The Homeland Defense (HD) Digest is a curated bi-weekly news summary from worldwide sources, showing headlines of innovative, emerging technologies in HDIAC's eight focus areas.

HDIAC ANNOUNCEMENTS:

HDIAC Webinars – Introduction to U.S. Nuclear Testing: 1945 – 1992 - HDIAC.org

Join HDIAC Thursday, February 18, from 1200 to 1300 EST for a webinar presentation titled "Introduction to U.S. Nuclear Testing: 1945 - 1992." Please register in advance for the webinar at: https://www.anymeeting.com/PIID=EF59D680834631 The U.S. ended all underground nuclear tests in the early 1990s in the lead-up to the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, conducting its last explosive nuclear test in September 1992.  That test was the 1054th announced full-scale nuclear test performed by the United States.  In this webinar, Los Alamos National Laboratory Senior Historian Alan B. Carr surveys the era of nuclear testing within the historical context of World War II and the Cold War.  Attendees will learn why, where, and how the U.S. conducted nuclear tests.  Mr. Carr will also discuss how the data collected continues to help ensure the safety and reliability of U.S. nuclear deterrence.

In Case You Missed It: HDIAC Webinars – Understanding and Responding to Biological Threats - HDIAC.org

In recent years, terrorist propaganda campaigns have published materials that extol the merits of attacking the United States and its allies through the use of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high yield explosive weapons.  Further, numerous terrorist groups have attempted to develop CBRN weapons and some have employed them through a variety of means.  In order to address the operational implications of such events, it is important to be aware of common threat methodologies, be familiar with potential target locations, and understand the ramifications of such attacks.  This webinar will focus primarily on the biological threat, as a biological attack against people could be used to cause illness, death, fear, societal disruption, and economic damage; likewise, an attack on agricultural plants and animals could result in economic damage, loss of confidence in the food supply, and possible loss of life.  This webinar will provide a "snapshot" of this continuously evolving attack vector and give an overview and assessment of the threat posed by biothreat agents.

RECENT HEADLINES:

USS Ronald Reagan Begins 2nd Round of COVID-19 Vaccinations - Defense.gov

Sailors assigned to the Navy's only forward-deployed aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan, began receiving the second shot of the COVID-19 vaccination on Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan on Feb. 2.

Offshore Wind Plugs Energy Into Homes and Businesses Back on Shore - NREL.gov

Flip a switch and the lights come on. That's what Americans expect, thanks to an electricity grid that feeds energy from renewable and traditional sources into millions of homes and businesses.

Advantages and Challenges of Nuclear Energy - Energy.gov

Nuclear energy protects air quality by producing massive amounts of carbon-free electricity. It powers communities in 28 U.S. states and contributes to many non-electric applications, ranging from the medical field to space exploration.

DHS Seeks to Improve Communication Between Public Safety Agencies in Joint Emergency Response Scenarios - DHS.gov

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) jointly announced today that the Integrated Justice Information Systems (IJIS) Institute will spearhead a $268,000 project to develop interoperability standards for Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) systems used by the Nation's public safety agencies.

S&T Collaborates with Federal Partners to Improve Air Domain Awareness at the Northern Border - DHS.gov

The northern border between the U.S. and Canada serves as an important conduit for trade and travel into the country. However, safeguarding and securing this vital point of entry presents unique challenges.

DOD Announces Rare Earth Element Award to Strengthen Domestic Industrial Base - Defense.gov

Lynas Rare Earths Ltd, the largest rare earth element mining and processing company outside of China, has been awarded a Defense Production Act (DPA) Title III technology investment agreement to establish domestic processing capabilities for light rare earth elements (LREE).  LREEs are critical to numerous defense and commercial applications, including petroleum refining, glass additives, and magnets used in electric vehicle drivetrain motors and precision-guided munitions.  Upon completion of this project, if successful, Lynas will produce approximately 25 percent of the worlds' supply of rare earth element oxides.

On the Extension of the New START Treaty with the Russian Federation - State.gov

President Biden pledged to keep the American people safe from nuclear threats by restoring U.S. leadership on arms control and nonproliferation. Today, the United States took the first step toward making good on that pledge when it extended the New START Treaty with the Russian Federation for five years.

National Terrorism Advisory System Bulletin - DHS.gov

The Acting Secretary of Homeland Security has issued a National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) Bulletin due to a heightened threat environment across the United States, which DHS believes will persist in the weeks following the successful Presidential Inauguration.  Information suggests that some ideologically-motivated violent extremists with objections to the exercise of governmental authority and the presidential transition, as well as other perceived grievances fueled by false narratives, could continue to mobilize to incite or commit violence.

Department of Energy Launches Spring 2021 Geothermal Collegiate Competition - Energy.gov

The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Geothermal Technologies Office announced the launch of the Spring 2021 Geothermal Collegiate Competition.

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