Evaluating the National Preparedness of the United States Against an Electromagnetic Pulse ThreatMatthew W. West
Program: Homeland Security: Capstone-Thesis: Master of Arts (MA)
Awarded: February 2013
Capstone Instructor: Dr. Edwin Bundy
Abstract: This paper evaluates the threat that an electromagnetic pulse presents to the infrastructure of the United States of America. Several key reference materials were studied and evaluated for this research project. Of particular interest, the Report of the Commission to Assess the Threat to the United States from Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) Attack: Critical National Infrastructures (2008) is the primary reference of this research project. This U.S. government publication is the most comprehensive overview of EMP threats that is available through the public domain. This document, coupled with online publications such as Future Science (Emanuelson, 2008), help examine just how vulnerable the United States is to an EMP threat and how the nation, as a whole, is not prepared for such an event.