The effects of Electromagnetic Weapons on the Critical Infrastructures

Over the years the reduction in the size of solid-state chips has allowed a reduction of the size of our electronics, but at the same time has allowed a reduction in the size and an increase in power of electromagnetic (EM) weapons used by hackers, criminals and terrorists. Also our critical infrastructures have become more and more dependent on computer technology, which requires reliable electric power and communications to operate.

This presentation will describe the threat of EM weapons, their impacts on commercial electronics (creating intentional electromagnetic interference – IEMI) and in particular their impacts on our critical infrastructures, with an emphasis on the electric power system. The presentation will also review assessment techniques and protective measures that can serve to enhance the survivability of our infrastructures against the IEMI threat, and will review the standardization work underway in the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and other international organizations.

Dr. William A. Radasky, Ph.D., P.E.

Dr. Radasky received his B.S. in Electrical Engineering and Engineering Science from the Air Force Academy in 1968, his M.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of New Mexico in 1971 and his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 1981. He has worked on high power electromagnetics (HPEM) applications for more than 47 years beginning his career as a research officer at the Air Force Weapons Laboratory at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico from 1968 to 1972.

He has published over 480 reports, papers and articles dealing with electromagnetic environments, effects, compatibility and protection during his career. In recent years he has worked extensively by performing assessments for several critical infrastructures to the threats of High-altitude Electromagnetic Pulse (HEMP), Intentional Electromagnetic Interference (IEMI) and severe geomagnetic storms. He is Chairman of IEC SC 77C (EMC: High Power Transient Phenomena), Chairman of IEEE EMC Society TC-5 (High Power EM), and a Working Group Convener for Cigré Study Committee C4 evaluating the measurements of geomagnetic storm disturbances.

He recently led two working groups producing important documents: one produced a Technical Brochure on the protection of power substations from IEMI and also an IEEE Standard for the protection of computer systems from IEMI. He founded Metatech Corporation in 1984 in Santa Barbara County in California with its main office in Albuquerque, and he is the President and Managing Engineer.

Dr. Radasky is a Life Fellow of the IEEE, and he received the Lord Kelvin Award from the IEC for exceptional contributions to international standardization in 2004.

Please circulate to interested parties.

Venue Note. This is our venue at the new Verizon Technology Center Campus in Waltham.

The meeting begins at 7 PM at the new meeting auditorium at the Verizon Technology Center. The address is 60 Sylvan Road, Waltham, MA 02451. The entrance is by the far corner – with the picnic tables out front – and not the tower or the new building. It is most easily reached by the West Street entrance.

Important Note: Verizon Technology Center requests the names of the meeting attendees in advance of the meeting. If you plan to attend, please send a note via e-mail with your name to John Nitzke at RF@ieee.org by Wednesday, December 2nd.

The meeting is preceded by dinner at Bertucci’s, 475 Winter St, Waltham at 5:30 PM. The speaker will be joining us at dinner.

Directions to Bertucci’s restaurant in Waltham: Take Exit 27B on I95/128, heading west on Winter Street. After exiting, stay all the way to the right and take the first right turn into the shopping plaza.

Please let Bob Malupin know if you plan to attend the dinner at Bertucci’s.

Bob can be contacted at Robert.Malupin@VerizonWireless.com.

Directions to Verizon Technology Center (old Verizon Labs location), 60 Sylvan Rd. campus, Waltham, MA 02451: Take Exit 27B on I95/128, heading west on Winter Street. Stay all the way to the right. Verizon Technology Center is 1/2 mile ahead. At the second traffic light, turn left onto WEST ST. and then take the first right (at the Verizon sign) which leads into the Verizon campus. Take the first left. The building and entrance for the meeting are on your right. Note that the entrance to the auditorium area is by the far corner – with the picnic tables out front – and not the tower or the new building.