APUS ePress: Homeland Security

Matthew 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.

Patricia J. Bruno
Program: Homeland Security: Capstone-Thesis: Master of Arts (MA)
Awarded: August 2016
Capstone Instructor: Dr. Kathryn Lambert
Abstract: The CARVER matrix, MSRAM, and ORM contribute accurate risk assessments; however, the current risk methodologies are not readily replicated for use by the first-responders responsible to react to mass casualty events. The intention of this work is to contribute a singular risk assessment methodology to be utilized by first-responders prior to and during a potential mass casualty event that may be replicated with uniformity across the nation. First-responders will be interviewed to ascertain levels of risk perception and previous research will be analyzed in order to form the hybrid-risk assessment for first-responders. The end result is the Bruno Method, a First-Responder Risk Assessment.