Dr. Regina E. Dugan CEO, RedXDefense, LLC 7642 Standish Place Rockville, MD Ph (301) 2797970
[email protected] Dr. Dugan has PhD in mechanical engineering from the California Institute of Technology and her master’s and bachelor’s degrees from Virginia Tech. She is an experienced professional in defense against explosive threats and counterterrorism. On these topics, she has interacted with the highest authorities in Defense and Government. She is field experienced, having participated in active mine clearance efforts in Mozambique and field tested equipment in both Africa and Bosnia. She was also a special advisor directly to the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army (2001 -03) and continues to serve on senior advisory panels. In 1999, she was named DARPA Program Manager of the year and in 2000 she was awarded the Bronze deFleury medal, the most prestigious award of the Army Engineer Regiment. In 2001, Dr. Dugan co-founded Dugan Ventures, a niche investment firm, where she has served as President & CEO. Widely recognized for her leadership in technology development and an experienced public speaker, she has appeared on the Discovery Channel, National Public Radio, and The AAAS Science Report. She is the coauthor of Engineering Thermodynamics, 1996. She has many patents to her credit.
Novel Methods in Explosives Detection: From Operations to Olfaction This presentation focuses on a new conceptual framework as it relates to the lED threat and recent areas of research in new detection technologies ranging from quadrupole resonance to systems that mimic the mammalian olfactory system. The new conceptual framework consists of an order of magnitude (factor of ten) analysis of the terrorist or insurgency problem. It provides a straightforward organizing principle against which to test possible technological, organizational, or tactical solutions as well as a means for assessing their effectiveness in execution. The “bookends” principle illustrates the difficulty of achieving success using current approaches and challenges existing investment strategies for both the military and homeland security problem. The author suggests that current approaches and investments are overly focused on finding the bomb after deployment despite recognition that such solutions are unlikely to change the basic nature of the fight. The “bookends” principle shows that in the matching between the types of weapons/means of delivery and the possible target set, there exists a problem of order 100 to the 100th power (a combinatorial explosion). We will always lose if we fight here. The analysis does not suggest that we do nothing to stop certain weapons or protect key targets; it does, however, suggest that such activities be tailored to effect outcomes at the terrorist or insurgency organizational levels. The “bookends” theory highlights what most commanders and security officers know intuitively. It turns this intuitive understanding into an actionable organizing principle against which various solutions may be weighed. This conceptual framework serves as a backdrop for reviewing historical efforts in combating IEDs that have ranged from detection methods to armored vehicles. The author concludes by discussing and challenging the way forward.
Novel Methods in Explosives Detection: From Operations to Olfaction MAV 08, March 2008 Dr. Regina E. Dugan President & CEO (301) 279 279.7970 7970
[email protected]
Today’s y reality… y Prevalence of improvised explosive devices around the world highlights the low risk, high payoff nature of weapon.
Use of technology is accelerating. Global expertise is growing. Coordinated attacks with strategic impact well understood understood.
“Terrorists are, on the whole, conventional in their use of weapons; bombs and guns are their favorites. favorites.” United Nations, Office on Drugs and Crime, 2005
“Yes,, al Qaeda Q has shown an interest in chemical and biological g as well as radiological devices. But those are taller technical orders. In the case of terrorist activity, the statistics are stark: It’s bombs, bombs, bombs, bombs.” Amy Smithson, Terrorism Analyst, The Henry L. Stimson Center, May 03
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U.S. National Security perspective changing… changing “We assess that al-Qa’ida’s Homeland plotting is likely to continue to focus on prominent political, political economic, economic and infrastructure targets with the goal of producing mass casualties, visually dramatic destruction, significant economic aftershocks, and/or fear among g the US population. The group g is proficient with conventional small arms and improvised explosive devices, and is innovative in creating new capabilities and overcoming security obstacles.” The Terrorist Threat to the US Homeland - July 2007
On May 21, 2007 at a homeland security conference in Washington, DC, DHS Undersecretary Jay Cohen, identified improvised explosive devices as his top research priority priority. Cohen said that IEDs pose a new threat to the U.S. and not just to its military, “Ladies and gentlemen, I believe they’re coming to a theater near you.”
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How to address the problem… A new conceptual framework…
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An interesting history, aviation security … and the implications…
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History… sto y Explosives detection dominated by aviation security… – Decidedly in ‘the the books books’ – The operation defines the design criteria – Near perfect probability of detection required, and clutter is extremely high. – Can ‘afford’ to do it here...consolidated nature of aviation, but still it’s a struggle.
The implications: – The technological solutions for aviation security, for ‘the books’ do not lend themselves to the fight at ‘the bookends’. – Need more robust solutions, networked, etc.
