News
National Guard conducts large-scale cybersecurity training event in Utah
The United States National Guard (USNG) recently conducted Exercise Cyber Shield 2017 at Camp Williams in Utah, which trained more than 800 Army personnel in various aspects of cyber protection, network defense, forensic analysis, cyber tactics, and defense procedures against hackers and... Read More »
Daily platelet counts may help predict children at risk for dengue shock syndrome
According to a recent report by researchers from the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit in Vietnam, daily platelet counts in children experiencing the early stages of dengue virus infection can help predict those at risk of dengue shock syndrome (DSS). The study followed 2,301 children... Read More »
DHS awards contract to Asymmetric Technologies for sUAS enhancements
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate recently entered into a partnership with Asymmetric Technologies worth $199,814.31 to enhance small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) within Customs and Border Protection (CBP). CBP said its use of sUAS... Read More »
McCaul introduces counterterrorism funding bill for first responders
House Homeland Security Committee Chairman U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) introduced this week the Community Counterterrorism Preparedness Act, which aims to direct grant funding towards first responders so they may receive counterterrorism training in the event of a coordinated terrorist attack.... Read More »
CBP stops human smuggling attempt in Arizona
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents assigned to the Tucson Sector recently interdicted a human smuggling attempt at the State Route 86 immigration checkpoint near Three Points, Arizona. The incident began as agents stopped a Chevrolet Impala sedan with two visible occupants for a... Read More »McSally calls for expediting Douglas Port of Entry modernization project
U.S. Rep. Martha McSally (R-AZ) recently called on U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Acting Commissioner Kevin McAleenan to expedite the modernization of the Douglas Port of Entry (POE) in Arizona, which was last renovated more than 20 years ago. McSally also called for the construction... Read More »
Gen. Scaparrotti holds discussion on countering violent extremism with European chiefs of defense
Army Gen. Curtis M. Scaparrotti, commander of the U.S. European Command, recently hosted a discussion with dozens of senior NATO Leaders and European chiefs of defense on how to counter the threat of violent extremism. “This fight against terror and violent extremists will not be easy, nor... Read More »
National Nuclear Security Administration must address affordability issues with its modernization programs, according to GAO report
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently released a report on the National Nuclear Security Administration's (NNSA) weapon modernization programs, which stated that the agency needed to address affordability concerns in future budget estimates. GAO was tasked with publishing... Read More »
Bill to waive passport fees for first responders reintroduced in House
Fourteen members of the U.S. House of Representatives reintroduced this week the First Responders Passport Act, which allows the Secretary of State to waive passport fees for American first responders when making trips abroad to assist in natural disaster response efforts. The bipartisan group... Read More »
Katko’s airport employee screening enhancement bill advances House
The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed this week the Aviation Employee Screening and Security Enhancement Act, authored by U.S. Rep. John Katko (R-NY), which aims to strengthen security at the nation’s airports by providing enhanced screening procedures for airport and aviation... Read More »House advances bill incorporating children’s needs into future disaster planning initiatives
The U.S. House of Representatives passed this week the Homeland Security for Children Act, which requires future disaster preparedness planning initiatives to include the needs of children as well. The bill was introduced by U.S. Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr. (D-NJ). “Children are not tiny... Read More »
Sens. Rubio, Coons introduce airport counterterrorism screening bill
U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Chris Coons (D-DE) introduced this week the Counterterrorism Screening and Assistance Act, which aims to strengthen national security by coordinating with foreign partners to identify international airport vulnerabilities that could allow a potential terrorist to... Read More »
Sen. Cruz introduces EL CHAPO Act to use forfeited drug assets to pay for border security
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) on Tuesday introduced the Ensuring Lawful Collection of Hidden Assets to Provide Order (EL CHAPO) Act, which reserves forfeited assets from drug lords to pay for various security measures along the U.S.-Mexico border, including President Trump’s proposed border wall.... Read More »New coalition to create vaccines targeting infectious diseases that threaten public health
A new global coalition is laying the groundwork to achieve an ambitious goal of speeding up the development of vaccines to combat the spread of deadly emerging infectious diseases that pose great risk to public health. Launched in January, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations... Read More »
Four-day ICE operation in southeast Texas results in 95 arrests of previously-convicted undocumented migrants
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) division recently completed a four-day immigration operation, the result of which led to the arrest of 95 undocumented migrants with criminal histories throughout the southeast Texas area. The agency... Read More »
Ratcliffe’s cybersecurity bill receives companion legislation in Senate
A companion bill to U.S. Rep. John Ratcliffe’s (R-TX) Strengthening State and Local Cyber Crime Fighting Act of 2017 was recently introduced in the Senate by U.S. Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA). Grassley currently serves as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee,... Read More »
DARPA chooses Rockwell Collins’ cybersecurity technology to secure new defense platforms
Rockwell Collins was recently selected by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to apply its mathematics-based development processes to protect DARPA defense platforms against potential cyberattacks. Rockwell Collins’ methods were developed in conjunction with DARPA’s High... Read More »
