Orlando Chapter Meeting - January 2018: Nuclear Treaty Monitoring
Orlando , USA
3039 Technology Parkway
Agenda:
Dinner & Networking: 6:00 PM - 6:15 PM
Chapter Business: 6:15 PM - 6:30 PM
Presentation: 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
RSVP: Eventbrite
Please RSVP at the link above so we can plan for the proper amount of food – dinner is complementary. The meeting is open to all; you do not need to be an INCOSE member to attend. If you are not a member, we invite you to become a member of the Orlando Chapter of INCOSE at http://www.incose.org/about/Membership/Join
About the Presentation:
The Air Force Technical Applications Center (AFTAC) provides national authorities quality technical measurements to monitor nuclear treaty compliance and develops advanced proliferation monitoring technologies to preserve our nation’s security. It is the sole organization in the federal government whose mission is to detect and report technical data from foreign nuclear explosions.
Consisting of more than 3,600 sensors worldwide, AFTAC operates and maintains a global network of nuclear event detection equipment called the U.S. Atomic Energy Detection Systems (USAEDS), the largest sensor network in the U.S. Air Force. Once a disturbance is detected underground, underwater, in the atmosphere or in space, the event is analyzed for nuclear identification, and the findings are reported to national command authorities.
AFTAC’s nuclear event detection mission is directly linked to its nuclear treaty monitoring mission. AFTAC monitors signatory countries’ compliance with the 1963 Limited Test Ban Treaty. This treaty prohibits nuclear testing anywhere but underground and prohibits the venting of nuclear debris or radiation from those tests into the atmosphere outside the country’s national borders. AFTAC also monitors the Threshold Test Ban Treaty of 1974 and the Peaceful Nuclear Explosion Treaty of 1976. The 1974 treaty limits the size of underground nuclear tests to 150 kilotons, while the 1976 treaty prohibits the testing of nuclear devices outside of agreed treaty test sites.
AFTAC is also on the forefront of protecting the homeland as it establishes an array of sensors across the United States as part of the National Technical Nuclear Forensics program. This program is designed to collect forensic evidence after detonations to aid the Federal Bureau of Investigation in attributing attacks on U.S. soil to foreign governments or terrorist entities and to swiftly bring those responsible to justice. AFTAC’s efforts are making the Department of Defense vision to protect U.S. personnel and interests from the threat of a domestic nuclear detonation a reality.
AFTAC also supports leading edge technological research and evaluation of verification technologies for current and future treaties involving weapons of mass destruction which threaten our national security. Its organizational architecture includes nine detachments, four operating locations and more than 60 unmanned equipment locations around the world supporting AFTAC’s long range nuclear detection mission. In addition, AFTAC manages 11 world-class laboratories to assist the International Atomic Energy Agency with the promotion of safe, secure and peaceful use of nuclear technologies.
AFTAC employs more than 1,000 personnel and boasts a highly educated force possessing 193 associate degrees, 176 bachelor’s degrees, 261 master’s degrees and 67 doctorate degrees.
Speaker:
Kevin Muhs
About the Speaker:
Mr. Kevin Muhs is the Chief of the Capabilities, Assessment, and Integration division for the Air Force Technical Applications Center (AFTAC). He is responsible for requirements development, & integration of emerging technologies to support AFTAC capabilities. He works with the Joint Staff and Air Force Headquarters to integrate and implement technical capability through the Joint Capabilities Integration and Development
System (JCIDS). Mr. Muhs is originally from Grand Island, Nebraska. He enlisted in the United States Navy (USN) in 1982 and was subsequently selected for the Nuclear Enlisted Commissioning Program. He earned his Submarine Warfare designation aboard the USS John C. Calhoun and achieved Command qualifications aboard the USS Pennsylvania. In addition, he served as the Submarine Liaison Officer for the Western Hemisphere Group. He completed eleven Strategic Deterrent patrols over his twenty year career in the Navy. Following retirement, Mr. Muhs has continued to work in the arena of Nuclear Threat Reduction as both a contractor and government civilian with the Defense Threat Reduction Agency and then the United States Air Force respectively. He is married to the former Tammy Poitras from Orlando, Florida. They have two children Anna and Bradley.