Critical and Emerging Technologies and guidance from the Office of Science and Technology Policy.
The office is organized into programmatic portfolios reporting to a director appointed under civil service or political appointment rules reflected in the Presidential Appointment framework. Major offices mirror constructs at DARPA and include portfolio leads for areas analogous to biodefense, cybersecurity, and resilience although structured for the Department of Homeland Security context. It maintains liaison relationships with components such as Science and Technology Directorate (DHS), regional coordination hubs like FEMA Region IV, and interagency partners including Department of Energy and Department of Health and Human Services.
Programs have ranged from rapid prototyping efforts to multi-year development work with contractors, grantees, and consortia including Lockheed Martin, Booz Allen Hamilton, Raytheon Technologies, and academic teams from Carnegie Mellon University. Project examples include sensor fusion demonstrations for border surveillance modeled after lessons from the U.S.–Mexico border contingencies, synthetic biology readiness projects influenced by Global Health Security Agenda priorities, and maritime domain awareness pilots engaging Port of Los Angeles and U.S. Navy assets. Prize competitions and challenges have drawn inspiration from the XPRIZE Foundation and leveraged platforms similar to In-Q-Tel investments.
R&D priorities target detection, attribution, and mitigation capabilities relevant to threats cataloged in documents like the National Terrorism Advisory System briefings and assessments by Department of Homeland Security Office of Intelligence and Analysis. Emphases include chemical and biological detection integrating advances from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, remote sensing approaches validated by NASA, resilient communications interoperable with Federal Communications Commission policy, and AI/ML systems compatible with standards discussed by National Institute of Standards and Technology. Workstreams also consider supply-chain resilience informed by studies from U.S. Chamber of Commerce and cyber-physical security following Equifax data breach lessons.
Collaborative frameworks include cooperative research and development agreements with Argonne National Laboratory, cooperative ventures with universities such as Johns Hopkins University, and joint projects with industry consortia like MITRE Corporation. International cooperation has engaged partners from United Kingdom, Canada, and organizations like North Atlantic Treaty Organization for interoperable approaches. Public-private partnerships leverage procurement pathways used by General Services Administration while aligning with policies from Small Business Administration to include small businesses and startups.
Funding derives from appropriations enacted by the United States Congress and allocations within the Department of Homeland Security budget, with supplemental funding mechanisms used in response to crises authorized by legislation such as the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act. Budget priorities are debated in hearings before committees including United States House Committee on Homeland Security and United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Grant mechanisms, cooperative agreements, and other transaction authorities are used to distribute funds to institutions like Los Alamos National Laboratory and firms on lists such as the Small Business Innovation Research winners.
Oversight is exercised through Congress via annual budget hearings, inquiries by inspectors like the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General, and audits by Government Accountability Office. Compliance and ethics reviews align with standards from the Office of Government Ethics and procurement oversight conducted alongside Federal Acquisition Regulation guidance. Programmatic performance metrics are periodically evaluated against strategic plans similar to those used by National Science Foundation to ensure transition of capabilities to operational units such as Customs and Border Protection field commands.
Category:United States federal agencies Category:Science and technology in the United States