News Release

DHS Expanding Programs for Protecting Citizens, Official Tells IEEE Homeland Security Conference Attendees

WALTHAM, MASS. (12 May 2009) — The Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate (DHS-S&T) doesn’t need technical solutions to problems that don’t exist.

“The idea of people coming to us with solutions looking for problems is inefficient not only for the private sector, but for DHS,” said Dr. Thomas A. Cellucci, the first chief commercialization officer at DHS-S&T. “It’s better for us to articulate our detailed requirements and then share that information with private solution developers.”

Cellucci was speaking to attendees at the ninth-annual IEEE International Conference on Technologies for Homeland Security (HST 09) at the Westin Waltham Boston Hotel on Tuesday.

DHS-S&T, through its SECURE program, seeks to form partnerships between the agency and private companies to develop solutions that meet the needs of the department’s operating components, first responders and other stakeholders like critical infrastructure/key resources owners and operators. DHS also acts as a catalyst between small companies that possess vital innovation and larger firms and investors.

Cellucci is willing to talk with anyone who can help protect U.S. citizens.

“We need the assistance of the university community, the national labs, as well as the scientists and engineers within the private sector,” he said. “I’m a real believer in the marketplace of ideas, and certainly DHS doesn’t have the market cornered on good ideas. I believe we have a new paradigm of being very open to people’s suggestions, and we want to take a hard look at their technologies, products and capabilities.”

Cellucci also discussed the First Responder Capstone Integrated Product Team (IPT), DHS-S&T’s 13th Capstone IPT area. Other IPT areas include information sharing/management; border security; chemical defense; maritime security; infrastructure protection; and cyber security.  

As a former volunteer firefighter and EMT, Cellucci understands the requirements of the nation’s 25.3 million first responders.

“I have what I hope is a special connection with the first responders,” said Cellucci, who still serves as a commander for a civil defense unit in Texas. “These are true heroes; they really are the people who run into buildings when other people are running out. It’s been a real privilege and honor for me to develop programs, such as SECURE, to assist the first-responder community.”

The IEEE Boston Section produced HST 09 with organizational support from IEEE-USA. The annual event focuses on innovative technologies addressing some of the nation’s most-pressing national security problems. Peer-reviewed presentations were made in the areas of weapons of mass destruction detection; border & maritime; counter IED (improvised explosive device); disaster response; and critical infrastructure protection.

In addition to DHS-S&T, conference organizers received technical assistance from the Domestic Nuclear Detection Organization and the National Nuclear Security Administration.

In celebration of IEEE 125th anniversary, HST 09 featured an IEEE Engineering the Future Global Event Series reception Monday night for conference attendees and invited guests. It was one of eight celebrations being held worldwide throughout the year. IEEE President John Vig and Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems Technical Director William Kiczuk were featured speakers.

IEEE-USA advances the public good and promotes the careers and public policy interests of more than 210,000 engineers, scientists and allied professionals who are U.S. members of IEEE. IEEE-USA is part of IEEE, the world's largest technical professional society with 375,000 members in 160 countries. See http://www.ieeeusa.org.

Contact: Chris McManes
IEEE-USA Public Relations Manager
Phone: 1 202 530 8356
E-mail: c.mcmanes@ieee.org

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++