News
Gomez named new SIGA Technologies’ new CEO
SIGA Technologies, Inc. recently appointed Dr. Phil Gomez as the company’s new CEO. "I am so pleased to be joining SIGA at such an exciting time for the company,” Gomez said. “I look forward to working with Eric and the entire SIGA team to continue to grow our company and deliver our... Read More »Üzümcü meets with Finland’s Stenlund to discuss CWC implementation
Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Director General Ahmet Üzümcü met with Finland’s Secretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs H.E. Peter Stenlund at OPCW headquarters in The Hague on Friday to discuss aspects of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). The... Read More »Ratcliffe holds first-ever Emergency Management Summit
U.S. Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-TX) recently hosted the first-ever Emergency Management Summit to help first responders in his district prepare for natural disasters that require federal assistance. The summit featured testimony and potential response plans from local emergency managers, country... Read More »Soligenix invited to present results from GI ARS program at Radiation Research Society meeting
Soligenix, Inc. was recently invited to the annual Radiation Research Society meeting to present preliminary results from its gastrointestinal acute radiation syndrome (GI ARS) program. Soligenix’s OrbeShield program is being evaluated as a potential medical countermeasure for both civilian... Read More »New nuclear weapons summit planned for Santa Fe, New Mexico
Creative Santa Fe (CrSF), the Nuclear Threat Initiative and N Square recently released plans for a new conference to discuss nuclear security and proliferation, called the Santa Fe Nuclear Weapons Summit. Former covert CIA operations officer Valerie Plame, actor Farshad Farat, data scientist... Read More »
NIAID Ebola study shows promise in ZMapp treatment
According to a recent clinical trial conducted by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), ZMapp was found to be a safe and effective treatment for Ebola virus disease, but more study remains. The trial, known as Partnership for Research on Ebola Virus in Liberia... Read More »Senators urge Obama administration to clarify position on Haiti in wake of cholera epidemic
A bipartisan coalition of U.S. senators recently urged the Obama administration in a letter to clarify their position on the growing cholera epidemic in Haiti. The group includes U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Edward Markey (D-MA) and Robert Melendez (D-NJ). “The... Read More »
Border Patrol agents apprehend six after vehicle chase near Interstate 8 checkpoint
Agents with the U.S. Border Patrol recently apprehended an individual for alleged human smuggling, as well as five illegal migrants, near the Interstate 8 checkpoint. The incident began on Wednesday when Border Patrol agents observed a group of five individuals traveling northbound by foot from... Read More »Vaccine researchers share steps needed to develop safe and effective Zika virus vaccine
A group of international vaccine experts recently shared a series of requirements for the development of a safe and effective Zika virus vaccine. The research group features experts from the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) at Galveston, the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and... Read More »
Soligenix invited to NORD conference to present preliminary Dusquetide, RiVax results
Soligenix, Inc. was invited to the National Organization for Rare Disorders’ (NORD) Rare Diseases and Orphan Products Breakthrough Summit on Tuesday to present preliminary data on the Dusquetide and RiVax programs. NORD’s Rare Diseases and Orphan Products Breakthrough Summit brings together... Read More »
ECBC demonstrates augmented reality technology for training exercises
The Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC) recently demonstrated its new augmented reality technology at the Association of the U.S. Army Annual Meeting and Exposition. ECBC’s augmented reality technology utilizes a head-mounted display to enable users to see virtual images for use as a... Read More »
NAFA releases white paper on cybersecurity for semiautonomous and fully-autonomous vehicles
The National Association of Fleet Administrator’s (NAFA) Fleet Management Association recently released a cybersecurity-related white paper regarding internet-connected vehicles and the ways a possible cyber hacker could exploit those systems. The white paper, titled “Fleet Management and... Read More »
OPCW holds training seminar for Eastern European officials on cross border chemical transfers
The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) recently held a training seminar for customs officials in Eastern Europe to strengthen their ability to uphold the global ban on chemical weapon. The seminar, held in Krakow, Poland on Sept. 27-30, featured 32 participants from such... Read More »
Sandia National Laboratory examines how IEDs explode
A Sandia National Laboratory research team recently used high-speed cameras, imaging techniques and advanced computer modeling to study fragmenting explosives. The Sandia research team wanted to study how improvised explosive devices (IEDs) come apart in explosions in order to lessen the damage... Read More »Payne says interoperability for first responders among biggest challenges
U.S. Rep. Donald Payne, Jr. (D-NJ) recently said that continuing to improve interoperability among first responders and ensuring that they have access to the best equipment and technology are his top goals. Payne, who serves as the ranking member of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on... Read More »USIC: Russian government may be responsible for email hacks
The U.S. Intelligence Community (USIC) recently publicly indicated that the Russian government may be responsible for hacking the emails of U.S. persons and organizations to compromise election results. USIC said that the trove of emails leaked to sites like WikiLeaks and DCLeaks.com was... Read More »
CBP arrests two, seizes four pounds of cocaine at George Bush Intercontinental Airport
