An ad hoc committee will provide an expert, independent, and peer-reviewed assessment of nuclear forensics and attribution resources that would be executed by the Federal Government in response to both a nuclear detonation and an interdiction of nuclear material/device.
Specifically, the study will address the following needs:
1. Assess U.S. nuclear forensics operations and technical analyses with respect to validity, quality, value, cost effectiveness, gaps, and timeliness. This will include the scientific rigor of the programs’ methodologies, a cross-section of use cases, and comparison to the Academies’ nuclear forensics study published in 2010.
2. Recommend how analytical, practical, and operational aspects of post-interdiction and post-detonation response can be improved. This will include technical analyses and attribution, the ability and effectiveness of interagency communication, lessons learned, best practices.
3. Make research and development recommendations, including an integrated evaluation of current and desired future capabilities, technology maturation and operational transfer, and cost/benefit prioritization, to enhance the programs’ utility for attribution and to meet the needs of national leadership.
The study will result in a restricted report and an unrestricted or public summary.