The Federal Bureau of Investigations funds and operates the only organization within the United States that is exclusively dedicated to the study of Improvised Explosive Devices (IED). The Terrorist Explosive Device Analytical Center (TEDAC) is a joint partnership with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the DoD Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization.
TEDAC is composed of a number of units dedicated to the following aspects of IED analysis.
- Forensics
- Intelligence
- Technical exploitation
- Investigations
Breadth and Scope of the Terrorist Explosive Device Analytical Center
Since its creation in 2004, TEDAC has collected almost 80,000 unexploded IED devices or exploded IED remains from the military, police organizations and international partners. It utilizes traditional and innovative scientific tools and techniques to reconstruct the mechanisms and provide insights into the bomb making activities of terrorists around the globe. It then produces reports and recommendations for front line personnel including soldiers, FBI bomb technicians and law enforcement personnel.
Terrorist Explosive Device Analytical Center jobs have helped bring dozens of bomb makers to justice through forensic analysis methods like fingerprint retrieval and mitochondrial DNA testing. TEDAC has also helped to identify hundreds of newly founded terrorist organizations by using electronic trend analysis. TEDAC is headquartered in Quantico, VA and is staffed by electronics experts, engineers, explosives specialists, and intelligence analysts.
Among the most notable triumphs of TEDAC is the 2006 analysis of a new type of bomb utilizing hydrogen peroxide. Prior to this incident, liquid based bombs had not been seen in combat or in terrorist actions. The following year, the insights provided by TEDAC prevented a hydrogen peroxide bomb from being used against U.S. and German assets.
Terrorist Explosive Device Analytical Center Job Description
TEDAC personnel are assigned the following duties:
- Collect, catalogue and analyze thousands of IEDs from around the world
- Maintain knowledge of potential bomb making techniques including chemical, biological and nuclear components
- Deliver finished analyses as reports and presentations to members of FBI management, military bomb disposal units and law enforcement agents
- Analyze remains and devices for forensic evidence about sources and techniques
- Utilize a comprehensive analytical framework to help make associations between types of bombs and terrorist organizations
- Develop and distribute bomb disruption strategies for new types of IEDs as they materialize
Terrorist Explosive Device Analytical Center Salary
TEDAC is comprised primarily of scientists, engineers and technicians due to its laboratory based mission. Most of these jobs are available at the GS-7, GS-9 or GS-11 entering pay level, although higher pay grades are awarded to candidates with advanced degrees like masters or PhDs, or to those with extensive prior experience in bomb analysis. There is promotion potential up to GS-14, and in a few select cases up to GS-15. In 2012 the salaries associated with these pay grades were:
These salaries are often adjusted for cost of living, availability, hazard and overtime.