SINET Innovation SummitMassachusetts Institute of Technology

October 4, 2011

Tara O’Toole, M.D., M.P.H. Under Secretary for Science and TechnologyU.S. Department of Homeland Security

Key Points

Homeland Security missions: cover broad scope of problems and operations, complex, dynamic

Value Proposition of DHS Science and Technology Directorate (S&T)

How do we build national innovation ecosystem?

Possible directions for government, academia and private sector

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Department of Homeland Security

The Core Missions

1. Preventing terrorism and enhancing security;

2. Securing and managing our borders;

3. Enforcing and administering our immigration

laws;

4. Safeguarding and securing cyberspace; and

5. Ensuring resilience to disasters.

Evolution of Terrorist Attacks in AviationTime Event/Threat Vulnerability Response

1970’s Hostage/Hijacking Guns, weapons Magnetometers

1988 Pan Am 103, Lockerbie Bomb in baggage Baggage scans

Sept 2001 WTC, PA, Pentagon Box cutters, etc TSA

Dec 2001 Richard Reid Shoe bomb Shoes removed

2004 Chechen suicide attacks Vests Pat downs, backscatter

2006 Heathrow liquids plot Novel liquid bomb Liquids ban

2009 Non-metallic body bomb Body bomb in sensitive area

ETD, WBI, pat down

2010 Printer cartridge bombs Explosives packed in cargo

Trace detection for cargo

US Airline Flight Density

Sources:Koblin

Worldwide Land and Sea Shipping Density

Sources: Uchida, Nelson

Visualization of the Internet

Sources: OPTE Project

Deepwater Horizon

Sources: Reuters, Wikimedia Commons

Three Near-Simultaneous DisastersMagnitude 9.0

Sources: AP, Reuters

Complex Systems Fail Complexly

“In complex industrial, space, and military systems,

the normal accident generally (not always) means that

the interactions are not only unexpected,

but are incomprehensible

for some critical period of time.”

- Charles Perrow, Normal Accidents, 1984

DHS S&T MissionStrengthen America’s security and resiliency by providing

knowledge products and innovative technology solutions

for the Homeland Security Enterprise

S&T Value Proposition

• S&T’s contributions to the Homeland Security Enterprise will come from:

• Creation, of new technological capabilities and process enhancements

• Cost savings due to technological innovation and analytics• Leveraging scientific and engineering expertise to achieve

improvements in operational analysis, project management and acquisition management

• Progressively deeper, broader understanding of homeland security technology priorities and capability gaps

Goal 1: Transition to Use

Provide knowledge, technologies, and science-based solutions that are integrated into homeland security operations, employing 24-36 month innovation cycles from project inception through operational testing

Strengthen relationships with DHS components to better understand and address their high-priority requirements

Become “best-in-class” at technology foraging – find and use what’s out there; encourage and enable multidisciplinary teams

Focus on rigorous project selection and regular review of the entire R&D portfolio

Implement processes that strengthen project management, evaluation, and accountability within the Directorate

Rapidly develop and deliver knowledge, analyses, and innovative solutions that advance the mission of the Department

1. Is our portfolio making a significant impact on our customer’s mission?

2. Are we transitioning relevant products to the field?

3. Is our investment positioning the organization for the future?

4. Are we clear on what we are trying to achieve?

5. Do we have the appropriate level of customer interaction?

6. Are we sufficiently innovative in the way we approach our challenges?

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Impact?

Transition?

Technical Positioning?

Clarity of Purpose?

Customer Involvement?

Innovation?

Portfolio Analysis: Key Questions

Innovation as Goal

“The greatest change of all is probably that in the last 40 years purposeful innovation – both technical and social – has itself become an organized discipline that is both teachable and learnable.

…every organization will have to learn to innovate – and innovation can now be organized and must be organized – as a systematic process.

On the one hand, this means every organization has to prepare for the abandonment of everything it does…..On the other hand, every organization must devote itself to creating the new.”

-Peter Drucker, The New Society of Organizations, 1992

W. Brian Arthur, The Nature of Technology

“In the cases I have studied, again and again I am struck that innovation emerges when people are faced by problems – particular, well-specified problems.

It arises as solutions to these are conceived of by people steeped in many means – many functionalities – they can combine.

It is enhanced by funding that enables this, by training and experience in myriad functionalities, by the existence of special projects and labs devoted to the study of particular problems, and by local cultures that foster deep craft. “

Innovation in DHS S&T“Top heavy bureaucracies remain innovation sink holes.”

Steven Johnson, Where Good Ideas Come From, 2010

DHS S&T Innovation Advantages - Deep understanding of “the problem” Multidisciplinary teams Emphasis on near-term development, transition to use: technology

foraging, leverage others’ investments Rich opportunities for operational test beds, pilots, T&E Capacity to partner with private sector, academia, other federal

agencies, internationally Convening power

What’s Needed New hubs and vehicles for sustained intellectual sharing,

collaboration Common, comprehensive understanding of problems to

be solved System solutions – not just technology fixes New partnerships between US government and other

players: discussion groups, collaborations, grants, contracts

Faster transition to use in the field Clear, repeated, public descriptions of purposes and

stakes

“The single most frequent failure

in the history of forecasting

has been grossly underestimating the

impact of technologies”

- Peter SchwartzPresident, Global Business Network