DARPA-like Office Proposed for Homeland Security

August 12, 2002

A draft report from the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) recommends the Department for Homeland Security include a centralized office for research and technology development and the senior-level position of undersecretary for science and technology, according to several published reports. The final version of Maximizing the Contribution of Science and Technology Within the New Department of Homeland Security, which was available on the PCAST website temporarily, is to be given to the President next week.

News accounts indicate the PCAST recommendations will bring the Administration's position to reflect more closely the consolidated leadership structures proposed in separate Senate and House versions of Homeland Security legislation. PCAST calls for the under secretary for S&T to oversee a Homeland Security Advanced Research Agency (HS-ARPA), modeled after the Defense Adanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Both bills under consideration call for an undersecretary for science and technology, while S. 2452 also called for a Security Advanced Research Projects Agency, according to National Journal's TechDaily.

The new HS-ARPA would fund research and development projects conducted by academic institutions and private industries.

The American Association of Universities's account says the report also calls for establishing two Homeland Security Research and Development Coordinating Councils that would coordinate the department's R&D efforts with other governmental agencies. One council would work with federal agencies, and the other would work with state and local agencies. Either a new laboratory would be established or one of the existing national labs would be reorganized to handle the agency's internal R&D needs.

The AAU also says the report calls for establishing federally financed R&D centers that would assess terrorist threats and ways to counter those threats.

When available, the final version of Maximizing the Contribution of Science and Technology Within the New Department of Homeland Security should be available through http://www.ostp.gov/PCAST/pcast.html.

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