WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.100 --> 00:00:03.400 (Ian Vabneck) Red Ops is the DHS SNT arm for 2 00:00:03.401 --> 00:00:06.450 response and defeat of IEDs and what they're doing 3 00:00:06.510 --> 00:00:07.900 is funding 4 00:00:07.901 --> 00:00:10.000 research and development of technology 5 00:00:10.001 --> 00:00:13.800 at the request of public safety first responder community, 6 00:00:13.801 --> 00:00:14.800 that deals with IEDs 7 00:00:14.801 --> 00:00:16.100 particularly, the bomb squads. 8 00:00:16.101 --> 00:00:17.101 There's a lot of bomb squad commanders 9 00:00:17.300 --> 00:00:19.300 and bomb technicians out there in the country 10 00:00:19.301 --> 00:00:21.000 that actually have great ideas, they just 11 00:00:21.001 --> 00:00:23.000 don't have the funding and the resources to back it. 12 00:00:23.001 --> 00:00:24.300 (Ian Vabneck) The bomb technician field 13 00:00:24.300 --> 00:00:25.600 is a very dangerous field. 14 00:00:25.600 --> 00:00:26.800 Obviously, you are working with 15 00:00:26.800 --> 00:00:29.000 improvised explosive devices, 16 00:00:29.000 --> 00:00:31.500 and as a result, you're only a few feet from an IED. 17 00:00:31.500 --> 00:00:34.600 So obviously, if something goes wrong, 18 00:00:34.600 --> 00:00:36.400 they're probably not going to go home. 19 00:00:36.400 --> 00:00:37.900 Technology advances so quickly 20 00:00:37.900 --> 00:00:39.100 in this environment, 21 00:00:39.100 --> 00:00:40.500 therefore state and local bomb squads 22 00:00:40.500 --> 00:00:42.100 don't have the money to keep up 23 00:00:42.100 --> 00:00:43.900 new R and D or technology. 24 00:00:43.900 --> 00:00:47.000 Red Ops is involved with the state and local 25 00:00:47.000 --> 00:00:48.700 bomb squad through the 26 00:00:48.701 --> 00:00:51.600 National Bomb Squad Commander's Advisory Board 27 00:00:51.600 --> 00:00:54.300 and also the First Responder's Resource Group. 28 00:00:54.300 --> 00:00:55.300 And through there, we have 29 00:00:55.300 --> 00:00:58.000 direct communication with the representatives 30 00:00:58.001 --> 00:01:00.100 from different bomb squads from across the country, 31 00:01:00.100 --> 00:01:03.000 and we solicit requirements from them. 32 00:01:03.000 --> 00:01:06.400 (Ian Vabneck) Red Ops has worked very closely with the FBI 33 00:01:06.400 --> 00:01:08.600 Counter-ID Units. We've been working 34 00:01:08.600 --> 00:01:09.800 with them on a pipe bomb 35 00:01:09.800 --> 00:01:12.100 defeat procedure that is three times faster, 36 00:01:12.100 --> 00:01:14.500 and more reliable in many respects, 37 00:01:14.500 --> 00:01:16.100 to the current standard methods used. 38 00:01:16.100 --> 00:01:19.300 Ranging from Portland to New York to Kansas City 39 00:01:19.300 --> 00:01:21.300 we've had several bomb squads actually use 40 00:01:21.300 --> 00:01:24.400 the new method to successfully defeat IEDs nationwide. 41 00:01:24.400 --> 00:01:27.800 (Frantz) The partnership with the FBI is extremely important. 42 00:01:27.800 --> 00:01:30.100 They are in charge of the hazardous device school, 43 00:01:30.101 --> 00:01:32.000 and all the state and local bomb techs 44 00:01:32.001 --> 00:01:33.600 gets certified through that school. 45 00:01:33.601 --> 00:01:35.700 (Ian Vabneck) In addition to that, we work with the FBI, 46 00:01:35.701 --> 00:01:37.400 in characterization and development, 47 00:01:37.401 --> 00:01:39.401 of laminated glass portal charge. 48 00:01:39.402 --> 00:01:40.700 (Tom Sharkey) So the window laminate charge, 49 00:01:40.701 --> 00:01:42.701 will cut a nice rectangle or square 50 00:01:42.702 --> 00:01:45.000 out for the bomb technician to gain access 51 00:01:45.001 --> 00:01:46.500 and put a camera in there, 52 00:01:46.501 --> 00:01:47.400 do the diagnostics. 53 00:01:47.401 --> 00:01:49.300 (Frantz) Any capabilities and technologies 54 00:01:49.301 --> 00:01:51.400 that we develop that's formally accepted 55 00:01:51.401 --> 00:01:53.700 by the FBI, is taught at the school house 56 00:01:53.701 --> 00:01:55.400 so that the state and local bomb squads 57 00:01:55.401 --> 00:01:57.100 can get trained on that capability. 58 00:01:57.101 --> 00:01:59.900 (Ian Vabneck) Another project is a shock tube dispenser. 59 00:01:59.901 --> 00:02:01.901 A shock tube is an explosive material used by 60 00:02:01.902 --> 00:02:04.300 bomb squads, and it's usually very challenging 61 00:02:04.301 --> 00:02:05.000 to deploy 62 00:02:05.001 --> 00:02:06.700 (Tom Sharkey) One of our biggest concerns with shock tube 63 00:02:06.701 --> 00:02:09.100 is aligning it and it getting tangled up. 64 00:02:09.101 --> 00:02:11.700 So this one technician up in New Jersey State Police 65 00:02:11.701 --> 00:02:13.000 came up with this wonderful idea and 66 00:02:13.001 --> 00:02:16.000 DHS SNT basically took that idea, funded it, 67 00:02:16.001 --> 00:02:19.300 and developed the tools for state level bomb squads 68 00:02:19.301 --> 00:02:20.200 to be able to purchase that. 69 00:02:20.201 --> 00:02:23.100 (Ian Vabneck) I find that the feedback is very positive 70 00:02:23.101 --> 00:02:24.600 in regards what Red Ops is doing. 71 00:02:24.601 --> 00:02:27.500 The bomb technicians, really appreciate the fact 72 00:02:27.501 --> 00:02:31.100 that DHS is focusing on their needs. 73 00:02:31.101 --> 00:02:33.800 (Frantz) We have received calls from many 74 00:02:33.801 --> 00:02:36.000 bomb squads asking to participate in the 75 00:02:36.001 --> 00:02:37.700 First Responder Resource Group, 76 00:02:37.701 --> 00:02:41.400 and a lot of bomb squads offering to conduct 77 00:02:41.401 --> 00:02:44.100 operational assessments for any other technologies 78 00:02:44.101 --> 00:02:45.400 that we select. 79 00:02:45.401 --> 00:02:47.900 (Tom Sharkey) Bomb technicians have great ideas. 80 00:02:47.901 --> 00:02:50.100 There are so many smart technicians 81 00:02:50.101 --> 00:02:51.800 who just think outside the box. 82 00:02:51.801 --> 00:02:55.200 Red Ops will take those ideas and work with them, 83 00:02:55.201 --> 00:02:58.300 develop technology into the field, 84 00:02:58.301 --> 00:02:59.600 and before you know it, 85 00:02:59.601 --> 00:03:01.700 this stuff is developed for the state and local 86 00:03:01.701 --> 00:03:03.000 bomb squads to use.