#48 Interview with United Kingdom's Chem/Bio Counter Terrorism Expert, Dr. Stephen Johnson
Emergency management, leadership, and becoming and expert with Dr. Stephen Johnson who teaches and leads CBRN Counter Terrorism activities.
Dr. Stephen Johnson and host John Scardena discuss the intersection of emergency management and chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear (CBRN) field activities. Steve provides advice on how to become an expert, talks about the differences between CBRNe and HazMat, and next steps to protect the public from these catastrophic events. We also talk about the Beirut Explosion on this week's episode.
Dr. Stephen Johnson's Current Activities
(as described from Cranfield University)
"Stephen Johnson is the Course Director for the MSc in Forensic Explosive and Explosion Investigation, which explores other hazardous incidents e.g. CBRN and Fire. He actively works with Police, Fire, OGDs and International Organizations on themes of terrorism, CBRNE, intelligence and forensic science. This has included the FCO, ICRC, London Fire Brigade, SO15 and the International Institute of Criminal Investigation. He teaches on or delivers the following courses:
Hazardous Forensics
Forensic Intelligence and Exploitation
Forensic Investigation of Explosives and Explosive Devices
Fire and Explosion Investigation
Counter IED Capability
Royal Engineer Force Protection Course
Terrorism Risk Management and Mitigation
He regularly lectures on Police CBRN courses around the UK, Imperial College London (On explosive devices), University of Rome Tor Vergata and previously at Georgetown University.
Steve's research investigates the exploitation of forensic evidence for intelligence purposes and ranges from CBRNE detection through to Open Source Intelligence. He has supported research with a wide range of British and American and International Universities. On CBRN he worked with Sussex, Bath and LSE on CBRN investigations in Syria. A significant phase of research was funded by Pool Re (The Government Terrorism Re-Insurance Pool), on modelling the impact and forecast of terrorism attacks.
Steve serves on a wide range of working groups, panels and advisory boards. He has provided comment for the media on CBRNE and terrorism.
He has currently taken a 2 year posting as the SO2 Training Policy (C-CBRN) heading up the Counter CBRN roadmap preparing the Field Army and wider Defence.