Partnerships for Innovation
Because of our extensive experience in the national security and emergency management arenas, Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) is often involved in the development of exercise policies, procedures, plans and guidelines that ensure a consistent, effective response effort.
Our timely, solutions-oriented, operational advice and assistance has been recognized by our customers across the country, whether the situation requires expertise in specialized training or real-time response to incidents involving weapons of mass destruction or terrorism.
Some recent examples of our exercise and planning support success stories include:
ORAU assisted the U.S. Department of Energy in delivering a series of training events, referred to as Amber Waves 2012, which were designed to foster interagency collaboration among federal, state, and local organizations with stakes in a radiological emergency response.
ORAU supports BOR’s exercise program by providing operational assistance and expertise for five national-critical exercise facilities, including Hoover Dam and Grand Coulee Dam.
For more than 20 years, ORAU has managed the Emergency Management Issues Special Interest Group (EMI SIG), which fosters the exchange of information, ideas, resources and products to support the DOE/NNSA emergency management community.
ORAU to serve as principal planner for Empire 09 emergency management exerciseORAU assisted the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) as it tested the technical response to a release of a radiological dispersal device in a U.S. urban environment during the Empire 09 exercise.
ORISE supports the California Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) through planning for the annual Golden Guardian exercises.
ORAU has developed a “JIC in a Box” tool to assist public information officials in determining their mobile communication capabilities.
Our expertise in training, exercise planning and management is helping us to support the state of California in its efforts to integrate NIMS throughout its emergency exercise design and execution processes.
ORAU administered a “no-notice” exercise program for DOE to assess the readiness of radiological emergency response assets and to validate existings plans, policies and procedures.
ORAU has extended its national security expertise to assist government leaders and law enforcement in many countries as they unite in efforts to apprehend and prosecute nuclear materials smugglers.

While millions crowded downtown Washington, D.C., to celebrate Barack Obama’s historic inauguration, 25 ORAU emergency preparedness personnel were hard at work.