Homeland Security

Expert Technical and Analytic Support to DHS Missions

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and IDA formed an enduring collaboration within weeks of the department's establishment in 2003. Today, as the challenges facing the Homeland Security Enterprise (HSE) continue to grow in complexity, IDA researchers continue to apply their operational and analytical expertise to help solve these challenges. IDA performs research supporting every DHS mission and helps answer the department's strategic, tactical and operational questions. We have also supported DHS headquarters offices and several operating components, as well as other federal sponsors in law enforcement, intelligence, emergency preparedness and response, and defense responsible for the nation’s larger homeland security mission and objectives. IDA prides itself on the ability to both serve and bring together sponsors and stakeholders across the federal government, the DHS and the HSE, including state and local governments, first responders and the private sector.

IDA serves as a trusted partner, supporting the DHS and the HSE by providing analyses of the most complex and demanding research questions. We provide our HSE sponsors with timely, authoritative and objective analyses of important homeland and national issues, many of which have significant scientific and technical content. We bring experienced staff, an established ability to attract and collaborate with outside experts, a dedication to quality, a reputation for trustworthiness and a commitment to sponsor satisfaction. Further, IDA has served as a long-term operational analysis partner, developing institutional memory while providing independent, rapid, responsive and high quality analyses. IDA has continuously supported the department’s missions while adapting to the continuously evolving homeland security environment.

IDA already works diligently with the DHS to engender this trust and build relationships with DHS components, state and local governments, and the private sector. IDA’s research leverages its operational and analytical expertise, trusted relationships with federal and other partners, and proven record of transformational analyses to bring together key leaders in the homeland and national security spaces and provide answers encompassing the full spectrum of challenges from acquisition of homeland security technologies to the study of policy and regulation. 

Prevent Terrorism and Enhance Security

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  • Applying the Common Risk Model to the Dams Sector.
  • Procedures for Implementing the SAFETY Act.
  • Technology Trends in Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) and Counter UAS: A Five Year Outlook.
  • Emerging Critical Infrastructure R&D Task.
  • Global Nuclear Detection Architecture Capability Based Assessment.
Secure and Manage Borders
  • DHS Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (PPBE) Support and Program Analysis.
  • United States Coast Guard Intelligence in the Near Future (FY13-18).

Enforce and Administer Immigration Laws

No research related to this mission area has yet been cleared for public release.

Safeguard and Secure Cyberspace

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  • An Integrated Approach for Physical and Cyber Security Risk Assessment: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Common Risk Model for Dams.
  • Improving Governance and Budget Execution Oversight at the DHS National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD).
  • Operational Test and Evaluation of the Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation (CDM) Program in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
  • Operational Test & Evaluation of the National Cybersecurity Protection Systems (NCPS) In the Department of Homeland Security.

Enhance Resilience to Disasters

  • Domestic Fixed-Wing Airlift Requirements.
  • Protection Table Top Exercises.
  • Environmental Surveillance Analysis of Alternatives.
Strategies and Initiatives
  • DHS PPBE Development.
  • Homeland Security Information Sharing.