The DHS Office for Bombing Prevention (OBP) is dedicated to implementing the US National Policy for Countering Improvised Explosive Devices (C-IED) and enhancing national security. By building public and private capabilities to deter, prevent, and respond to bombing incidents, the OBP plays a crucial role in safeguarding the United States. Sean Haglund, Associate Director of the Office for Bombing Prevention, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure, explores how the OBP undertakes this challenging task and collaborates with industry partners on training opportunities.

Ukraine is now one of the most heavily mined nations on earth, posing significant danger to civilian life due to the prevalence of unexploded ordnance. The Ukrainian Government has recognized the importance of involving the private sector in solving this challenge. This market report, provided by Ukrainian Think Tank DataDriven, shows how the private sector can help demine Ukraine, focusing on the legal, financial, and physical challenges.

The invasion of Ukraine has led many nations to reevaluate their defensive capabilities and priorities, highlighting the ever-changing nature of warfare. In response, the Norwegian forces are revising their approach by increasing the number of EOD professionals and tiering them into specialized and more generalized roles. Master Sergeant Chris Taarneby Maukeng, soon to be Norway's senior NCO for EOD, discusses the rationale behind these changes and addresses current trends, opportunities, and challenges.

Armen Harutyunyan, Head of Standards and Operation at Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD), provides an update on his strategic vision for the organisation. This includes its evolution, success factors, standards and innovations, and the trends from the past 5-10 years that have influenced its current line of effort. An insightful interview with Harutyunyan, working within one of the most vital organisations on demining.

As new technologies hit the commercial market, there is always the potential for them to be abused for nefarious reasons. Combined with new tactics, this unfortunately ensures that the IED threat will continue to evolve. To stay ahead of the curve the Counter-Improvised Explosive Device Centre (C-IED) of Excellence endeavours to research and disseminate lessons and trends so that the threat can be better countered. Defence IQ was privileged to interview the deputy director of the centre, Colonel Christopher Bartos. In this interview, he delves into

• How the Centre of Excellence operates
• How the threat continues to evolve
• Which factors contribute to a successful C-IED operation and campaign
  

Ahead of the Countering Explosives Threat & Demining Conference, the 2024 Attendee List highlights the leading organizations within the industry and an extensive list of high-level attendees that will be attending this year.

This conference provides a unique opportunity for the EOD community to engage in productive discussions with nations and industry partners to tackle the challenges in tackling explosive threats.

Join us as we bring together military forces, humanitarian groups and governments for a chance to hear presentations on counter-explosive ordnance and to learn about some of the latest advancements in the sector from individuals and groups working on the front lines.