Beyond traditional CBRN force protection – a future of CBRN hardened super-soldiers?

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31646/gbio.3

Keywords:

CBRN, technology, impact, humanity, ethics, medical countermeasures

Abstract

Current momentum in military research efforts has opened the possibility for both the enhancement but also augmentation of military personnel for the purpose of achieving advantage over rivals. Rapid technological advances, currently breaking ground well ahead of prudent commentary and consideration of impacts on human society, ethics, geopolitics and military operations. This has potentially allowed friend and foe alike to exploit opportunities to develop completely novel countermeasures and defences, but also develop new threats in Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) military operations. In this editorial two recent technological developments driving medical countermeasure research are highlighted as examples. How such developments impact on capability competitions – in other words driving new arms races – in near-peer rivals is discussed. The profound potential impacts of these new technologies on the fundamentals of human existence as we understand it today are highlighted.

Author Biography

David James Heslop, University of New South Wales

FAFOEM FRACGP MBBS PhD MPH BSc (Adv) Hons 1 I am an Associate Professor at the School of Public Health and Community Medicine at UNSW, and retains significant military responsibilities as Senior Medical Adviser for CBRNE to Special Operations Headquarters Australia and to Australian Defence Force (ADF) joint senior leadership. I am a practicing vocationally registered General Practitioner, and qualified Occupational Physician, and a fellowship candidate for the Academy of Wilderness Medicine. My doctoral research focussed on the central autonomic anatomy and integrative neurophysiology relating to the cardiovascular response to noxious inescapable physiological stimuli such as severe haemorrhage and visceral pain. Utilising my research background and subsequent clinical training, through the ADF I have been fortunate to have extensively deployed into a variety of complex and austere combat environments, and have gone on to undertake advanced training in Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive (CBRNE) Medicine and Senior Medical Officer training. Consequently I was appointed as Senior Medical Officer for Special Operations Command for 2014, and was the Officer Commanding and Senior Medical Officer to the ADF CBRNE medical incident response element at Special Operations Engineer Regiment from 2012-2015. I have extensive experience in the conception, design, planning, delivery and operations of health support systems and capability in remote and austere contexts; incorporating the management of exotic or novel hazards and risks. Extensive actual experience in planning for and management of major disasters, mass casualty and multiple casualty situations. I also have extensive overseas and domestic operational experience in command, personnel management, force protection, health protection systems, resilient systems design and test and evaluation. Direct responsibility and experience with leading deployable expeditionary medical support. I am regularly consulted and participate in the development and review of national and international clinical and operational CBRNE policy and doctrine. I am additionally a peer reviewer for the journals Military Medicine (AMSUS) and Journal and Military and Veterans Health (AMMA). I also continue to conduct CBRNE medical, and general medical education and ADF GP Registar training within my military capacity, along with civilian instruction of the Major Incident Medical Management System (MIMMS) framework with MIMMS Australia. My interests lie in health and medical systems innovation and research. I retain linkages with key national civilian and military education, research and development organisations and retain an active involvement in a wide variety of projects and initiatives supporting national public health preparedness goals. My current research effort and interests touch on complexity science, agent based and deterministic modelling, emergent complex adaptive systems phenomena, test and evaluation of systems, policy research, epidemic modelling, exotic and emerging infections, disaster preparedness and response, organisational resilience in health care, development of robust socio-technical systems in health care, and the modelling, simulation and investigation of public health interventions and systems.

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Published

2019-02-14

How to Cite

Heslop, D. J. (2019). Beyond traditional CBRN force protection – a future of CBRN hardened super-soldiers?. Global Biosecurity, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.31646/gbio.3

Issue

Vol. 1 (2019)

Section

Editorials and Commentaries

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Copyright (c) 2019 The Author(s)

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Received 2018-10-18
Accepted 2018-10-23
Published 2019-02-14