Battelle, DHS work to enhance capabilities of the nation’s explosives-detection canine teams

A new initiative aimed at providing explosives-detection canine teams with the knowledge to better understand credibility gaps and provide vital education, testing and training throughout the country was recently announced by Battelle in partnership with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

The Regional Explosives Detection Dog Initiative (REDDI) involves teams of trainers, evaluators, and scientists from DHS’ Advanced Research Projects Agency who are dispatched to regional training events to approximately 4,000 canine teams with information on threat materials and recent attacks.

Participants also have the opportunity to train in relevant operational scenarios and receive odor training for a number of explosives situations.

“At Battelle, we have more than 20 years of experience in canine-focused research, development, testing, and evaluation,” Battelle Senior Research Scientist Kevin Good said. “With our teams of engineers, chemists, biologists, explosives experts and veterinarians, we are perfectly suited to provide the insight and tools necessary to understand and advance the performance of our nation’s canine teams.”

Currently, DHS’ canine program is working in conjunction with experts from Battelle, Johns Hopkins University’s Applied Physics Laboratory and the Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology Division.

The Columbus, Ohio-based Battelle said a number of events have already been held throughout the spring, as well as two follow-up events in Miami, Florida in June and Long Beach, California in July.