Safety and Security Center
WMD Exercise Design and Evaluation
Through work on behalf of the U. S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Services provided:
- Designed and facilitated WMD bioterrorism exercises, using a smallpox scenario, for senior federal officials including White House staff and department deputies.
- Development of internal HHS tabletop bioterrorism exercises and games.
- Designed and implemented a smallpox mass vaccination clinic exercise and Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) distribution exercises.
- Served as the lead analytical organization for TOPOFF 2 exercise evaluation, including development of the exercise evaluation plan, exercise observation and analysis, and coordination of data collection in each venue. TOPOFF 2 analysis focused on six areas: communications, coordination, connectivity, jurisdiction, resource allocation, and anticipating the enemy. The analysis methodology allowed for development of indicators of effectiveness to assess the critical federal, state, and local incident management issues in these areas.
Public Health Emergency Management and Planning
Through work on behalf of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the District of Columbia Department of Health, and the North Carolina Department of Public Health and Human Services.
Services provided:
- Supported HHS with national smallpox vaccination planning efforts in the event of a real-world incident.
- Supported HHS in developing a draft bioterrorism response concept of operations.
- Helped develop the Washington, DC SNS Distribution Plan and Bioterrorism Response Plan.
- Conducted tests of DC and North Carolina bioterrorism responses through exercises and games.
- Provided management support for DC Department of Public Health in developing policies and procedures for emergency public health operations, and provided planning and analysis support in responding to public health emergencies, including the anthrax attack and mercury spill.
Homeland Security Performance Metrics and Program Evaluation
Through work on behalf of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (U.S. Coast Guard), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the District of Columbia Department of Health.
Services provided:
- Conducted a preparedness assessment of the National Disaster Medical System's disaster medical assistance teams for HHS, including development of specific performance metrics for key team activities.
- Supported the development of readiness metrics for key Coast Guard activities.
- Conducted a program assessment of Washington, DC public health emergency response training.
