Domestic Nuclear Detection Office

The Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) is a jointly staffed office within the Department of Homeland Security. DNDO is the primary entity in the U.S. government for implementing domestic nuclear detection efforts for a managed and coordinated response to radiological and nuclear threats, as well as integration of federal nuclear forensics programs. Additionally, DNDO is charged with coordinating the development of the global nuclear detection and reporting architecture, with partners from federal, state, local, and international governments and the private sector.

Mission

Prevent nuclear terrorism by continuously improving capabilities to deter, detect, respond to, and attribute attacks, in coordination with domestic and international partners.

Strategic Goals

• Champion and lead the development of a unified United States Government strategy for a robust Global Nuclear Detection Architecture (GNDA) and effective National Technical Nuclear Forensics (NTNF) capabilities
• Invest in and develop innovative technologies to meet partner requirements and make operations better
• Strengthen GNDA and NTNF operations, ensuring readiness
• DNDO will be an organization that others use as a benchmark, in terms of staff expertise, opportunities, and morale

Organization and Leadership

Dr. L. Wayne Brasure is the acting Director of DNDO. DNDO and its Directorates are organized towards addressing key mission areas while meeting the functional objectives outlined in its founding Presidential Directive.

• View the DNDO Organizational Chart

Directorates

• Architecture & Plans Directorate—Determines gaps and vulnerabilities in the existing GNDA, then formulates recommendations and plans to develop an enhanced architecture.
• Transformational & Applied Research Directorate—Conducts, supports, coordinates, and encourages an aggressive, long-term research and development program to address significant architectural and technical challenges unresolved by R&D efforts on the near horizon.
• Product Acquisition & Deployment Directorate—Carries out the engineering development, production, developmental logistics, procurement and deployment of current and next-generation nuclear detection systems.
• Assessments Directorate—Objectively evaluates the performance and operational effectiveness of radiological and nuclear detection capabilities and supporting programs. 
• Operations Support Directorate—Develops the information sharing and analytical tools necessary to create a fully integrated operating environment. Residing in the Operations Support Directorate is the Joint Analysis Center, which is an interagency coordination and reporting mechanism and central monitoring point for the GNDA.
• National Technical Nuclear Forensics Center—Provides national-level stewardship, centralized planning and integration for an enduring national technical nuclear forensics capability.

Research Publications

Current List of DNDO-funded R&D Publications.

Business Opportunities

Current Business Opportunities with the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office.

Additional Information

• Nuclear Security
• Academic Research Initiative
• Opportunities for Students
• Global Nuclear Detection Architecture