Rachel Gooding, chief scientist for the Science and Technology Directorate’s (S&T) Chemical Security Analysis Center (CSAC) shares how the national lab helped secure this year’s National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) men’s basketball tournament in Texas.
NCAA March Madness games have been celebrated and widely attended since 1939, attracting thousands of fans (and their brackets) annually. CSAC was approached prior to this year’s event to help local law enforcement and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorate (WMD) plan for and implement security protocols to ensure the safety of athletes, fans, and venues—particularly at the Final Four and national championship games that just concluded in San Antonio. Fortunately, we were ready to play ball.
Like many other popular sporting events, there is always a risk they may become a target for chemical, biological, and explosive attacks. We make it our mission to strengthen the necessary defensive measures and make available all resources that we have at our disposal, so all the 3-pointers and free throws can go off without a hitch.
These include cutting-edge modeling and assessment platforms like the Chemical Consequence and Threat Desktop Tool, Hazard Prediction and Assessment Capability Tool, and the Homeland Explosive Consequence Assessment Tool, which allow response agencies to tailor plans to address, mitigate, and prevent potential threats against a wide range of venues. CSAC has used these tools to collaborate with law enforcement and first responder organizations across the country and help them implement counterterrorism protocols for large events like the annual New Year’s Eve celebrations in New York City and Las Vegas; the Academy Awards and the Rose Bowl Parade in Los Angeles; and the 2023 Super Bowl and 2024 NCAA Final Four games in Phoenix.
Just last month, CSAC joined members of the San Antonio Fire Department, local HAZMAT teams, and FBI WMD for a March Madness counterterrorism planning meeting where they shared models and data related to a number of hypothetical scenarios that could take place during the games. CSAC ran simulations ranging from the release of toxic industrial chemicals to the deployment of an improvised explosive device at the Alamodome or nearby convention center. We then discussed relevant medical responses that would be needed and recommended appropriate countermeasures.
The CSAC team also helped the fire department and FBI WMD pinpoint potential venue vulnerabilities and provided recommendations to mitigate them via stringent screening of staff and patrons along with other security measures.
Ultimately, the Final Four and championship games went smoothly, and we offer our congratulations to the Florida Gators for their exciting run! As these events and their venues continue to grow and evolve in the coming years, working with our federal, state, and local partners to ensure the safety of all involved remains one of our highest priorities.
Now that the tournament is over, CSAC will reach back out to the San Antonio Fire Department and FBI WMD in the coming weeks to discuss after-action recommendations and gain a better understanding of how their information and data were used and how they can plan more effectively for future events. CSAC will also continue to work with colleagues at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to secure the upcoming U.S. Open golf tournament in Pennsylvania in June.