Defense Threat Reduction Agency

Department of Defense agency charged with protecting America and its allies from the threat of weapons of mass destruction. In the post–Cold War environment, the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) combats the threats posed by chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high-explosive weapons—the emerging threats of the 21st century.

The Defense Threat Reduction Agency was established on October 1, 1998, with the mission of safeguarding America's interests from weapons of mass destruction by controlling and reducing the threat and providing quality tools and services to the military. It was also established to oversee and implement the Cooperative Threat Reduction Program.

To achieve its mission, the DTRA performs four essential functions: combat support, technology development, threat control, and threat reduction. To satisfy the combat-support function, DTRA performs three basic duties. The first is to use Joint Service Balanced Survivability Assessments to protect the homeland from an attack by weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and formulate better preparations against such a strike. Second, the agency provides operational and analytical support to the Department of Defense on nuclear and WMD issues. Third, the DTRA coordinates the emergency response to a radiological or WMD incident.

The technology development function requires the DTRA to provide the Department of Defense with systems to counter WMD and their proliferation. It also develops sensors and weapons to destroy WMD production facilities; determines the lethality of both conventional and nonconventional weapons; and assumes responsibility for research, development, testing, and evaluation (RDTE). The agency develops training and technologies to protect U.S. personnel against terrorist attacks, especially those involving WMD.

The functions of threat control and threat reduction are components of the Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) program. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the United States passed the Soviet Nuclear Threat Reduction Act. This act was renamed the Cooperative Threat Reduction program in 1993 and was responsible for helping the countries of the former Soviet Union in the destruction of their nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons of mass destruction, as well as all related infrastructures associated with these weapons. The CTR was to develop and implement verification safeguards to protect against noncompliance and future proliferation. The CTR has offices in Moscow and Kiev to fulfill its mandate of cooperative threat reduction in the states of the former Soviet Union.

The Defense Threat Reduction Agency, with its emphasis on nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons, will play an integral role in the nation's future defense against these emerging threats and their employment by terrorists.