The Designing ACTIONABLE Solutions for a Secure Homeland (DASSH) Student Design Challenge has officially concluded, delivering inspiring and impactful results. Hosted by the Center for Accelerating Operational Efficiency (CAOE), a center within the Global Security Initiative (GSI) at Arizona State University (ASU), in partnership with Soft Target Engineering to Neutralize the Threat Reality (SENTRY) at Northeastern University, this dynamic, hybrid event challenged participants to develop innovative solutions to real-world homeland security problems.
Over three intensive days, 160 students from 15 universities, forming 37 teams, collaborated to tackle some of the most pressing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) challenges related to artificial intelligence (AI). Participants engaged with complex problem scenarios exploring AI adoption, operational efficiencies within DHS, and AI-enabled threats to critical infrastructure—all while competing for a share of the $50,000 prize pool.
A Challenge That Matters: Problem Statements Focused on AI & Homeland Security
This year’s DASSH challenge pushed the boundaries of innovation, demonstrating the power of collaboration, critical thinking, and cutting-edge technology in shaping the future of homeland security. DASSH 2025 focused on the growing influence of AI in society, particularly its risks and opportunities for homeland security. Participants selected one of three problem statements addressing AI adoption, operational efficiencies for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and AI-enabled threats to critical infrastructure. The three problem statements were:
- How can we establish a broader comfort with AI to enhance its usage by DHS personnel and in society at large?
- How can DHS leverage AI, particularly large language models (LLMs), to improve efficiency in its operations?
- How do we mitigate the potential for AI-enabled attacks on critical infrastructure?
Teams collaborated with mentors and industry experts, receiving guidance throughout the event as they developed and honed their solutions. On the final day, students presented their solutions to a distinguished panel of judges, including DHS professionals, academic leaders, and security experts. A total of 15 schools participated, including Arizona State University, Northeastern University, Johnson C. Smith University, University of the District of Columbia, North Carolina Central University, San Diego State University, University at Buffalo, Rutgers University, Seton Hall University, City College of New York, Stevens Institute of Technology, Penn State, Elon University, Elizabeth City State University, and Rutgers University.
Let’s Celebrate the Winners 🎉
After an exciting round of final presentations, student teams secured top honors for each problem statement, earning cash prizes to be split between the members for their innovative solutions:
Problem Statement #1: Winners
🥇 First Place: Quartz (ASU) – $10,000
🥈 Second Place: NSF Seton Hall University (Seton Hall) – $5,000
🥉 Third Place: Manual Intelligence (ASU) – $2,500
Problem Statement #2: Winners
🥇 First Place: KPS (ASU) – $10,000
🥈 Second Place: Team BEC (City College of New York & Rutgers) – $5,000
🥉 Third Place: UB GenAI Mavericks (University at Buffalo) – $2,500
🏅 Tied for Fourth Place:
- Golden Bulls (Johnson C. Smith University)
- Extended Warranty (ASU)
🏅 Honorable Mention: MoneyWell (ASU)
Problem Statement #3: Winners
🥇 First Place: DASSHing Ducks (Stevens Institute of Technology) – $10,000
🥈 Second Place: Captain AmerIca (University of the District of Columbia) – $5,000
🥉 Third Place: Cyber Psyche (ASU) – $2,500
A Huge Thank You
DASSH 2025 was made possible through the support of DHS and the leadership and coordination of the CAOE team, including Executive Director Ron Askin, Director Ross Maciejewski, Associate Director Anthony Kuhn, and Associate Director Beth Jones, for their coordination and vision. SENTRY, a DHS Center of Excellence at Northeastern University, co-hosted the event and was another crucial component of the event’s success. We also appreciate the invaluable contributions of Assistant Director Amy Bennett, the CAOE and SENTRY staff, and the Devils Invent Team at ASU’s Fulton Schools of Engineering, whose efforts ensured DASSH 2025 was successful.
DASSH 2025 would not have been possible without the guidance and expertise of our academic partners, the planning committee and our distinguished mentors and judges, who generously shared their knowledge and provided valuable feedback to student teams. We are incredibly grateful to our dedicated mentors and judges, whose guidance and expertise were instrumental in shaping this competition and providing invaluable insights to our student teams!
Mentors:
- Nina Shamsi
- Russell Webster
- Dr. Daniel McCarville
- Aniirudh Ramesh
- Kevin Kapadia
Judges:
- Dr. Greg Reis
- Lee Kair
- Dr. Laura Parker
- Dr. Petar Jevtic
- Katrina Bach
- Dr. Chris Dolan
- Darby LaJoye
- Shital Thekdi
- Dr. Amy Askin
- Matt Green
We extend our deepest gratitude to all who participated, supported, and made DASSH 2025 a success. Your dedication to solving complex security challenges will help shape the future of homeland security.
