Official website of the Department of Homeland Security
Office for Bombing Prevention
The Office for Bombing Prevention (OBP) leads the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) efforts to implement the National Policy for Countering Improvised Explosive Devices (National Counter-IED policy) and enhance the nation’s ability to prevent, protect against, respond to, and mitigate the use of explosives against critical infrastructure; the private sector; and federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial entities.
What You Can Do When There Is a Bomb Threat
It's important to know what steps every day citizens can and should take in the event of a bomb threat. Watch the video, What You Can Do When There is A Bomb Threat, developed by the University of Central Florida, in conjunction with the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and the Office for Bombing Prevention within the National Protection and Program Directorate's Office of Infrastructure Protection, that teaches viewers how to respond in the event they receive a bomb threat.
Mission of the Office for Bombing Prevention
The mission of OBP is to protect life and critical infrastructure by building capabilities within the general public and across the public and private sectors to prevent, protect against, respond to, and mitigate bombing incidents.
OBP accomplishes its mission through a focused portfolio of complementary counter-IED capability development programs, supporting four core initiatives:
- Coordination of National and Intergovernmental Counter-IED Efforts
- Capabilities Analysis and Planning Support
- Information Sharing and Decision Support
- Counter-IED Training & Awareness
Coordination of National and Intergovernmental Counter-IED Efforts
OBP has a leading role in implementation of the National Counter-IED policy, articulated through Presidential Policy Directive 17 (PPD-17): Countering IEDs; serving as the Deputy Administrator of the federal interagency Joint Program Office for Countering Improvised Explosive Devices (JPO C-IED), which coordinates and tracks federal government progress in building national counter-IED capabilities; and working in close collaboration with the White House National Security Council (NSC).
OBP also leads DHS in implementation of the National Counter-IED policy by administering the DHS Counter-IED Program Management Office (PMO) and chairing the DHS IED Working Group.
Through its leadership role, OBP is instrumental in aligning DHS and national counter-IED efforts through centralized and effective coordination of ongoing programs, resulting in better resource allocation within OBP and across DHS and our federal, state, local, tribal, territorial, and private sector partners.
Capabilities Analysis and Planning Support
OBP systematically identifies and assesses the nation’s capabilities to counter-IED threats and drives capability improvement through enhanced strategy, investment, and planning-based resource optimization.
- National Counter-IED Capabilities Analysis Database (NCCAD)
- Multi-Jurisdiction IED Security Planning (MJIEDSP)
Information Sharing and Decision Support
OBP plays a crucial role in counter-IED information sharing, not only in times of heightened threat or incidents, but also in steady state. Through its role in information sharing and decision support, OBP leverages its communications network, including detailed assignments at key federal agencies, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) National Explosives Task Force (NETF), to ensure that timely and accurate information is provided to senior decision-makers across DHS, other federal agencies, and state, local, and private sector partners across the United States to support threat and incident-based crisis decision-making.
Counter-IED Training & Awareness
To reduce risk to the nation’s critical infrastructure, OBP develops and delivers a diverse curriculum of training to build nationwide counter-IED core capabilities and enhance awareness of terrorist threats. Coordinated through state Homeland Security officials and training offices, OBP courses educate federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial participants, such as municipal officials and emergency managers; state and local law enforcement and other emergency services; and critical infrastructure owners, operators, and security staff on strategies to prevent, protect against, respond to, and mitigate bombing incidents.
Vision and Contact Information
Vision of the Office for Bombing Prevention: OBP was created in response to terrorism events, including the bombing events of Lockerbie, Oklahoma City, 9/11, Madrid, and London. Our service is rooted in the belief that bombings continue to threaten the security of our communities, critical infrastructure, and nation. We believe that Americans and people everywhere should live free from fear of the malicious use of explosives and that the realization of this vision depends upon a well-coordinated, all-of-nation effort.
For more information, send an e-mail to the Office for Bombing Prevention at OBP@hq.dhs.gov.
To report suspicious activity, call 9-1-1 or contact local law enforcement.