91 Spring 2025 Proceedings Focused on the Future First Responder Research Supporting public safety across land and sea by aLice hoNG Laboratory Director National Urban Security Technology Laboratory The National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL) plays a crucial role in supporting America’s first responders. Organized within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T), NUSTL is renowned for its contribu- tions to the national first responder community, provid- ing tools, technology, and guidance to help them address both persistent and emerging threats. Based in downtown New York City, NUSTL oper- ates in one of the most complex and densely populated urban environments in the United States, serving a city of over 8.5 million residents, nearly 1 million structures, and mass transit systems that span air, land, and sea corridors. In parallel, the Coast Guard’s Research and Development Center (RDC) focuses on research for pro- tecting America’s 95,000 miles of maritime borders and 15,000 miles of waterways. Together, NUSTL and the RDC have formed a strong partnership, leveraging each other’s expertise to enhance public safety across land and sea. The two labs share a two-pronged common pur- pose—striving to keep the nation safe and securing it from a multitude of threats and hazards. NUSTL’s spe- cific focus on supporting front-line responders drives a partnership marked by collaboration and trust, as well as the sharing of resources, risks, and knowledge. NUSTL serves a range of public safety sectors, includ- ing the fire service, law enforcement, and emergency management. First responders are actively involved throughout research, development, and test and evalua- tion (RDT&E) projects, offering crucial insights at focus groups and evaluating technologies during field tests. The challenges faced by state and local first responders are often mirrored by the Coast Guard, leading NUSTL and the RDC to deploy similar tools in the field, such as laser protective eyewear, thermal imagers, and real-time language translation tools. By cross-pollinating techno- logical solutions, NUSTL and the RDC achieve mutu- ally beneficial outcomes. The power of the NUSTL-RDC partnership within the Homeland Security Enterprise is invaluable, as it unlocks synergies, mitigates risks, and drives innovation to advance the front-line missions of our customers. Additionally, many of NUSTL’s customer agencies also have maritime responsibilities, and for these proj- ects, the lab turns to the RDC for expertise in maritime technology and response. That is because the RDC is not just building a better buoy—though they have that covered—but is also executing future-focused research to improve situational awareness and crisis response capabilities that safeguard our waterways and maritime resources. This partnership is critically important when NUSTL works with first responders who must be prop- erly equipped for maritime assignments, which include search and rescue, crime prevention, law enforcement, and medical support. One example of this collaboration is the enhanced rescue hoist gloves project. Existing gloves used by responders for specialized helicopter hoist rescue opera- tions can degrade quickly due to friction from the cable, which exposes the wearers’ hands to injury or creates debris that can compromise the cable system. Responders required gloves that offered extended durability without sacrificing safety or hindering rescue operations, while also ensuring improved flexibility and comfort. DHS S&T sponsored the research and development (R&D) of abrasion-resistant glove materials and alternative designs that resulted in two prototype fingerless glove designs. NUSTL executed an operational field assess- ment to evaluate the prototype gloves against a range of search and rescue scenarios under realistic conditions, such as wind and rain. Not only did the RDC coordinate the test venue at the Coast Guard’s Aviation Technical Training Center in North Carolina, but it also provided valuable insights during the test planning and assess- ment. Findings from the operational field assessment were provided to the developers to make improvements before the enhanced hoist gloves are commercialized and avail- able for use by emergency response agencies, search and rescue teams, the U.S. military, and others. While NUSTL’s test and evaluation (T&E) influences technology development, it also informs acquisition and deployment decisions. NUSTL manages the System
