Tag Archives: VA

DHS’s Commitment to Innovation

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Under its umbrella mission of "securing the nation from the many threats we face," the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) defines several mission areas critical to meeting this goal. These include countering terrorism and preventing threats, securing and managing borders, administering immigration, securing cyberspace, building resilience, and responding to incidents, as well as combating crimes of exploitation. To support these areas, the DHS Innovation, Research & Development Strategic Plan defines eight scientific areas as focal points for research:

  • Advanced sensing
  • AI and autonomous systems
  • Biotechnology
  • Climate change
  • Communications and networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Data integration, analytics, modeling, and simulation
  • Digital identity and trust

In a previous post, we looked at DHS's work with artificial intelligence (AI), digital identity, and climate change. In this post, we'll take a look at the activity happening in more of these eight areas. Continue reading →

AI and National Security

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Artificial Intelligence (AI) can greatly improve human efficiency and deliver insights that drive decision-making. However, for all of its benefits, AI also introduces security risks both for the organizations that are using it and for the nation at large. The National Security Memorandum (NSM) on Artificial Intelligence, released in the fall of 2024, details national security strategy and policy toward AI. While this particular guidance is aimed at agencies directly involved in national security, its three high-level policy objectives should be part of every agency's AI strategy.

  1. Maintain U.S. leadership in the development of advanced AI systems

A key focus is on not just using AI but driving responsible AI development. To do so, the U.S. needs an AI-capable workforce. This means having the experts that develop the technology as well as training the operational and tactical workforce in how to best use it. Continue reading →

A Look at Homeland Security Innovation Strategy

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The mission of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is to "secure the nation from the many threats we face." An underlooked key to this statement is the word "many." Agencies under the Department are responsible for managing our borders, protecting the nation from cyber and physical threats, and supporting recovery from natural disasters and cyber attacks. To meet this mission, DHS has been embracing innovative approaches and emerging technology to supplement the efforts of the workforce charged with meeting these varied threats.

The DHS Innovation, Research & Development Strategic Plan laid out eight scientific areas as focal points for research to support national security:

  • Advanced sensing
  • AI and autonomous systems
  • Biotechnology
  • Climate change
  • Communications and networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Data integration, analytics, modeling, and simulation
  • Digital identity and trust

As part of its work in each of these areas, DHS will be researching how emerging technology can support mission efforts as well as the risks technology poses to national security. In this blog, we'll take a look at the activity in a couple of these areas. Continue reading →

Meet the Chief AI Officer

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The executive order (EO) on artificial intelligence, issued in October of 2023, calls on agencies to designate a chief artificial intelligence officer (CAIO) responsible for coordinating AI use, promoting AI innovation, and handling AI-related risk management within their agency. Efforts are underway to codify this mandate, with bills introduced in the House and Senate that would turn the EO recommendation into law.

In the year since the mandate and in advance of legislated requirements, agencies have worked to not only fill but define this new CAIO role. In some instances, CAIO duties have been added to the job description for an existing executive--typically the chief data officer or chief technology officer--but in others, a stand-alone position has been created to meet the agency's AI needs. Continue reading →

Securing the Machines that Drive our Democracy

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The devices used in voting are relatively low-tech. In order to avoid cyber threats, even those that use a touch screen to capture votes are intentionally not connected to the internet. However, even this unconnected approach has security risks that need to be addressed so that these devices and the data they hold aren't tampered with. The states and localities that administer elections are continually focused on the full spectrum of security risks, putting processes and systems in place in advance of election day to ensure that voting is safe and secure.

Diversity is a Strength

The diversity of voting machines being used across the country reduces threat impacts. If there is an issue with a piece of software, it won't impact the entire national voting system, just particular machines. While software vulnerabilities are still huge problems, standardizing on one type of machine nationwide would mean one software bug could wipe out all electoral results. Continue reading →