Recommendations for a consortium for research and development activities related to homeland security emerged from the Secure Virginia Initiative Panel in early fall 2002. Plans for the Institute for Defense and Homeland Security (IDHS) were developed in September 2002 by the Virginia Research & Technology Advisory Commission, a 29-member panel established to advise the Governor on research and technology strategies for the Commonwealth and make policy recommendations to enhance the global competitive advantage of research institutions and technology-based commercial endeavors.

Governer Mark R. Warner announced the creation of IDHS in February 2003, followed by a challenge to Virginia's public and private universities to increase expenditures to $1 billion by the end of the decade. Governor Warner's Education for a Lifetime Initiative

Virginia's Center for Innovative Technology (CIT) established and operates IDHS. An Executive Steering Committee representing academia, industry and federal and state government oversees the consortium's vision and policies. Funding for the Institute will come from the federal government, participating universities, industry partners and CIT. IDHS will initially reside at CIT's headquarters in Herndon.

IDHS is underwritten and operated by the Center for Innovative Technology (CIT).

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