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DTRA Research and Development

Defense Threat Reduction Agency

Dr. Rhys Williams

DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A. Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

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Research & Development: Mission and Vision

Mission

Provide science, technology and capability development investments that maintain the U.S. 

military’s technological superiority in countering weapons of mass destruction & asymmetric 

threats, mitigate the risks of technical surprise and respond to the warfighter’s urgent technical 

requirements.

Vision

Be the recognized leader for technical innovation to counter weapon of mass destruction & 

asymmetric threats – responding to urgent warfighter needs while investing in R&D to shape 

the Nation’s counter-threat capabilities.
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Specialized Activities and Tasks

Synchronizing Activities and Tasks 

Incorporate CWMD Efforts & Leverage Enabling Capabilities

Integrate, Harmonize, Employ

Foundational Activities and Tasks

Understand the Environment, Threats, and Vulnerabilities

Locate, Identify, Characterize, Assess, Attribute, Predict

Safeguard the Force and Manage Consequences

Mitigate, Sustain, Support

Defeat

Delay, Disrupt,

Destroy, Neutralize

Maintain and Expand Technical Expertise

Recruit, Develop, Retain

Cooperate with and Support Partners

Partner, Coordinate

Control

Isolate, Divert, Intercept, Secure, Seize

DoD Strategy for Countering WMD – June 2014

Exploit

Dispose

Dismantle, Monitor,

Reduce, Redirect

Disable

Degrade, Destroy

* S&T for Strategic Deterrent is included in these objectives

Understand the Environment, 

Threats, and Vulnerabilities

Control, Defeat, Disable, and/or 

Dispose of WMD Threats

CWMD S&T Strategic Objectives*

Safeguard the Force and 

Manage Consequences

DTRA R&D Portfolio Aligns with DoD Strategy 

for CWMD
USINDO-PACOM • AGENT DEFEAT 

PENETRATORS

• SPRAYABLE 

DECON SLURRY

• CBRN DETECTION 

SENSORS

• INTEGRATED 

EARLY WARNING

USCENTCOM

• AGENT DEFEAT

• TARGETING / 

WEAPONEERING 

ASSISTANCE

USAFRICOM

• FIELD FORWARD 

DIAGNOSTICS

• THERAPEUTICS 

AND VACCINES

• EBOLA 

MODELING

USNORTHCOM

• JOINT 

BIOLOGICAL 

AGENT DECON

USSOCOM:

• WIDE AREA SEARCH CBRN DETECTION

• WMD EXPLOITATION AND ELIMINATION

• SMALL SCALE DISABLEMENT

USSOUTHCOM

• BIOSURVEILLANCE 

ECOSYSTEM

• FIELD FORWARD 

DIAGNOSTICS

• FENTANYL 

DETECTION

USEUCOM

• MOBILE RAD 

DETECTION

• COLPRO 

TECHNOLOGIES

• NEXT GEN 

CHEMICAL 

DETECTION

USSTRATCOM: • TARGETING MODELS

USTRANSCOM:

• AIRCRAFT DECONTAMINATION TECHNOLOGIES

• TRANSPORTATION ISOLATION SYSTEM

Representative RD Support to CCMDs

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Dr. Ronald Hann

Chemical Biological

Technologies (SES-2)

COL Steven Sexton

Deputy Director

Mr. Stephen Dowling

Counter WMD

Technologies (SES-2)

Dr. Michael Kuliasha

Nuclear Technologies

(SES-2)

COL Christian Rees

Counter Improvised Threat 

Technologies (Acting)

Dr. Gary Hook

Enabling Capabilities 

(GS-15)

Research & Development Directorate

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Dr. Rhys Williams

Director (SES-3)

Ms. Amanda Richardson

Chief, R&D Operations

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Mission – Lead DoD science and technology to anticipate, defend and safeguard 

against chemical and biological threats for the warfighter and the nation.

Integrated Early Warning Integrated Layered Defense Prepare for Surprise

RD-CB: Chemical Biological Technologies

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CB has a broad mission to lead the DoD science 

and technology to anticipate, defend and safeguard 

against chemical and biological threats for the 

warfighter and nation. We do this by focusing on 

our three strategic priorities: layered defense, 

integrated early warning, and prepare for surprise. 

As a department, our near-term priorities focus on 

protecting the warfighter through medical 

countermeasure development and integrated early 

warning, which we accomplish through CB 

detection, diagnostics and wearable technologies. 

