The NDPC is a partnership of several nationally recognized organizations whose membership is based on the urgent need to address the counter-terrorism preparedness needs of the nation’s emergency first responders within the context of all hazards including chemical, biological, radiological, and explosive Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) hazards.
The consortium is made up of seven members, including the Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) in Anniston, Alabama, the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (New Mexico Tech), Louisiana State University’s National Center for Biomedical Research and Training/Academy of Counter-Terrorist Education (NCBRT/ACE), Texas A&M University Engineering Extension Service’s National Emergency Response and Recovery Training Center (TEEX/NERRTC), the Department of Energy’s Nevada Test Site (NTS), the Transportation Technology Center, Inc. (TTCI), and the National Disaster Preparedness Training Center at the University of Hawaii (NDPTC). Each of these organizations has distinguished themselves nationally as experts in chemicals, explosives, radiological/nuclear devices, bioterrorism, counter-terrorism, agroterrorism, and emergency management systems. NDPC reflects the missions of all these organizations with its commitment to provide quality, cost-effective counter-terrorism training to the nation’s emergency responders.
Each of the institutions’ focus on developing and delivering products and services according to their institutional base of expertise. Under this arrangement, the consortium has achieved remarkable results in the nation’s unified effort to bring all levels of government, business, and the emergency response community to new degrees of preparedness. Together these members collectively assist in preventing, protect against, respond to, and recover from incidents of national significance.
The consortium’s strategic coordination and planning activities are led by a chairperson, who is assisted by one principal from each member institution. The chairperson position rotates between member organizations on a biannual basis. Each institution also provides a working group that coordinates and integrates the operations of the consortium.