Securing the Future

Photo by xu bing/Getty Images

Program

The Homeland Security Operational Analysis Center (HSOAC) invites you to participate in a symposium to discuss current and future acquisition-related challenges and potential solutions. This annual series provides a unique forum for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and HSOAC researchers to candidly share important issues in the areas of acquisition, operations, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies, such as 5G, quantum, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning (ML). Presenters and panels will weigh in on current and future processes, frameworks for analysis, public perceptions of use of emerging technology, applications for acquisition gaming, and other operational considerations.

Since its initiation in 2008, DHS continues to review and update its acquisition management system to adapt and better address challenges, impacting every part of the acquisition life cycle. For example:

• DHS has made a series of changes to their requirements process to better understand capability gaps and how to assess potential solutions to those gaps.
• Organizations like PARM and OCIO are encouraging tailoring to help ensure that programs have the agility needed to meet mission needs.
• Programs are working to assess cybersecurity earlier in and throughout the acquisition life cycle in order to build a more robust program and to reduce programmatic, financial, schedule, and performance risks.

With an increased focus on analysis and planning come changes to all parts of the acquisition process, but what are the real-world effects of these changes? How will the acquisition management system need to continue to evolve to keep pace with the areas that experience the fastest change—innovation and emerging technology? Do these changes ultimately provide operators with the required capabilities to more effectively meet their missions?

In this symposium, subject matter experts from DHS, HSOAC, and elsewhere will gather to share experiences and expertise, consider lessons learned and best practices, and discuss how innovation, emerging technologies, and acquisition interact across the Department—all in order to better deliver the capabilities needed to secure the homeland in the future.

HSOAC is a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) operated by the RAND Corporation under contract with DHS.

Register for this Program

Attendance is by invitation only. Please email hsoacAQS@rand.org with questions. Invited guests, please register online to attend.