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Combat 

Support

RD-CX: Counter WMD Technologies

Advanced 

Technologies

Integration, Demonstration, 

Transition

Find Characterize Plan Attack Assess

Strong Customer/Partner Relationships Across the Kill Chain

MOP

Autonomous Systems

Agent Defeat

EOD Defeat WMD Target Sensing Technologies Visual Analytics

Test Campaigns WMD Aerial Collection System (WACS) Weapons Effects & Planning

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Mission – Develop, demonstrate and transition innovation technologies and 

capabilities to actively counter the full spectrum of CBRNE threats
RD-NT: Nuclear Technologies Department - Develop capabilities that enable an effective nuclear deterrent, integrate 

conventional forces to operate effectively in a nuclear environment, and counter 

nuclear threat networks.

Large Blast 

Thermal 

Simulator at 

WSMR

Navy Electromagnetic 

Pulse Simulator at 

Pax River

Standoff Radiation 

Detection enables 

nuclear battlefield 

situational awareness

Boron-coated 

straws increase 

neutron sensitivity

Nuclear Survivability

• Develop nuclear environments, protection 

standards, and handbooks

• Operate large pulsed-power machines to 

produce intense bursts of radiation 

simulating a nuclear weapon

• Mission-critical systems analysis to 

characterize nuclear survivability shortfalls

Nuclear Threat Detection

• Sensors for characterization of the nuclear 

battlefield

• Technologies to collect, analyze, exploit, and 

attribute nuclear detonation data and signals

Nuclear Weapon Effects

• Modeling & simulation tools for nuclear targeting 

and consequence of execution assessment

• Use existing test data to certify new nuclear 

capabilities without nuclear testing

Nuclear Assessments

• Test concepts, capabilities, and 

plans through rigorous 

assessment and wargaming

• Integrate wargaming tools into 

exercises

• Enable DoD forces to render safe 

nuclear threats under battlefield 

conditions

M&S to enable 

planning, training, and 

requirements definition

Cratering Fallout / Fireball / Blast / Thermal

Nuclear Technologies Integration

• Provide cloud-ready nuclear modeling 

interfaces and applications 

• Deliver timely electronic access to nuclear 

testing archives

• Enable warfighter to visualize nuclear 

battlefield through integrated Common 

Operating Picture Situational Awareness 

Tools

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RD-TT: Counter Improvised-Threat Technologies

Discover innovative technology through partner enterprise and outreach

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Mission – Rapidly deliver counter-improvised threat technology solutions to the 

warfighter through the integration of science, prototype development and testing

Defeat the Device: 

Detect Defeat the Device:

Neutralize/Mitigate

UAS

Person Borne IED

Persistent 

surveillance

Buried IED

cEFP

cREW

cUAS
RD-EC: Enabling Capabilities

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Mission – Create, provide and maintain relevant enabling capabilities to support the RD portfolio of work. 

Enabling capabilities include credible test beds, responsive test design, robust basic research, 

essential data capture, small business investment programs, high-performance computing, the 

DTRA Experimentation Laboratory, and data analysis of results, for countering weapons of mass 

destruction, improvised threats, and nuclear deterrence for DoD, the U.S. Government, and partners.

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RD-OP: RD Operations

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Mission – Operations is a strategic enabler to improve HOW we do our work in RD – working 

smarter, not harder. We leverage Technical Reachback, CWMD Information Integration, 

Strategic Engagements, Requirements and Acquisition support across the Directorate. 

Operations works to best leverage resources to drive Directorate success by providing 

technical and operational expertise across RD to help Departments do their work...better.

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Combatant Command Customers Technical Reachback

Stakeholder Engagement –

CCMD and International

End-to-End Support: 

Requirements, to Acquisition, 

to Transition and Fielding

Advanced Data 

Science Tools 

for RD’s 

Mission
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RD Directorate Future Requirements

• Four Annual R&D Broad Agency Announcements (BAAs)*

• Chemical/Biological Technologies (End Feb 2021)

• Science and Technologies New Initiative – TRL 2-7 (End Oct 2021)

• New Initiatives for Nuclear Detection Technologies (End Apr 2023)

• Fundamental Research to Counter WMD – Basic Research in Chem/Bio (End Sept 2024)

• Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology 

Transfer (STTR) Programs*

• CWMD R&D IDIQ*

• 10 year effort with 6 Prime Contractors and over 150 Sub-Contractors

• Current total awards $1.1 Billion encompassing all aspects of DTRA CWMD R&D

• This effort will be re-competed for award in 2023

• Advisory and Assistance Services (A&AS)* – 2 active solicitations (closing in 

August) * Further information on R&D Solicitations can be found at https://beta.sam.gov/ 

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• DoD’s R&D organization focused on CWMD and Asymmetric Threats

• Responds to national and DoD CWMD priorities

• RDT&E base provides support directly to our warfighters

• Integrated/coordinated with DoD, Interagency, and international partners

• Develops and operates unique and essential CWMD and Asymmetric Threat test capabilities

• Comprehensive R&D investment increases agility to respond to new/changing Combatant 

Command requirements

DTRA RDT&E Summary

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QUESTIONS?

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