BAE Systems unveils new three-dimensional warning system for aircraft
BAE Systems recently revealed its new three-dimensional advanced warning system (3DAWS), which includes a semi-active radio frequency 3D tracker, to increase aircraft survival rates in multi-threat environments. The system was designed with open architecture standards and can be integrated with... Read More »
Russian hacker receives 27 years in prison for widespread hacking, credit card fraud scheme
Roman Valeryevich Seleznev, a 32-year old Russian cybercriminal, was sentenced to 27 years in prison last week for defrauding various small businesses and financial institutions, causing more than $169 million in damages. Seleznev, known by the pseudonym Track2, was convicted in August of 38... Read More »
Salmonella, Campylobacter are most-common foodborne illnesses, according to CDC report
According to a report recently published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the most-reported bacteria causing foodborne illnesses in America last year were Campylobacter and Salmonella. Data was gathered through the CDC’s Foodborne Disease Active Surveillance... Read More »
NIAID announces $9 million in funding for seven Centers for Excellence in Malaria Research
In continuing its ongoing efforts into malaria research, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) recently announced $9 million in first-year funding for seven malaria research centers in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The seven-year awards are a continuance of... Read More »
DHS unveils new comparison tool for Trusted Traveler program
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently unveiled a new Trusted Traveler comparison tool, which helps prospective DHS Trusted Traveler applicants find programs that best matches their citizenship and travel preferences. DHS Trusted Traveler programs allow low-risk travelers to... Read More »
Biodefense advocates take on U.S. preparedness funding fight
With the nation’s signature preparedness law due for reauthorization in 2018, leaders now are readying public health stakeholders across local, state and federal levels for battle on Capitol Hill. Not only should those in the public health sector be battle-ready to support renewal of the... Read More »
New general manager named for MITRE Corporation’s Center for National Security
The MITRE Corporation recently named William LaPlante as its senior vice president and general manager of the company’s Center for National Security (CNS), which includes two federally-funded research and development centers focusing on security engineering and cybersecurity. LaPlante will now... Read More »
OPCW, University of Wuppertal hold educational courses for worldwide chemical safety
The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), in collaboration with the University of Wuppertal in Germany, recently held two courses that focused on loss prevention and safety promotion in the chemical industry, giving students important information on modern technical safety... Read More »
Sandia National Labs recognized for efforts in combating Ebola epidemic in West Africa
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently recognized Sandia National Laboratories for its efforts in combating the 2014-2016 Ebola virus disease (EVD) epidemic in West Africa. To address issues facing West African patients during the epidemic, Sandia researchers examined Liberia’s blood... Read More »
SIGA Technologies completes enrollment of Phase 1 clinical study for new smallpox treatment
SIGA Technologies, Inc. recently completed its enrollment and dosing of healthy individuals in a Phase 1 clinical study of TPOXX, an intravenous formulation intended for the treatment of smallpox and related orthopoxvirus infections. SIGA said the treatment is intended for patients who cannot... Read More »
Short-term funding in continuing resolutions is harming national security, says Sen. Boozman
U.S. Sen. John Boozman (R-AR) recently released an editorial, which stated that Congress’ use of continuing resolutions (CR) is harming national security due to its insufficient ability to rein in spending and allow agencies to plan for the future. “This chronic budget uncertainty makes it... Read More »
Emerging nations using nuclear power pose challenges for nuclear governance, according to a Global Nexus Initiative report
According to a recent report published by the Global Nexus Initiative (GNI), global nuclear governance is facing unprecedented challenges as non-traditional nations provide nuclear technology to emerging countries. The report was the product of a collaborative effort from leading experts from... Read More »
Researchers to present findings on causative agent of anthrax
Researchers specializing in anthrax bacterium Bacillus anthracis and its two related bacillus species, B. cereus and B. thurigiensis, will convene in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada for the International Conference on Bacillus ACT in October to present their work with more than 200 global... Read More »
New DHS nuclear forensics capability will help determine origins of radioactive materials
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO), in conjunction with researchers at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), recently launched a new capability that improves the department’s ability to trace the origins of plutonium. The... Read More »
New model needed for public health response, former CDC director says
The nation’s biodefense response to emerging diseases and outbreaks is on an endless loop that, without a proper foundation, is not allowing for progressive countermeasure operations, according to Merck Pharmaceuticals Executive Director Julie Gerberding, former director of the Centers for... Read More »
New index shows disparity in states’ first responder readiness, overall preparedness
The number of first responders available in any given state compared to that state’s population varies widely across America, according to Glen Mays, director of the national program office for the National Health Security Preparedness Index. “This is a critically important area where we see... Read More »
Soligenix to present results from ricin toxin vaccine program
Soligenix, Inc. will be presenting results from its ricin toxin vaccine (RiVax) development program at the 20th Annual Conference on Vaccine Research next week RiVax is a proprietary vaccine candidate used for the prevention of ricin toxin exposure that utilizes an antigen devoid of ricin... Read More »