DHS Names 11 Institutions to Lead New Centers of Excellence
The Department of Homeland Security has chosen 11 of the country’s universities to serve as partners to conduct research and create learning environments for homeland security missions.

According to an article on the Occupational Health & Safety website, the universities will partner to lead one of five new Centers of Excellence and receive a multi-year grant of up to $2 million per year, over a period of four to six years. The centers will study: Border security and immigration; explosives detection, mitigation, and response; maritime, island, and port security; natural disasters, coastal infrastructure, and emergency management; and transportation security.

“Investments in long-term, basic research are vital for the future of homeland security,” Jay M. Cohen, under secretary for Science and Technology, told OH&S. “These colleges and universities are leaders in their fields of study. They will provide scientific expertise, high-quality resources, and independent thought--all valuable to securing America.”

Among the centers are:

• Center of Excellence for Border Security and Immigration (The University of Arizona at Tucson and University of Texas at El Paso)
• Center of Excellence for Explosives Detection, Mitigation and Response (Northeastern University and the University of Rhode Island)
• Center of Excellence for Maritime, Island, and Port Security (The University of Hawaii and Stevens Institute of Technology)
• Center of Excellence for Natural Disasters, Coast Infrastructure, and Emergency Management: (The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Jackson State University)
• Center of Excellence for Transportation Security: (Texas Southern University, Tougaloo College and the University of Connecticut)