On March 27-28, David Richardson, Assistant Secretary for the DHS Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office (CWMD), visited Chicago, Illinois, to engage with state and local representatives involved in the BioWatch and Securing the Cities (STC) programs.
During the first day, Richardson met with individuals from the Chicago area BioWatch program. Discussions focused on the program's future, its significance, and potential measures CWMD could employ to enhance its effectiveness.
The BioWatch program operates continuously in over 30 major metropolitan areas to provide early alerts for any potential airborne biological attacks. Managed by DHS CWMD with support from other federal agencies, the program utilizes a network that includes scientists, laboratory technicians, emergency managers, law enforcement officers, and public health officials across various government levels.
On March 28, Richardson engaged with leadership from the Chicago STC program. The meeting aimed to address detection equipment needs, discuss program status, and identify improvements CWMD can offer to support state and local teams.
Established in 2007 and incorporated into the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Act of 2018, the STC program's mission is to prevent illicit possession, movement, and use of radiological or nuclear materials and weapons in the United States. This is achieved by reinforcing the nuclear detection capabilities of state, local, tribal, and territorial agencies.
Through coordinated planning and operations, partners at various government levels collaborate in STC regions to protect against radiological or nuclear terrorism threats. CWMD provides essential resources such as detection equipment, training, exercise support, and expertise to these regions via cooperative agreement grants.
CWMD aids STC efforts in key high-risk urban areas across the nation, including major cities such as New York City, Los Angeles, and the National Capital Region, among others.
Serving as the focal point for countering weapons of mass destruction within DHS, CWMD works with partners across all government levels to enhance the United States' defenses against chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats.
