Mr Joseph (Jay) Martin
Director of Research and Development Partnerships, S&T Directorate
US Department of Homeland Security
Jay Martin currently serves as the Director of the Research & Development Partnerships Group, within the Science and Technology Directorate (S&T), U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The R&D Partnerships Group brings technology from all sectors – government, industry, academia and from around the world into DHS to better protect the homeland and support the Homeland Security Enterprise (HSE). As the Director, Mr. Martin provides leadership and strategic policy guidance for the Office of University Programs, Office of National Laboratories, International Cooperative Programs Office, and Public-Private Partnerships. Mr. Martin actively oversees the five DHS laboratories supporting the department’s R&D needs in explosive detection, chemical and biological security research, agricultural bio-defense, and First Responder technology evaluation. As the Executive Agreement Director for the International Cooperative Programs Office, Mr. Martin guides international engagements and R&D programs through 13 active bilateral agreements with Science and Technology agencies around the world. Mr. Martin provides the strategic direction for the Directorate’s interagency coordination within the U.S. government. In this role, he seeks to leverage homeland security related research and oversees the execution of new cooperative agreements that address mission needs. His portfolio also includes industry outreach and engagement, leveraging private sector innovation and investments for multiple Science and Technology Directorate programs.
Before leading the R&D Partnerships Group, Mr. Martin served as the Acting Director to the First Responders Group (FRG) at S&T. FRG helps provide first responders at all levels—state, local, federal, tribal and territorial—with better technology for protecting the homeland. Mr. Martin focused on developing tools and technology for several evolving areas: communications technology, responder safety, information sharing and radiological/nuclear response, and recovery capabilities. He also oversaw FRG’s international engagements to develop partnerships and share technologies with response agencies and technology developers in other countries.
Mr. Martin has also served in other positions and capacities within the Department. He began his DHS career in the Office of Health Affairs (OHA), working for the Chief Medical Officer of DHS, where he had responsibility for the development and implementation of medical standards, guidelines and requirements for occupational and operational medical services, supporting the DHS workforce and those within its care and custody.
Prior to joining DHS in 2007, Mr. Martin worked for the Annapolis Fire Department, Annapolis, Maryland. He worked as a firefighter/paramedic, code enforcement official, fire prevention officer, and public information officer, retiring as a Captain in 2007 to come to DHS. Mr. Martin graduated from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, earning first a Bachelor’s degree in 2000, and then a Master’s degree in Emergency Health Services in 2002. He has an extensive background in first responder training and education, most notably with the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute and the National Fire Academy within the U.S. Fire Administration.
Mr. Martin is currently a first responder with the Dunkirk Volunteer Fire Department. He resides in Calvert County, Maryland with his wife Kelly and 6 children.