SPAWAR/DHS Research Office

SPAWAR/Department of Homeland Security
Research Office

Established fall 2006, the SPAWAR/Department of Homeland Security Research Office supports the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Charleston, S.C. and the Systems Support Division, Office of Grants and Training, Department of Homeland Security. GMU graduate students working closely with SPAWAR and DHS program managers investigate and review the performance and evaluation of commercial off the shelf and government off the shelf technology with potential application to emergency responders. Activities include investigation and review of advanced and emerging technologies, collection and dissemination of data, conducting surveys and interviews, preparation of presentation materials, participation in the editorial process for publications, liaison with academic, governmental, and community organizations, planning of seminars and meetings, and other administrative initiatives as required. The results derived from the research efforts directly benefit national programs to develop technology for emergency responders.

SPAWAR Research Office Staff

Research Office Staff

Allan Turner, Research Professor

Dr. Turner is a member of the Administration of Justice faculty and recently completed an assignment as a Senior Fellow with the Department of Homeland Security where he developed a program to conduct operational validation of technology for emergency responders. The Operational Validation program places selected technology in the hands of emergency responders and evaluates how the devices are used under local operational conditions, the impact of the equipment on operational policies and procedures, and if the devices effectively meet operational requirements. Technologies have included image intensifiers, thermal imagers, automated video security systems, biometrics, and risk/vulnerability assessment models. Special emphasis is placed on soft targets (i.e. schools, campus, hospitals etc.) Professor Turner previously served as a Visiting Scientist at the National Institute of Justice, conducting research on the application of biometrics, contraband detection, tracking and monitoring, and other security technology used by corrections and law enforcement organizations.

Jayme McKinley, Graduate Research Assistant

Jayme is in her second year in the Justice, Law, and Crime Policy Graduate Program and projects to complete her M.A. in May 2007. She attended James Madison University for undergraduate studies, where she received a B.A. in Sociology, with a minor in Criminal Justice. After graduation from JMU, she was the office manager and legal assistant at the general practice law firm of Thumma & Carr, P.C for one year. Jayme also interned for Prince William County’s Department of Risk Management for two summers. Last year, Jayme worked with Professor Tom Coyle and the Introduction to Criminal Justice courses. Her current research interests are in offender reentry, organizational theory, restorative justice/diversion, and corrections.

At the SPAWAR/DHS Research Office, Jayme is currently working on the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office report on the PVS-14 image intensifier, the GMU AVSS demonstration, and also designed the evaluation for CEDAP’s training in Orlando, August 2006 and is currently working on the report.

David McClure, Graduate Research Assistant

Dave is currently pursuing his Masters in the Justice, Law, and Crime Policy Program. He graduated from the University of Georgia in 2006 with cum laude B.A.s in Criminal Justice and Political Science as well as a minor in Philosophy. Dave has interned for the Susan Hicks Family Law Firm, The Organized Crime and Narcotics Section of The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, and the Justice Policy Center of the Urban Institute. While at the USAO-D.C., Dave worked with a small team of AUSAs, FBI Agents, and MPD Officers toward the prosecution of a large RICO case. Also, he authored a program evaluation of D.C.’s Project Safe Neighborhoods Program. During the time he spent at the Urban Institute, Dave primarily worked on three separate projects: an evaluation of a specific faith-based rehabilitation program for released prisoners located in Nevada; a survey of D.C. community organizations designed to create a measure of community involvement; and, a further research component of the D.C.-PSN Program. His major research interests include prosecution, judicial process, and legal theory.

At the SPAWAR/DHS Research Office, Dave is working on evaluations of products designed for use by emergency responders. Additionally, Dave is compiling a database of all other such product evaluations that have been conducted to serve as a resource for emergency responders interested in the applied use of new technologies and equipment.

Current Projects

Seattle, WA

The Research Office has supported the DHS Grants and Training System Support Operational Validation Program and the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center (SPAWARSYSCEN), Charleston in conducting a multi-phased operational validation on a suite of commercial night vision technology products. The goal was to identify the specific night vision technology products that most effectively enhance mission operations within the emergency responder community using the opinions of community experts.

