March 2022: LLNL – DHS / TSA Collaboration to Develop Transportation Security Systems

Presentation Title: LLNL – DHS / TSA Collaboration to Develop Transportation Security Systems

Speaker: John Rodriguez, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory 

Presentation Summary: The DHS Science Advisor reached out to LLNL in 2005, one year before homemade explosives (HMEs) became primetime.  LLNL knows how x-ray and detection systems work, thus the vendors machines, algorithms, etc. are not black boxes.  After the HME threat was revealed in 2006, LLNL was the first to show that a HMEs could quickly be detected, and many of those positively characterized using x-rays. LLNL continues to work with DHS / TSA on their strategy and tactics for standing up new, enhanced HME screening programs and developing methods for standardizing x-ray units for proposed detection systems. This presentation will provide a short description of LLNL collaboration with DHS / TSA in these ongoing efforts.

Speaker Bio: John Rodriguez is a Superintendent for the Materials Engineering Division and an ASNT Level III in RT, UT, ET, PT, MT, VT at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL).

John’s diverse background began as a 4-year apprentice at the Naval Air Station Alameda to graduate to an Aircraft Sheetmetal Mechanic Journeyman. It is at the NAS Alameda where John started his 40+ years career in NDT/ NDI / NDE performing inspections on Naval aircraft and support equipment at the NAS and world-wide. Due to DoD’s Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) closure of NAS Alameda, John transferred to McClellan Air Force Base which later was closed by another BRAC.

Upon leaving DoD Civil Service, John began private industry work as a construction Special Inspector obtaining Certified Welding Inspector and has held multiple International Conference of Building Officials/Uniform Building Code certifications, as well as an Aboveground Storage Tank Inspector (API 653), NDT Level IIIs per TÜV (Technischer Überwachungsverein-Technical Inspection Association) and ACCP Level IIIs.

On joining LLNL in 2001, John progressed from Senior Mechanical Technologist, supporting the Nondestructive Evaluation Group (NDE), to NDE Senior Supervisor before becoming superintendent.