Vayl Oxford, Acting Director of the DHS Domestic Nuclear Detection

August 10, 2005
Articles, CBRNE, Commentary, Emergency Medical Services, Law Enforcement, Science & Technology
Vayl S. Oxford and John F. Morton

DomPrep’s John F. Morton met with Vayl Oxford, Acting Director, Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO), Department of Homeland Security at Oxford’s office in Washington, D.C. Mr. Oxford discussed the newly established DNDO by outlining its brief, deployment strategy and interfaces with other federal agencies and the IC community, states, locals and the private sector. Itemizing some of the most promising radiological- and nuclear-detection technologies, he illustrated the DNDO contracting and program management model with the Advanced Spectroscopic Portal monitor. Looking to the future, he spoke of developing a global nuclear- detection architecture.

DomPrep.com divided the 19 minute, 13 seconds interview into three segments.

Segment One: DNDO’s Brief, Deployment Strategy, and Interfaces

The DNDO mission priorities on detection architectures, enhanced information sharing and research and development (R&D). The DNDO detection deployment strategy and multi-layered partnering with the private and public sectors, including local entities and academe.

Duration : 6 Minutes 14 Seconds

Segment Two: Detection Technologies

The Advanced Spectroscopic Portal (ASP) program. Development of integrated passive detection and radiography systems. Emphasis on detecting shielded radiological materials. Developmental time-lines.

Duration : 6 Minutes 14 Seconds

Segment Three: Program Management and the Future

The ASP program as a model for DNDO R&D and procurement. Including the users, representatives from the law enforcement community, in the test and evaluation process. DNDO and international efforts. DNDO outreach to state and local communities on the front line of prevention.

Duration : 6 Minutes 59 Seconds

Vayl S. Oxford

Vayl S. Oxford is the national security executive policy advisor at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). Before joining PNNL, he spent a short time in private industry after 35 years of public service. His career highlights include serving at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from October 2003 to January 2009, where he held the positions of policy advisor to the undersecretary of science and technology, acting director of the Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency, and the first director of the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office. Before DHS, he served as the director for counterproliferation at the National Security Council and chaired the interagency working group for Operation Iraqi Freedom. From 1987 to January 2002, he held several positions within the Defense Threat Reduction Agency and its predecessor organizations (Defense Special Weapons Agency, Defense Nuclear Agency). He also held several positions in the U.S. Air Force.

John F. Morton

John F. Morton is the Strategic Advisor for DomPrep. He is also the Homeland Security Team Lead for the Project on National Security Reform (PNSR). A member of the DomPrep team since its founding, he has served as managing editor for writer assignments and interviewer for scores of DomPrep audio interviews.