Chemical and Biological Defense: DOD Has Identified an Infrastructure Manager and is Developing the Position's Roles and Responsibilities

Abstract

Over the past 4 years, the United States has faced significant chemical and biological threats to its national security. North Koreas weapons of mass destruction program, according to the Quadrennial Defense Review 2014, constitutes a significant threat to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia, and is a growing and direct threat to the United States.1 Moreover, the use of chemical weapons in Syria in August 2013 and again in April 2017, the 2014 Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa, the 2015-2016 Zika virus outbreak in the America's, the ongoing threat from influenza strains like H5N1 (avian influenza or bird flu), and the emergence of nontraditional (chemical) agents, have each, among others, highlighted the nations potential vulnerability to chemical and biological attacks and naturally occurringdiseases.2 Additionally, the spread of scientific knowledge and capabilities by state and nonstate actors to produce effective chemical and biological weapons further contributes to the nations vulnerability.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 07, 2017
Accession Number
AD1164003

Entities

People

  • Joseph W. Kirschbaum

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Chemical Warfare
  • Chemical Warfare Agents
  • Chemical Weapons
  • Computational Biology
  • Congress
  • Department Of Defense
  • Ebola Virus
  • Governments
  • Homeland Security
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Interagency Coordination
  • Medical Countermeasures
  • Medical Personnel
  • National Security
  • Personnel Management
  • Public Health
  • Research Facilities
  • Security
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Weapons Of Mass Destruction

Readers

  • Infectious Disease/Epidemiology
  • Strategic Security Studies