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers stationed at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas, recently seized more than four pounds of cocaine and arrested two U.S. citizens in a single incident. “This smuggling attempt illustrates the lengths criminals will go to... Read More »
FBI issues list of notable cyber threats to increase cybersecurity awareness
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) recently released a list of notable cyber threats that have been affecting computer systems for citizens and businesses across the country. The FBI released its list, which includes ransomware, business email compromises (BEC) and intellectual property... Read More »
Althoff named DCPA of Border Patrol’s Grand Forks Sector
The U.S. Border Patrol recently appointed Andrew J. Althoff as the Grand Forks Sector’s new deputy chief patrol agent (DCPA). Althoff is now second in command of the Grand Forks Sector, which consists of Iowa, Kansas Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. The... Read More »Senators urge FCC to address impact of stingray technology on communities of color, emergency services
A group of 12 U.S. senators recently sent a letter to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Tom Wheeler urging him to address the potential impacts of stingray technology on communities of color. The concern stems from allegations that state and local law enforcement agencies have... Read More »McCaul releases report on financial revenue infrastructure of ISIS
ISIS continues to fundraise despite having a number of revenue sources cut off, according to a recent report released by House Homeland Security Committee Chairman U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX). The report, titled “Cash to Chaos: Dismantling ISIS’ Financial Infrastructure,” details how... Read More »HHS purchases two products to combat bone marrow-related radiological injuries
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) recently purchased two medical products to treat injuries to bone marrow in radiological or nuclear incidents. The products, called colony stimulating factors, work by... Read More »GAO: Improved procurement of land mobile radios by OMB could enhance interoperability
An improved procurement process of land mobile radios (LMRs) could enhance interoperability and cut overall costs, according to a recent report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). LMRs are generally used by federal agencies in public safety incidents, firefighting and emergency... Read More »
BARDA sponsors late-stage development of two tests for radiation absorption
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently sponsored the late-stage development of two different biodosimetry tests to determine how much radiation a human’s body has absorbed. The tests are intended for use in clinical health care laboratories that examine blood samples... Read More »
HHS awards funds to protect private sector healthcare providers from cyber threats
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently awarded cooperative agreements worth $350,000 to assist healthcare providers and public health sector partners to respond to potential cybersecurity threats. The funds were awarded through HHS’ Office of the National Coordinator... Read More »
HHS, BioProtection Systems collaborate to advance Ebola vaccine
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response recently entered into a $24.75 million contract with BioProtection Systems Corp. for the development of an Ebola vaccine. The contract comes in the wake of a two-year long battle... Read More »
McCaul releases terror threat “snapshot” for October
House Homeland Security Committee Chairman U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) on Wednesday released a monthly terror threat “snapshot” report to give insight into potential threats the country and its allies are currently facing. “The recent arrest in Maryland of an ISIS supporter plotting... Read More »Thompson voices support for implementation of Cybersecurity Act of 2015
U.S. Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) voiced his support on Wednesday for the implementation of the Cybersecurity Act of 2015. Thompson’s support comes in the wake of a U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) review of the department’s implementation of... Read More »
NNSA, Bulgaria complete implementation of nuclear detection systems
Representatives with the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DoE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), the U.S. Embassy in Bulgaria and the Bulgarian government recently completed Bulgaria’s new nuclear detection architecture. The representatives said that the new architecture will... Read More »
CBP AMO P-3 crews intercept two vessels smuggling large shipment of cocaine
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air and Marine Operations (AMO) agents recently apprehended multiple individuals and seized two vessels carrying approximately 2,700 pounds of cocaine in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. The incident began as two CBP AMO crews aboard a P-3 airborne early... Read More »FSR commits to NCSA’s Lock Down Your Login Campaign to increase cyber security awareness
The Financial Services Roundtable (FSR) recently publicly committed to the National Cyber Security Alliance’s (NCSA) internet safety and security initiative called “Lock Down Your Login.” The initiative was announced by the White House earlier this year and to help Americans better protect... Read More »
Legislators urge enhanced due process protections for individuals on no fly list
A group of legislators recently urged Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Jeh Johnson to ensure enhanced due process protections for individuals placed on the No Fly List. U.S. Reps. Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Ted Poe (R-TX) and Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) requested further clarification on the... Read More »
Alion names Zember chief technology officer
Alion Science and Technology appointed Christopher Zember as chief technology officer on Thursday. Zember’s new position places him in charge of the company’s future technology development. “Alion is positioned to respond to the DoD’s need for technology solutions that are developed... Read More »