Mission
ALERT is a multi-university Department of Homeland Security Center of Excellence (COE) with three primary objectives: 1) Conduct transformational research and technology development for effective detection, mitigation and response to the explosives related threats facing the nation. 2) Establish systemic connections to the Department of Homeland Security Center of Excellence University Network and beyond to the broader academic community to facilitate collaborative links to find and develop the best solutions to national threats. 3) Build an outstanding educational program that focuses on the development of a highly effective Department of Homeland Security workforce.
The ALERT research program is driven from the top down by inspiring “Grand Challenges” such as ultra-reliable screening or unequivocal pre- and post-blast mitigation. The Grand Challenges lead to the definition of the four core research thrusts – F1: Physical and Chemical Characterization of Explosives Materials, F2: Novel Sensor Modalities and Sensor Configurations, F3: Multisensor Systems and Alternative Signatures for Threat Detection and Identification and F4: Mitigation of Explosive Effects. Examples of cutting-edge projects within these thrusts include: neutralization of improvised explosives mixtures, stand-off terahertz spectroscopy, multi-modality imaging, video anomaly detection, and advanced blast resistant composite materials. The ALERT academic team in collaboration with its industrial and national laboratory partners, focuses on transitioning research into fieldable systems such as a multi-mode suicide bomber detection system and a portable chemical vapor “sniffer” for detection and forensic investigations.
The ALERT educational program includes pre-college, undergraduate, graduate and career professional components. Examples include distance-learning courses in Homeland Security Technologies and an Engineering Leadership Program available to DHS personnel nationwide, and a "High-Tech Tools and Toys" lab for college freshmen. A Response Advisory Board provides guidance on research directions, and educational program plans, to assure the best information and education on new threat detection and mitigation technologies for first responders such as the Secret Service, TSA, police, fire-fighters, and EMT's.
In summary, ALERT brings together a proven university- national laboratory-industry team to help combat the vast array of explosives-related threats to our homeland.
Homeland Security Centers of Excellence
The Homeland Security Centers of Excellence (HS-Centers) bring together leading experts and researchers to conduct multidisciplinary research and education for homeland security solutions.
The centers are authorized by Congress and chosen by the Department's Science & Technology Directorate through a competitive selection process. Each center is led by a university in collaboration with partners from other institutions, agencies, laboratories, think tanks, and the private sector.