Homeland Defense & Security

In this webinar, Mr. Mark Diglio, the US Army’s CBRN Survivability Program Manager, discusses the growing CBRN threat, CBRN survivability acquisition policy/requirements, renewed US Army priorities for CBRN survival, rapid acquisition initiatives, development considerations for survivability, mission critical concerns, and future survivability considerations.

In part one of this two-part podcast, HDIAC analyst Mara Kiernan interviews Dr. James Giordano, discussing the applications of neuroscience to national security. The discussion begins with a broad level conversation before narrowing the focus to warfighter neurocognitive enhancement.  Dr. Giordano provides insight into the current state of neurocognitive enhancement, potential future technologies, and the various challenges associated with its development and use.

The second installment of this two-part podcast continues the conversation with Dr. James Giordano on the implications of neurocognitive enhancement technologies.  Dr. Giordano discusses the ethical hurdles associated with such human enhancement technologies, the importance of building a competitive advantage, and considerations for continued innovation in this field.

Forensic DNA analysis has advanced significantly within the last 5 years and developments are beginning to be incorporated that will further push the boundaries of forensic science.  By harnessing single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) across the entire genome, forensic investigations are now being solved with the aid of innovative technologies developed by Parabon under DoD research contracts, many of which are now in use by the DoD.  In this presentation, Dr. Ellen Greytak will use real life case studies to provide an overview of new forensic technologies such as DNA phenotyping, distant kinship analysis, next-generation sequencing (NGS), and forensic genetic genealogy, discussing the technologies, their use, and their application to the DoD.

This presentation will report on recent analysis of the turn-on speed and dI/dt capability of the n-type SiC thyristors as compared to previously reported 15 kV SiC IGBTs and 15 kV p-doped SiC thyristors. Performance metrics will be described as power density vs. switching frequency and power transmitted vs. power dissipated within the device.

In this webinar, Chief Warrant Officer 3 US Marine Corps (Retired) Kerry O’Connell, Senior Training Manager, CBRNE/HAZMAT at the Guardian Centers of Georgia, provides an overview of the science and technology used in radiation detection and response. The presentation will start with an overview of basic radiation terminology, types of meters, and types of ionizing radiation before covering decontamination principles, techniques, and radiation dose understanding.

In this video podcast, CWO3, US Marine Corps (Retired) Kerry O’Connell interviews George Baade, Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) Specialist with the Fire Department New York (FDNY).  The conversation centers on radiation detection and response in New York City (NYC), with a spotlight on the types of HAZMAT threats that the FDNY most commonly responds to, some of the challenges of HAZMAT response in NYC, and the tools and technologies most useful to FDNY HAZMAT Specialists.

In this video podcast, HDIAC analyst Tara Barsotti interviews Monte Hawkins, Director of the National Vetting Center (NVC), in a conversation that overviews the NVC’s origins, mission, and operations.  The interview touches on NVC’s role in the watchlisting process, the future of border security, and the importance of information sharing in protecting the homeland.

In part two of this two-part podcast series, the conversation shifts to the rise of electrification and the intersection of the electric vehicle industry and the Department of Defense. Dr. Hart and Dr. Robyn also discuss the battery supply chain, touching on issues with foreign sourcing and production, as well as how best to educate the next generation about building toward sustainable energy solutions.

In part one of this two-part podcast series on Battery Technology and Impact on National Security, Dr. Hart and Dr. Robyn overview drivers of battery innovation and how the needs of both warfighters and military installations shape the Department of Defense's role in creating energy storage solutions. The future importance of different energy storage technologies that are currently in use is also discussed.

The webinar planned for March 10, 2020 has been postponed. We will provide information regarding the new date and time as soon as possible. As Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues to engage the world and its leaders, the HDIAC presents a Special Edition Webinar, hosting infectious disease expert, Dr. Stephen Thomas. Dr. Thomas will provide an overview of the epidemiology of the virus, information on transmission, its current global distribution, and cases and spread within the U.S. Dr. Thomas will additionally present details on the clinical manifestation of COVID-19, management, diagnosis, and prevention strategies.

In the third installment of Rethinking Culture in the Context of Civil-Military Relations, Dr. Zoli and Dr. Rubinstein continue the conversation around different cultural models of risk and security and discuss the broader impacts of taking a militarized approach to security abroad.

This presentation focuses on the role of communication, coordination, and collaboration for critical infrastructure resilience. The webinar will discuss the increasing importance of multi-stakeholder partnerships - across the public, private, and academic sectors - in promoting resilience within and across the four increasingly interdependent critical infrastructure sectors: energy, transportation, water, and communications.

In Part 2 of Rethinking Culture in the Context of Civil-Military Relations, Dr. Rubinstein and Dr. Zoli discuss the strategic effectiveness of DoD efforts to engage culturally in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as debate enduring questions regarding these efforts’ processes and outcomes.

In the second installment of this two-part series, Ambassador Rich Kauzlarich and Dr. Andrew Light discuss opportunities for global cooperation on energy innovation and climate policy. The conversation includes how the economic and development needs of India and China create opportunity for cooperation, the Paris Agreement, and China's Belt and Road Initiative.

In this presentation, a historical review of infectious disease-related combat injuries and deaths will be presented with an emphasis on the 1918 Influenza Pandemic during WWI, dengue and US Marine Forces in Saipan during WWII, dengue and US Forces Haiti and Somalia, malaria outbreak in US Marines deployed to Monrovia, and leishmaniasis and multi-drug resistant bacteria in US Forces during Persian Gulf War II. Lessons learned for future deployments will also be discussed.

This podcast is the first in a multi-part series discussing the impact of culture in the context of civil-military relations.  In this episode, Dr. Corri Zoli and Dr. Robert Rubinstein explore definitions of culture and discuss how different organizational cultures have led the U.S. military and humanitarian groups to pursue divergent on-the-ground security strategies in conflict zones.