ATF Certified Explosives Specialists (CES)
Purpose
The special agent/ATF Certified Explosives Specialist (CES) conducts thorough investigations into violations of the federal explosives laws, support state and local authorities and ATF’s industry operations investigators (IOI). IOIs are responsible for regulating and inspecting licensed explosives industry members. Selected based on experience in the field, CESs receive mandatory training in all aspects of explosives investigation, including handling, destruction, identification, demonstration and instruction.
Authority
ATF is the federal agency charged with enforcing the provisions of the Organized Crime Control Act of 1970, Title XI, Title 18, U.S.C., Sec 1102, Chapter 40, and Title 27, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 555. Congress enacted these major laws on the storage, commerce, distribution, transportation and manufacture of explosives and explosive materials.
Mission
The CES specializes in investigating bombings, explosions, stolen explosives and explosives-related incidents. They enforce the federal explosives laws and protect the public from criminal acts and unsafe storage of explosives. CES efforts support ATF’s and the Department of Justice’s strategic goals of preventing terrorism and promoting the nation’s security.
A CES must maintain a working knowledge of military and commercial explosives, as well as homemade or improvised explosive devices. As ATF’s primary investigative resource on explosives, the CES is responsible for responding to all explosions, conducting explosives recovery and disposal operations, participating in liaison activities with other public safety entities and delivering courtroom testimony within their area of expertise. The CES supports national security special events such as political conventions and major sports competitions. Additionally, they deliver training for ATF personnel, private- and public-sector safety entities, other law enforcement, military and international partners.
In addition to the CES Basic Course, the CES candidate must successfully complete the Hazardous Materials course delivered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, ATF’s Advanced Explosives Destruction course, ATF’s Post Blast Investigation course, and the International Society of Explosives Engineers Blasters Certification. During their candidacy, a CES must also participate in explosives-related investigations, disposal operations, and explosives demonstrations. After attaining CES status, a special agent must successfully recertify every two years, which involves standardized practical skills testing and a two-week course.
A CES who successfully completes the Hazardous Device School (six-week course at the Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Ala.) qualifies as a CES bomb technician (CESBT). A CESBT may render safe or disarm destructive devices when in the interest of the public safety, conduct large-scale explosives destruction operations, execute and interpret device X-rays, and assemble live and inert explosive/incendiary devices for training purposes.
Special agents who handle explosives detection canines are fully functioning CESs, and are held to the same responsibility and training requirements as non-handler CESs.
Resources
As of fiscal year 2009, ATF has 244 CESs throughout 47 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
In addition to the CES, ATF contributes the expertise of its explosives enforcement officers, the U.S. Bomb Data Center, the National Response Team, three forensic science laboratories, and explosives detection canines to explosives incidents and criminal investigations.
For more information about Certified Explosives Specialist, go to www.atf.gov.
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