PROBLEMS FOR TODAY, SOLUTIONS FOR TOMORROW
Exercise tabletop observers and evaluators collect and record participation insights, assessments and conclusions across the exercise in order to conduct post exercise analysis as part of the DHS S&T UP required Arctic IoNS Rapporteur’s report. This post exercise report will summarize exercise activities as well as assess shortfalls and gaps in science, technology and response capabilities associated with the exercise scenario.
Feb 21
Feb 6
The 2019 Arctic Incidents of National Significance Workshop (IoNS) is the third workshop in an annual series of events designed and conducted to discover key drivers in the emerging Arctic environment that impact the ability of the US Coast Guard and other stakeholders to conduct safe, secure, and effective operations. This body of knowledge is then used to prioritize gaps and articulate key research questions that can direct future science and technology investments by the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate toward addressing high-priority gaps. The workshops bring together stakeholders from U.S. federal, state, and local government agencies, Alaska Natives and Alaska Native regional corporations, international partners, other Alaska community members, and private sectors into a collaborative event with the science and engineering communities to ensure the quality and relevance of the research questions. The 2019 Arctic IoNS workshop series used a scenario driven by a major storm-driven Bering Sea maritime accident scenario, followed by widespread damage to Western Alaska coastal regions to "stress the system" and highlight shortfalls in "managing a complex Arctic crisis response." ADAC partnered with Sandia National Laboratories to plan and execute the 2019 Arctic IoNS via two parts:
ADAC and the University of New Hampshire’s Center for Spills and Environmental Hazards (CSE) teamed to conduct the "Coping with the Unthinkable…an Arctic Maritime Oil Spill" Arctic IoNS workshop at the University of Alaska, Anchorage from 23-25 October 2017. This Arctic IoNS workshop assembled a multi-disciplined team of experts who reviewed relevant baselines of applied research along with existing logistics and response capabilities associated with an Arctic maritime oil spill. The "Coping with the Unthinkable…an Arctic Oil Spill" Arctic IoNS workshop strategically sought a fresh and targeted approach in addressing a distant offshore Arctic oil spill by reviewing current research and soliciting recommendations from workshop participants. The workshop sought to discern needed capability and technology research questions addressing shortfalls for an Arctic maritime oil spill. These questions will inform a future ADAC hosted funded research solicitation. Such research is sought to provide solutions which support the U.S. Coast Guard’s (and other Arctic oil spill responders) preparedness and response.
ADAC’s inaugural Arctic-related Incidents of National Significance (Arctic-related IoNS) workshop at the University of Alaska, Anchorage from 21-22 June 2016. The Arctic IoNS workshop planning commenced in early March 2016, and from the onset was an endeavor purposely planned as a Canada-U.S. forum. ADAC center leadership facilitated the planning and conducted the Arctic-related IoNS workshop with select expert Arctic operators and researchers from both Canada and the United States. The workshop was built around operator defined problems from a work group comprised of CCG, CAF, USCG, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Alaskan Command members. This "Arctic IoNS Work Group" leveraged USCG District 17 led Table Top Exercise NORTHWEST PASSAGE, held in Anchorage, Alaska, on 13-14 April 2016. The scenario used in USCG NORTHWEST PASSAGE, was a disabled cruise ship in the Beaufort Sea near the extended Canada-U.S. border. USCG Exercise NORTHWEST PASSAGE provided the Arctic IoNS Operator Work Group a forum to derive operator concerns and a clear understanding of "under-researched" areas relevant to operator concerns in a maritime mass rescue scenario.
Established as a Center of Excellence by the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate
