NNSA already prepared for threats against presidential candidates, counterterrorism head says

JOINT BASE ANDREWS — Scanning for threats against presidential candidates is a “24/7” operation for the nuclear emergency support team at the National Nuclear Security Administration, the agency’s counterterrorism head told the Monitor.

“I find these attempts, any attack to take the life of anyone, let alone a presidential candidate or former president, inexcusable,” Wendin Smith, head of the Office of Counterterrorism and Counterproliferation, told the Monitor at the 50th anniversary ceremony for the Nuclear Emergency Support Team (NEST) branch of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) at Joint Base Andrews, Md. “But here [at NEST], that’s part of our 24/7 we’re always on.”

Wendin made these comments in response to a question on how the “Protect Our Presidents Act” — a Republican-sponsored bill going through the Senate that would enhance the U.S. secret service of presidential candidates to the level of a sitting president in light of a second assassination attempt made against current Republican nominee and former President Donald Trump (R) — would affect the duties of NEST. 

“When we set our calendars for the year,” Smith said, “any major public event where it could be a target for a bad actor, then we will plan to support those events.” She added that if anything triggers a detection for nuclear material, “that will begin the concept of operations.”

NEST is part of the Office of Counterterrorism and Counterproliferation, which aims to provide early threat indications, inform of nuclear materials globally, and prevent adversaries from obtaining and detonating a nuclear device. NEST’s aerial measuring system, which involves flying aircraft equipped with radiation sensing technology in a grid-pattern low to the ground, was present at both political party conventions this election year.