Designing Actionable Solutions for a Secure Homeland (DASSH) Student Design Challenge 2024
In a collaborative endeavor between SENTRY and the Center for Accelerating Operational Efficiency (CAOE), the 2024 Designing Actionable Solutions for a Secure Homeland (DASSH) student design challenge encouraged student-powered problem-solving in the homeland security landscape. From February 23rd to 25th, graduate and undergraduate students gathered virtually and in-person to solve challenges hindering the protection of soft targets and crowded places.
Guided by mentors from academia and industry, 33 participating student teams were presented with real-world scenarios related to this year’s theme, “Cascading Events.” Teams were tasked with choosing and addressing one of three intricate problem statements focused on detecting and mitigating threats such as cyber-attacks, natural disasters, and human-engineered sabotage.
The event commenced with a warm welcome from SENTRY Director, Michael Silevitch, and CAOE Executive Director, Ross Maciejewski who played a pre-recorded video from the Under Secretary for the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate (DHS S&T), Dimitri Kusnezov. Following this, Dr. Juan Lopez Jr. from DHS S&T presented a keynote address focused on industrial control systems and open-source software within the critical infrastructure security and resilience program. Dr. Lopez delved into the intricacies of cascading events and shared practical tips to empower students in navigating the complex problem statements ahead, as detailed below;
Problem Statement 1: “How do we anticipate, detect, and mitigate AI-enabled cyberattacks on interdependent U.S. critical infrastructure—and manage related consequences—during a time of enhanced tension?”
Problem Statement 2: “How might we mitigate or recover from an adversarial attack on city infrastructure that is exacerbated by a major heat wave that is affecting the power grid?”
Problem Statement 3: “How might we mitigate and recover from cascading effects of a large earthquake and tsunami in Northern California that destroys roads, ports, electrical, sewage, and water infrastructure leading to disease propagation?”
Among the 33 participating teams, 6 included students from SENTRY’s partner institutions, with 19 SENTRY student researchers represented. Notably, two of these teams were awarded following their final presentations; Huskies and Moder’s Sentinels, who placed second and third respectively for their solutions to problem statement 2. These teams and their members are as follows: SENTRY student researchers indicated in bold.
Huskies – Second Place, Problem Statement 2
- Surya Sai Brahmendra Ramoju, Northeastern University
- Sri Likhitha Anuganti, Northeastern University
- John Yehti Rajulu, Northeastern University
- Hari Chandana Kannuru, Northeastern University
- Rohit Varma Mudundi, Northeastern University
- Sahita Bonthu, Northeastern University
Moder’s Sentinels – Third Place, Problem Statement 2
- Jonathan Bergeron, Northeastern University
- Avin Laali, Rutgers University
- Zhixiong (Robin) Duan, Rutgers University, SENTRY Student Leadership Council
- Shengyuan Feng, Rugters University
Surya Sai Brahmendra Ramoju, from the winning Huskies team, shared, “The most thrilling part of the event for me was the intense, hands-on collaboration. Our team used a strategic blend of innovation and commitment, targeting the resilience of urban infrastructure against a cyber-attack and heatwave. We integrated solar energy solutions, AI and drone surveillance for security, and a mobile app for medical access, using technology for enhancing public safety and urban resilience.”
Zhixiong (Robin) Duan, from the winning Moder’s Sentinels team, described the best part of the event as the time spent with their team to deconstruct the problem statement. “We developed a cascading model and an incident assessment equation that accounted for human factors,” Robin explained. “Based on these models, we derived a solution to direct socially vulnerable citizens to energy-efficient facilities for cooling and other treatment. This approach reduced power demand while alleviating pressure on critical infrastructure such as hospitals and the traffic system.”
The event concluded with a presentation from Greg Simmons of DHS S&T, sharing opportunities for students to stay involved in Homeland Security through the Minority Serving Institution and Workforce Development Programs. Encouraging student engagement is a priority for both SENTRY and DHS S&T. The value of our students in the Homeland Security Enterprise was well demonstrated by this year’s DASSH participants, who produced innovative and creative solutions to real-world problems.
Ramoju explains, “This wasn’t just about solving a problem; it was a profound experience of learning, growing, and pushing boundaries. The dynamic interplay of creativity, challenge, and the shared goal of making a tangible difference was unforgettable. This journey of discovery and teamwork is a testament to what we can achieve together.” SENTRY looks forward to creating continued opportunities for student engagement through these annual DASSH student challenges and plans to work closely with the SENTRY Student Leadership Council to envision new ways to support our students.
