Homeland Defense & Security Digest

22 May 2023

Featured Technical Inquiry

Nefarious Uses of Biological/Biochemical Additive Manufacturing (AM)

This technical inquiry is related to the HDIAC webinar “Printing Destruction: AM, WMD, and the Emerging Challenges to Security” presented by Gregory Nichols and in support of the presentation “Illicit Weapons Production:  Assessing Gaps in Additive Manufacturing Security” at the 2023 International Conference on Advanced Manufacturing.  The research and publications supplied to the inquirer could be summarized with potential nefarious utilizations of AM on weapons […]

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Voice from the Community

Nancy Smalley

Director of Growth for Innovative Technology Solutions

Nancy Smalley is the Director of Growth for Innovative Technology Solutions at Parsons Corporation, where she seeks opportunities to combine technology with analysis and bring new solutions to the industry. She has over 17 years of experience supporting the defense and intelligence industry. She recently completed her graduate degree at Harvard University, where she studied the intersectionality of government policy and sustainability, with a particular focus on alternative energy as a national security priority.

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Featured News

3D Rendering of Fermilab's electron beam accelerator prototype.

Researchers at Fermilab Develop Electron Beam Accelerator to Sterilize Medical Equipment

During the manufacturing process, many medical devices or equipment for use on humans must be sterilized according to recognized standards. This includes gowns, surgical drapes, syringes, and implantable medical devices. In fact, the United States has a huge medical device sterilization industry, regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The industry is expected to grow considerably in the coming years. The most common medical […]

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Recent News

Modified interior of a CONEX container, fitted for medical use.

Agile Processes Using Minimum Viable Product Strategies Enable Hardware Development to Deliver Capabilities at Speed

In 2020, the Department of Defense outlined its DOD Instruction 5000.02, “Operation of the Adaptive Framework,” to provide program managers with a variety of options for acquiring weapons systems and defense capabilities. Its goals included…

Depiction of an alpha helix flanked by scientists and robotic arms.

NIST, Nonprofit Research Consortium to Develop Safety Tools for Synthetic Biology to Defend Against Potential Misuse of AI

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has entered a two-year cooperative research agreement with the nonprofit Engineering Biology Research Consortium (EBRC) to develop screening and safety tools to defend…

Inoperable ammunition being burned in an outdoor field.

Determining Alternative Technology Solutions for the Army’s Disposal of Excess, Obsolete, and Defective Munitions

The U.S. Department of Defense sustains combat readiness through safe and efficient disposal of excess, obsolete, and defective munitions at a rate sufficient to keep pace with new generations of munitions and to control overall…

NSF Spurs Technology Development of Biological and Chemical Sensing Applications

The U.S. National Science Foundation is investing $10.4 million to develop innovative technologies and solutions to address a wide range of challenges related to chemical and biological sensing. Through this investment, 16 multidisciplinary teams have…

3 Military Personnel participating in firearms training

Forward Deployable Preventative Medical Unit Enhances Combat Effectiveness With Comprehensive Weapons and Threat Recognition Training

SUFFOLK, Va. – This year, the Forward Deployable Preventative Medical Unit (FDPMU) participated in a first-ever Weapons and Threat Recognition Training Course, specifically designed and tailored for the unit’s unique mission. FDPMUs are rapidly, deployable,…

10 people outside discussing a topic.

DoD Releases Strategy to Build Resilient, Healthy Environments for Service Members and Families

The DoD Strategy for Resilient and Healthy Defense Communities sets forth the Department’s commitment to fulfilling what defense leaders say is a national security imperative and moral obligation to provide the total force with healthy,…

S&T Under Secretary Dr. Dimitri Kusnezov and several colleagues sitting at a conference.

Preparing for Extreme Weather Events

Last week, the Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) joined colleagues from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), NASA, and the National Weather Service for an immersive extreme weather risk and preparedness workshop at the…

Upcoming Events

Nuclear Tower Stacks along river bank emits vapor clouds. Sun sets behind tower stacks.

The 2nd Annual Nuclear Energy Security Summit

This 2024 Summit is gathering an assembly of government and industry leaders, subject matter experts, and regional stakeholders to chart a transformative path for advanced nuclear power technology that aligns with both U.S. and international…

The 18th Annual RadWaste Summit

Connect with decision-makers from both commercial and federal radioactive waste sectors in one platform, gain first-hand insights on the latest industry updates, projects, and policies, and engage in collaborative discussions on topics ranging from safety…

An Explosion in a field.

Fundamentals of Explosives Short Course

The Fundamentals of Explosives 3-day course examines the chemistry of explosives, the physics of detonation waves to include their initiation, and the issues involved in safe handling and characterizing these. Explosive output and coupling to…

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Radiation Testing, Gas Testing, Chemical Testing, Exercise, Hill Air Force Base, Ready Eagle, Medical Readiness Training

The 34th Annual National Radiological Emergency Preparedness Conference

The Mission of the National Radiological Emergency Preparedness (NREP) Conference is to provide a professional forum for individuals involved with the Radiological Emergency Preparedness programs to gather in the spirit of continuous self-improvement to share…