During Phase I SPAWARSYSCEN Charleston used the results of earlier SAVER testing and evaluation to identify four night vision technology categories:

1) Full-Size Handheld Thermal Imagers (firefighting)

2) Compact Handheld Thermal Imagers (firefighting)

3) Tactical Handheld Long-Range Thermal Imagers

4) Handheld Intensifiers

During Phase II, SSD and SPAWARSYSCEN Charleston convened focus groups and conducted training sessions with members from five Seattle, Washington-area emergency responder agencies: Seattle Fire Department, Issaquah Police Department, Eastside Fire and Rescue, Bainbridge Fire Department, and Bainbridge Police Department. During the focus group sessions, SPAWARSYSCEN Charleston documented the agencies’ existing mission needs and current operating procedures, and whether the needs and procedures involved the aid of night vision technology. Hands-on training sessions enabled the groups to interact with two products from each category.

In Phase III, each department used the equipment for a period of approximately 180 days and then documented their findings. All of the information was gathered and analyzed, and a report was created to document how the equipment has impacted operational policies and procedures and if the devices effectively meet operation requirements. The intent of this report is to disseminate information gathered from the operational validation project to aid responders in deciding whether to procure night vision equipment and to share lessons learned from the emergency responders who participated. This project was completed and a final report will be available to responders in October 2006 through the SAVER website (http://saver.tamu.edu).

George Mason University (Fairfax, VA)

A project is currently underway at George Mason University to operationally validate an automated video security system. The objective of the project is to use a robust risk assessment model (HLS-CAM) to assess a major urban university campus, utilize the findings to assist in strategically placing automated video security technology, and evaluate how the technology is used under local operational conditions, the impact of the technology on operational policies and procedures, and if the technology effectively meets operational needs.

Overall project management is provided by the Systems Support Division with operational project management provided by SPAWARSYSCEN Charleston. HLS-CAM training and assessment is provided by the National Domestic Preparedness Coalition and video technology experts are provided by Scientific Research Corporation. Booz Allen Hamilton provides project evaluators. Emergency responder participants include the George Mason University Police Department and Safety Department.

The validation is a multi-phase Operational Validation. During Phase I, the HLS-CAM methodology was used to identify and assess threats to the University and identify the University’s critical facilities, critical infrastructure, and events.

George Mason University participants, with the assistance of HLS-CAM facilitators, then prioritized University critical infrastructure and key resources (CI/KR) using the HLS-CAM Criticality Assessment and the HLS-CAM M/D-SHARPP Matrix. GMU responders, along with the SPAWAR technical experts reviewed the prioritized list and selected areas and facilities where video equipment would best serve the University.

The project is currently in Phase II, where evaluators have established a baseline for current procedures in situations where the automated video security system will be applied. The use of the technology will be monitored for up to 90 days. During this time evaluators will monitor the application of the technology. At the end of the validation period, evaluators will again examine operations to note any changes in baseline procedures after the introduction of the technology.

Publications highlighting lessons learned will be disseminated to emergency responders through the SAVER website. Particular emphasis will be placed on the effective application of technology, whether operational procedures remain the same or if different combinations of procedures involving the new technology emerge, training and maintenance of equipment, impact on mission effectiveness, and performance of the technology under operational conditions. A final evaluation report will be compiled after the project end date and will be made available through the SAVER website.

Jackson County, MS

During June 2006, a program began in Jackson County, MS working with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office to evaluate Night Vision equipment. Given the recent events in the Gulf Coast region, Systems Support Division, DHS believed it especially important to capitalize on their unique experiences in order to field test equipment. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office was provided ten PVS-14 night vision devices and trained for two days on the equipment. The Sheriff’s Office is now utilizing the night vision equipment and will evaluate its operational capabilities. After the evaluation period is completed, a final report will be produced and disseminated to responders through the SAVER website.

Pittsburg, NH

This project will support the state of New Hampshire’s initiatives including interdiction of drug trafficking, illegal immigration, and search and rescue. The objective of the project is to use a risk assessment model (HLS-CAM) to assess a rural community, utilize the findings to assist in strategically inserting security technology, evaluate how the technology is used under local operational conditions, and if the technology effectively meets operational needs.

The project offers excellent potential for the validation of a variety of equipment under realistic operational conditions. It is anticipated that several validation projects will be conducted at key sites throughout New Hampshire. A final report will be compiled after the project is completed and be available through the SAVER website.