Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD), historically a concern only in the Department of Defense (DoD), are now perceived as possibly the nation's greatest domestic and international threats. Our ability to respond to the use of weapons of mass destruction has rapidly evolved in the wake of changing consequence management doctrine since September 11th, 2001.
 
The DoD's Uniformed Services University (USU), the nation's leader in military operational medicine, has trained military medical officers for DoD's worldwide commitments for over 30 years. USU has expanded its role in training outside the DoD to civilian national and local agencies and offers a series of three Graduate courses designed to address their needs in understanding the threat and how best to prepare for and respond to them from a medical and public health perspective. The three courses include the Nuclear, Radiological, and High Yield Explosives Course (Fall 2008), the Bioterrorism and Homeland Security Course (Winter 2009), and the Chemical Terrorism and Emergency Management Course (Fall 2009). Completion of all three Graduate courses will confer a USU Certificate of Knowledge in the Weapons of Mass Destruction.
 
This semester's Nuclear, Radiological and High Yield Explosives (NRE) Course will bring together some of the leading authorities in the field from throughout the DoD, Federal, State and Local governments as well as academia. This multidisciplinary Graduate course consists of 13 sessions that will meet at USU's Bethesda campus on Tuesday evenings. The NRE course is coordinated by USU and the Center for Disaster and Humanitarian Assistance Medicine (CDHAM).

The NRE course utilizes the training expertise of USU's Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute (AFRRI) and other agencies to teach the basics of the nuclear, radiological and high yield explosive threats and to give an in-depth understanding that these threats pose. The initial weeks of the course will include material from the AFRRI Medical Effects of Ionizing Radiation (MEIR) Course. Current and future technologies for detection, personal protective equipment, information management, and incident command/control will be reviewed. Limiting casualties and impact on society through consequence management is emphasized. Discussion of some controversial topics that participants may face in making policy decisions through all levels of government will also be emphasized. The NRE course has been constructed to meet the training needs of military and civilian participants including physicians, graduate students, action officers, and policy makers from most all of the Federal and local agencies in the Washington, DC area involved in homeland security and defense.
 
Continuing education credit will be provided for relevant sessions. Classes will include lectures, expert panel discussions and demonstrations. There will be a comprehensive final exam at the end of the course for all graduate students and those who would like to receive a USU Certificate of Knowledge in Nuclear, Radiological, and High Yield Explosives. All sessions will be presented at the UNCLASSIFIED level. Only registered USU and Naval War College graduate students are eligible to receive graduate credits.

Phone: 301-295-3383
Uniformed Services University
Office of Admissions
4301 Jones Bridge Road
Bethesda, MD 20814-4799

Resources

Course Director

CDR Margaret Calloway, MC, USN
 
Send questions and applications electronically to:
mcalloway@usuhs.mil
Phone: 301-295-3383
Fax: (301) 295-3542
Uniformed Services University
Office of Recruitment and Admissions
4301 Jones Bridge Road
Bethesda, MD 20814-4799

Co-Directors:

Robert G. Darling, MD
Associate Director, Center for Disaster and Humanitarian Assistance Medicine (CDHAM)
rdarling@cdham.org
 
Rene S. Hernandez, CDR, MSC, USN
USUHS- MEM
rhernandez@cdham.org
 
Laura S Casper, MA, Ed.S
Education Program Manager
laura.casper@usmc.mil
 
Kevin F. Riley, PhD
CDHAM
kriley@cdham.org
 
Charles Beadling, Col, MC, USAF
Director, CDHAM
USUHS - MEM
cbeadling@usuhs.mil