START’s Dr. Gary Ackerman, director of START’s Unconventional Weapons and Technology Division, and Dr. Steve Sin, a lead investigator and senior researcher, contributed to the ongoing discussion
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| Dr. Gary Ackerman | Dr. Steve Sin |
of CBRNe (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and high yield Explosives) response with other experts across the country at the Non-Conventional Threat CBRNe USA Conference in early May.
Ackerman was one of many notable speakers at the conference, including Myanmar Minister Aung Kyaw Myat, Bonnie Jenkins, ambassador and U.S. State Department Coordinator of Threat Reduction Programs, and Michael Balboni, former Homeland Security official and New York State senator and current leader of Redland Strategies.
On the last day of the conference, Sin presented his paper on detecting and interdicting the illicit trafficking of CBRN weapons and materials at sea. His paper sought to improve the future design of international maritime security initiatives to ensure that the infrastructure that supports trade at sea is prepared to deter and respond to CBRN terrorism.
“Approximately 90 percent of the world’s trade is conducted by sea as it is the most cost-effective way to move en masse goods and raw materials around the world. Given the magnitude and the dependency of the world’s economy on seaborne trade, it is essential to understand whether this critical global infrastructure is adequately prepared to deter and respond to CBRN terrorism,” Sin said.
His presentation was a part of the conference panel session titled, “CBRN Response in Densely Populated Areas.”