DHS Announces HSSTAC Meeting – 4-7-14

The DHS Science and Technology Directorate (DHS S&T) published a meeting notice in the Federal Register (79 FR 15354-15355) announcing a two-day meeting of the Homeland Security Science and Technology Advisory Committee (HSSTAC) starting April 7^th in Washington, DC. Most of the meeting will be open to the public. (NOTE: As of 05:30 CDT, 3-19-14, the HSSTAC web site is not accessible.)

The first day of the meeting will focus on DHS S&T interactions with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The discussions on April 8^th will include two topics of potential specific interest to readers of this blog:

• An update and discussion regarding the DHS S&T Cyber Security Division (CSD); and

• Project Responder, a project managed by the DHS S&T First Responder Group, which aims to systematically identify capability gaps for responding to catastrophic incidents. 

There will be a public comment period after these two presentations. Pre-registration for oral presentations is requested. Written comments may be submitted via the Federal eRulemaking Portal (www.Regulations.gov; Docket # DHS-2014-0003). Comments should be submitted before April 4^th.

The afternoon session on April 8^th will be closed to the public while the Committee:

• Receives a classified brief regarding emerging and disruptive technologies and technology trends (including the use of Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR)); and

• Hears an update from the Task Force on Third Party Pre-Screening regarding its progress on helping TSA to expedite physical screening by exploring private sector options; the results of private sector testing and evaluation.