Washington, DC - As part of our DHS Unity of Effort initiative, I have directed an important new measure to unify the Department’s research and development (R&D) activities. Specifically, I have directed the establishment of Integrated Product Teams (IPTs). These IPTs will be charged with coordinating and prioritizing research and development across the Department in a number of areas, such as aviation security, biological threats, counterterrorism, border security, cybersecurity and disaster resilience.

The Department’s Under Secretary for Science and Technology (S&T) will serve as the overall lead for this effort, with direct involvement of senior leadership of the Department’s operating components.

These IPTs will help our Department better achieve a comprehensive understanding of all our research and development activities, and continue our move away from decisions made in stove pipes. They will promote the Department’s responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars, promoting efficiency while enhancing the effectiveness of our R&D enterprise.

The ever-evolving security needs of the Nation demand focused and prioritized research and development that informs DHS’s acquisition decisions. With the measure announced today, we will ensure that the Department’s R&D efforts, and those of our partners from across academia, national labs, the federal government, and industry, are most effectively brought to bear on the nation’s most pressing homeland security needs.