Senior Government Leaders Gathered to Discuss CWMD Challenges and Solutions

On December 11, 2019 Noblis participated in a high-level discussion of countering weapons of mass destruction (CWMD) that included senior officials from DHS, DOD, FBI, the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), U.S. Army and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). This event was co-hosted by FCW, Defense Systems and Noblis. Read more about the event in these in these articles:

• Government Technology Insider: Using Collaboration to Protect Against and Counter Threats from Weapons of Mass Destruction
• Government Technology Insider: Experts from the Department of Homeland Security, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, and Noblis Discuss the Danger of Weapons of Mass Destruction and How Data can Mitigate the Threat
  
• Government Technology Insider: Mapping to Robust Protection Against WMDS Requires Better Data Sharing, Updating Legacy Systems, and Common Data Architecture
• Event Recap: WMD In the Digital Age – Data is emerging as a viable and potent early warning system
• FCW: Efforts to counter WMD threats complicated by data challenges
• Defense Systems: WMD management complicated by data challenges
• DVIDS: Industry Acclimates to DTRA CWMD Mission Space and Expertise

The administration’s National Security Strategy addresses the growing threat of WMD terrorism, as well as biological threats and pandemics. A significant chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear weapon event against the U.S. or our allies would have profound impacts worldwide.

Preventing and responding to such threats demands renewed focus from leaders in both government and industry, and the aggressive use of new tools, technologies, and data sources. At the December 11, 2019 event, the second Noblis sponsored event on this topic, the speakers discussed the evolving risks and the innovative thinking required to stay ahead of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive (CRBNE) threats.

Program and Speakers:

• Welcome and Opening Remarks
  • Jordin Cohen, Ph.D., VP Defense & Homeland Security, Noblis
• Keynote – A Holistic Approach to Countering WMD
  • Gary Rasicot, Acting Assistant Secretary, CWMD Office, Department of Homeland Security
• Panel – Mapping Tomorrow’s Threat Matrix – What Today’s Data Tells Us
  • Ed Lawson, Director of Integration, Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense
  • Sam Lee, Intel Section Chief, WMD Directorate, FBI
  • Amanda Richardson, Chief of R&D Operations, Research and Development Directorate, Defense Threat Reduction Agency
  • Donna Wilt, Ph.D., Senior Scientist and Strategic Advisor, Noblis
• The Threat of Biological Weapons – A discussion of current research and available defenses
  • Sterling Thomas, Ph.D., Fellow and Chief Scientist, Defense & Homeland Security, Noblis
• Panel – Better Detection Tools – Beyond Traditional Sensors
  • Frederick Cox, Ph.D., Director of Research and Technology Chemical Biological Center
  • Michael V. Walter, Ph.D., Senior Advisor, Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office, Department of Homeland Security
  • Dr. Mark Wrobel, Program Manager, Defense Sciences Office, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
• The Potential (and Limits) of New Technologies
  • Ronald Hann, Jr., Director, Chemical and Biological Technologies Department, Defense Threat Reduction Agency