A new driving force… DARPA program, started in 1996, military problem, land mines. International pressures, p g to ban landmines. conflict to International campaign INFORMATION of RedXDefense, LLC
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Significant S g ca t threat… t eat poor poo options opt o s
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The e Dog’s og s Nose ose program p og a
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First st principles p c p es science… sc e ce
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First st principles p c p es science… sc e ce
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First st principles p c p es science… sc e ce
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Many, varied approaches… U i Universities iti to t industry i d t
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Some So e successes successes… Military:
Explosives
Commercial:
Metal background
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Next generation solutions… solutions Start from the operational… set the h d design i point i ffor the h technical… h i l
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Bomb o b “epidemiology” Trace explosives are the diagnostic. A tool in cultural prep of the battlefield. Part of information collection. Adversary may or may not be aware of result.
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Cholera C o e a in London, o do , 1854 85 ~ 127 fatalities from the pumps. th
Snow believed
cholera was passed through sewagetainted water.
Snow interviewed
many families of the victims and led him to a pump on the corner of Broad and Cambridge street.
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Trace explosives p contamination Several laboratory and field studies have demonstrated that significant i ifi t and d persistent i t t trace t explosives l i contamination t i ti results lt from the handling of explosives, including bomb-making activities.
Wide-area contamination results, which presents many opportunities for recontamination of hands and surfaces.
Ease with which contamination is spread presents many possible surfaces for sampling – On people: hands, clothes, hair, etc. – On O surfaces: f workspace, k floors, fl cars, doors, d boxes, b etc.
Need technology with the ability to detect explosives at the expected contamination levels. levels INFORMATION of RedXDefense, LLC
Optical p detection technology… gy The classic limitation to optical
methods has been that detection is li it d to limited t nitroaromatic it ti explosives l i
New core technology developed at
RedX employs a fluorescent detection ink that is capable off detecting the three main classes of high explosives: – Nitroaromatics (TNT, Tetryl, Comp B) – Nitramines Nit i (RDX, (RDX C C-4, 4 PE PE-4) 4) – Organic nitrates, a.k.a. Nitrate esters (PETN, Nitroglycerin)
Explosives appear as dark spots
against a bright blue background. – Simple – Fast – Reliable INFORMATION of RedXDefense, LLC
Core technology… gy RedX fluorescent detection inks: Contain a photoluminescent fluorophore that emits visible light when exposed to UV illumination. Explosives quench luminescence through electron transfer luminescence quenching and cause the fluorescent film to appear dark.
Electron-Transfer Luminescence Quenching
1 2 3 4
A fluorophore absorbs UV light, which elevates a ground state electron to an excited state. The excited electron undergoes internal non-radiative decay. The electron returns to ground state, emitting excess energy as visible i ibl light li ht (Fluorescence). (Fl ) However, in the presence of explosives, the electron transfers to the analyte, which inhibits the fluorescing process (Quenching).
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Specific Spec c object objectives es Rapid development effort to create new capability. – Widelyy distributed, low cost, robust, trace explosives p screening g tool. – Price point geared for those who have to weigh costs of security against other costs -- both capital expenditures and recurring costs. – Robustness -- works where it is needed (a very sensitive detector that does not operate in demanding environments provides no explosives detection capability).
Capitalize on trace explosive signatures. – Explosive ‘contamination’ of humans, clothes, objects, etc., is high with handling of explosives, difficult to eliminate. – Not uniform spatial (areas of very high and very low concentrations)
Designed as tool for identifying people/vehicles/surfaces
associated with explosives as well as identifying weapon risk. Not an analytical chemistry instrument designed for use by PhD chemists in the lab, which has been adapted to the field. INFORMATION of RedXDefense, LLC
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How it works Instant-on – No warm-up time “Lint-roller” style baton for easy sample collection – – –
People Surfaces Primary/secondary contamination
Easy to swap batteries, paper roll and ink cartridge Training is minimized because results are intuitive Multi-media training tool
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Hand a d sc screening ee g (sa (sampling) p g)
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Hand a d sc screening ee g ((results) esu ts)
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What at if…. Data collection could be mediated di t d by b an army off robots
Small platforms carrying the sensor suite, reporting capabilities, and appropriate i f information i networks k
Use in both directions – to illuminate and to characterize the network…
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Challenging g g the way yp people p think about security… y Security doesn’t have to be the thing you ‘suffer’ through… Novel homeland security applications…
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XPRO Kiosk
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Venues,, events & secure facilities
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The e other ot e bookend boo e d matters atte s too… too
Minefield clearance using mine protected ote ted vehicle. ehi le Mozambique. Mo bi e INFORMATION of RedXDefense, LLC
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Thank you. Dr. Regina E. Dugan President & CEO (301) 279.7970
[email protected] www.redXdefense.com
