On June 10, 1958, the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) officially founded the Radiological Assistance Program (RAP) and equipped the program with a cadre of scientists, engineers, and technicians well suited to respond to any radiological emergency due to their extensive training in the design and manufacture of radiological products. RAP leveraged the expertise within the AEC and its national laboratories and made those resources available to assist Federal, state, local, and tribal officials in dealing with any crisis that might arise from the use or transportation of radioactive materials or devices. Through the years, RAP remained a program under the agencies into which the AEC evolved: first the Energy Research and Development Agency and then the U.S. Department of Energy. In 2000, RAP transitioned to the newly formed National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), a semi-autonomous agency within DOE. Today RAP continues to reside within the nuclear security enterprise in NNSA’s counterterrorism and counterproliferation organization.

Linda Synoground, RAP 8 Team Captain and Mark Fishburn, RAP 8 Team Scientist will be speaking on the RAP capabilities and experiences.  This presentation will include discussion of local, national and international responses conducted in the past ten years.