DHS Border and Maritime Security Division

DHS Border and Maritime Security Division
Agency overview

Formed	2003
Jurisdiction	United States
Headquarters	DHS Nebraska Avenue Complex, Washington D.C.
Agency executive	Mrs. Anh N. Duong, Director
Parent agency	DHS Science and Technology Directorate
Website	DHS Border and Maritime Security Division

The Border and Maritime Security Division (BMD) is a division of the Science and Technology Directorate of the United States Department of Homeland Security. Within the Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency, BMD develops tools and technologies that improve the security of the United States's land borders and waterways.^[1]

Focus

The 2007 High Priority Technical Needs Brochure published by Homeland Security defines critical focus areas for Border and Maritime research, falling primarily under the categories of border security, cargo security and maritime security.^[2]

Border security

Improved ballistic protection via personal protective equipment
Improve detection, tracking, and identification of all threats along the terrestrial and maritime border
Non-lethal compliance measures for vehicles, vessels, or aircraft allowing for safe interdiction by law enforcement personnel
Non-destructive tools that allow for the inspection of hidden or closed compartments to find contraband or security threats
Improved analysis and decision-making tools that will ensure the development/implementation of border security initiatives
Ability for law enforcement personnel to quickly identify the origin of gunfire and classify the type of weapon fired
Ability for law enforcement officers to assure compliance of lawful orders using non-lethal means

Cargo security

Enhanced screening and examination by non-intrusive inspection
Increased information fusion, anomaly detection, Automatic Target Recognition capability
Detect and identify WMD materials and contraband
Capability to screen 100% of air cargo
Test the feasibility of seal security; Detection of intrusion
Track domestic high-threat cargo
Harden air cargo conveyances and containers
Positive ID of cargo & detection

Maritime security

Wide-area surveillance from the coast to beyond the horizon; port and inland waterways region - detect, ID, and track
Data fusion and automated tools for command center operations
Vessel compliance through non-lethal compliance methods
Enhanced capability to continuously track contraband on ships or containers
Improved ballistic personal protective equipment for officer safety
Improved WMD detection equipment for officer safety; improved screening capability for WMD for maritime security checkpoints

References

Agencies under the United States Department of Homeland Security

Headquarters: Nebraska Avenue Complex Jeh Johnson, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security

Deputy Secretary	United States Coast Guard Immigration and Customs Enforcement Citizenship and Immigration Services Customs and Border Protection Federal Emergency Management Agency Federal Law Enforcement Training Center United States Secret Service Office of Operations Coordination Transportation Security Administration Office of Health Affairs Office of Policy Office of Immigration Statistics Homeland Security Advisory Council

National Protection and Programs	National Protection and Programs Directorate Federal Protective Service Office of Cybersecurity and Communications Office of Infrastructure Protection US-VISIT

Science and Technology	Science and Technology Directorate Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency Explosives Division Chemical and Biological Defense Division Border and Maritime Security Division Human Factors and Behavioral Sciences Division Infrastructure Protection and Disaster Management Division Cyber Security Division (National Cybersecurity Center)

Intelligence and Analysis	Office of Intelligence and Analysis

Management	Management Directorate

Law enforcement in the United States Terrorism in the United States

This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Department of Homeland Security.

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