DNDO Report


Book Description

My internship program was the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office Summer Internship Program. I worked at Los Alamos National Laboratory with Trevor A. Wilcox and Gregg W. McKinney in the NEN-5 group. My project title was "MCNP Physical Model Interoperability & Validation". The goal of my project was to write a program to predict the solar modulation parameter for dates in the future and then implement it into MCNP6. This update to MCNP6 can be used to calculate the background more precisely, which is an important factor in being able to detect Special Nuclear Material. We will share our work in a published American Nuclear Society (ANS) paper, an ANS presentation, and a LANL student poster session. Through this project, I gained skills in programming, computing, and using MCNP. I also gained experience that will help me decide on a career or perhaps obtain employment in the future.




DNDO Analysis Cell Concept


Book Description

The Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) has a mission of implementing rad/nuc interdiction capabilities for a managed and coordinated response to threats, integration of federal nuclear forensics programs, and coordinating the development of the global nuclear detection and reporting architecture. In the process of executing this mission, DNDO has generated substantial information, data, technical results, operational workflows and analytical tools. The effective utilization of these resources is an overarching goal of the organization. After nearly a decade of performing work, DNDO faces a challenge in capitalizing on the large amount of data, reports, processes, tools, and people. As new work is being planned, managers and researchers need to have an understating of what information has been collected, what tools are available, the collaborations which can be utilized to propel the work forward, processes to plan and execute, and how to present conclusions and results that can assist the government in making decisions. This type of challenge can be met through the use of a series of organized and connected elements which form a broader structure (cell) that promotes cross utilization of elements such that they can be tailored (analyzed) to fit the context of the problem to be solved. The development of an analysis cell for DNDO will address the challenges of utilizing existing elements, identifying gaps, annually reporting the performance of rad/nuc interdiction instrumentation, and planning the execution of future work.




Global Nuclear Detection Architecture


Book Description

The Global Nuclear Detection Architecture (GNDA) is a multi-layered system of detection technol., programs, and guidelines designed to enhance the nation¿s ability to detect and prevent a radiological or nuclear attack. Among its components are existing programs in nuclear detection operated by other fed. agencies and new programs put into place by the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO). Contents of this report: (1) Intro.: Fed. Efforts; DNDO; (2) What is the GNDA?: Layered Defense; Methodology and Metrics for Eval¿n.; Priority Setting; Interagency Coord¿n.; (3) Priorities and Funding Levels Within the GNDA; Balance Between Incremental and Transformational Changes to the GNDA; Long-Term Maint. of the GNDA; R&D Coord. Tables.




Nuclear Detection


Book Description

In April 2005, the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) was established to enhance and coordinate fed., state, and local efforts to combat nuclear smuggling domestically and overseas. DNDO was directed to develop, in coordination with the depts. of DoD, DoE, and State, a global strategy for nuclear detection -- a system of radiation detection equipment and interdiction activities domestically and abroad. This report examines: (1) DNDO's progress in developing programs to address critical gaps in preventing nuclear smuggling domestically; (2) DNDO's role in supporting other agencies' efforts to combat nuclear smuggling overseas; and (3) the amount budgeted by DoD, DoE, and State for programs that constitute the global nuclear detection strategy.




Combating Nuclear Smuggling


Book Description

This is a print on demand edition of a hard to find publication. The Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) develops and acquires equipment to detect nuclear and radiological materials to combat nuclear smuggling. Also Customs and Border Protection (CBP) purchases operating systems to detect nuclear and radiological materials entering the country at U.S. ports of entry. In 2005, DNDO began working on an automated cargo radiography system to be used by CBP to detect certain nuclear materials at U.S. ports of entry. However, in 2007 DNDO canceled the acquisition phase of the program and converted it to a R&D program. This report examined events that led to DNDO¿s decision to cancel the acquisition phase of the program and provide lessons learned from DNDO¿s experience.




Domestic Nuclear Detection Office Has Taken Steps to Address Insider Threat, But Challenges Remain


Book Description

This report reviewed the efforts of the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS's) Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) to address the risk posed by trusted insiders. The objective was to assess DNDO's progress toward protecting its information technology assets from threats posed by its employees, especially those with trusted or elevated access to sensitive, but unclassified information systems or data. The report discusses steps taken to mitigate the insider risk at DNDO and the challenges that remain in addressing the insider risk. It also includes five recommendations aimed at improving DNDO's insider threat posture, as well as management comments and analysis by the DHS Office of Inspector General (OIG). This is a print on demand report.




Combating Nuclear Smuggling


Book Description

The DHS is responsible for addressing the threat of nuclear smuggling. Radiation detection portal monitors are part of the U.S. defense against such threats. Congress required that funds for new advanced spectroscopic portal (ASP) monitors could not be spent until the Sec. of DHS certified that these machines represented a significant increase in operational effectiveness over currently deployed monitors. DHS conducted tests on ASPs to identify areas in which they needed improvement. This report assesses: (1) the degree to which the test report accurately depicts the test results; and (2) the appropriateness of using the test results to determine whether ASPs represent a significant improvement over current radiation detection equipment. Illus.




Combating Nuclear Smuggling, DHS Research and Development on Radiation Detection Technology Could be Strengthened


Book Description

Preventing terrorists from smuggling nuclear or radiological material to carry out an attack in the United States is a top national priority. DNDO's mission is to improve capabilities to deter, detect, respond to, and attribute responsibility for nuclear terrorist attacks, in coordination with domestic and international partners. As part of this mission, DNDO conducts R&D on radiation and nuclear detection devices. GAO was asked to review DNDO's management of its R&D program. This report (1) provides information on the types of R&D projects DNDO started in fiscal years 2008 through 2013, (2) examines the extent to which DNDO's process for planning and selecting R&D projects to fund aligns its investments with gaps in the GNDA, and (3) examines the steps DNDO takes to evaluate the outcomes of R&D projects in which it invests. GAO recommends, among other things, that DNDO document how its research investments align with its research challenges and gaps in the GNDA, and that it take a systematic approach for evaluating the extent to which outcomes of its R&D investments collectively contribute to addressing its research challenges.




Countering the Nuclear Threat to the Homeland


Book Description




Performance Metrics for the Global Nuclear Detection Architecture


Book Description

The Global Nuclear Detection Architecture (GNDA) is described as a worldwide network of sensors, telecommunications, and personnel, with the supporting information exchanges, programs, and protocols that serve to detect, analyze, and report on nuclear and radiological materials that are out of regulatory control. The Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO), an office within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), coordinates the development of the GNDA with its federal partners. Performance Metrics for the Global Nuclear Detection Architecture considers how to develop performance measures and quantitative metrics that can be used to evaluate the overall effectiveness and report on progress toward meeting the goals of the GNDA. According to this report, two critical components are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of the GNDA: a new strategic plan with outcome-based metrics and an analysis framework to enable assessment of outcome-based metrics. The GNDA is a complex system of systems meant to deter and detect attempts to unlawfully transport radiological or nuclear material. The recommendations of Performance Metrics for the Performance Metrics for the Global Nuclear Detection Architecture may be used to improve the GNDA strategic plan and the reporting of progress toward meeting its goals during subsequent review cycles.