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Layered Nuclear Defense: Cross-Cutting Efforts

The Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) Office was established in December 2017 by consolidating primarily the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office, a majority of the Office of Health Affairs, as well as other DHS elements.

For current information related to CWMD, please visit the following:

Cross-cutting efforts focus on programs and capabilities spanning multiple layers and pathways of the Global Nuclear Detection Architecture (GNDA). Efforts undertaken in this layer provide the basis for time-phased deterrence and detection strategies. These elements streamline existing capabilities, improve overall coordination and ultimately seek to enhance radiological and nuclear detection at the federal, state, territorial, tribal and local levels.

Examples of efforts in this layer include:

  • Development and analysis of data/information architectures.
  • Risk and cost-benefit assessments for alternative detection architectures.
  • Detector Modeling and Operational Analysis (DMOA) to improve the ability to detect radioactive or nuclear materials by defining current detector operational capabilities, determining their effectiveness in detecting threat materials across the layers of the GNDA and modeling expected detector response to these materials.
  • Studies and analyses to support overarching strategic planning related to the GNDA.
Last Updated: 08/02/2024
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