Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) and MINES

Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) and MINES

by | Feb 23, 2026 | Client Success Story, Defense Industry, Federal & National Labs

Enabling Strategic Preparedness through Outreach, Training, and Expertise

Background 

The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) plays a critical role in safeguarding national security by countering threats from nuclear, chemical, and biological hazards. To further its mission, DTRA sought to enhance readiness through the adoption of the Military Impact of Nuclear Events Software (MINES), a wargaming tool designed to assess and visualize nuclear event impacts. This initiative aimed to strengthen strategic planning and operational effectiveness across the Department of Defense (DoD) and other federal agencies.

Mission

DTRA’s objective was to conduct comprehensive outreach and training for the use of MINES, ensuring its effective integration in wargaming and operational scenarios. The agency’s mission centered on building user proficiency, promoting MINES adoption, and leveraging its analytical capabilities to support decision-making across military and federal stakeholders.

Solution

SummitET subject matter experts brought their deep chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) insight to the project. Their involvement supported the development, training, and outreach activities for MINES within DoD and other federal agencies. SummitET’s expertise guided the software’s evolution, contributed to training materials, and ensured the tool’s alignment with operational needs.

Result

  • A comprehensive nuclear effects paper was developed and delivered, offering critical analysis and guidance for MINES users.
  • SummitET created a MINES training course, facilitating user education and supporting ongoing software development.
  • Ongoing support was provided for multiple evolutions of the Fort Leonard Wood Maneuver Support Center of Excellence (MSCOE) Chemical Captain’s Course Tabletop Exercise (TTX), strengthening training and operational readiness.

Conclusion

The collaboration between DTRA and SummitET led to significant advancements in nuclear event preparedness. Through targeted outreach, expert-led training, and continual development of the MINES software, DTRA enhanced its capabilities across the DoD and federal agencies. This partnership underscores the value of combining operational expertise with innovative tools, ensuring ongoing preparedness for emerging threats and supporting mission success.

SummitET Receives the 2025 Hire Vets Medallion Award from the U.S. Department of Labor

SummitET Receives the 2025 Hire Vets Medallion Award from the U.S. Department of Labor

by | Dec 16, 2025 | Awards, Defense Industry, SummitET News

St. Petersburg, FL

The U.S. Department of Labor has recognized SummitET as one of the record-breaking 887 recipients of the 2025 HIRE Vets Medallion Award. SummitET earned the gold award after applying earlier this year. The Honoring Investments in Recruiting and Employing American Military Veterans Act (HIRE Vets Act) Medallion Award Program is the only federal award program that recognizes employers who successfully recruit, hire, and retain veterans.

a gold and a platinum colored medallion on an American flag background
man in suit jacket smiling

John Duda, CEO

“Receiving our fifth HIRE Vets Medallion Award is a true honor,” said John Duda, CEO of SummitET. “This recognition highlights our ongoing commitment to recruiting, supporting, and advancing veterans within our team. The exceptional experience and skills of our Veterans not only enhance our organization but also distinguish us as leaders in the preparedness industry.”

SummitET joins 886 other companies from 48 states, plus the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico, who have shown a commitment to hiring veterans, but also ensuring that they have a long-term career and growth plan that uses the diverse skills they acquired through their military service.

Recipients of the 2025 HIRE Vets Medallion Award meet rigorous employment and veteran integration assistance criteria, including veteran hiring and retention percentages; availability of veteran-specific resources; leadership programming for veterans; dedicated human resource efforts; pay compensation and tuition assistance programs for veterans. Over 2,200 employers have earned a total of 5,371 HIRE Vets Medallion Awards since 2019.

SummitET previously received the HIRE Vets Medallion Award in 2024, 2023, 2021, and 2020.

About SummitET  

SummitET® is a veteran-owned, Florida-based preparedness solutions company that provides proven, full-spectrum solutions to threats facing government, non-government, and private organizations through industry-leading experts. In addition to expert-led custom trainings, exercises, consulting, and plan and policy development, SummitET also offers its software solution, Previstar®, which delivers the same high-quality preparedness and response capabilities. Both SummitET’s expert services and Previstar software equip organizations and their people to effectively manage and respond to crisis situations.

​About the HIRE Vets Medallion Program 

The HIRE Vets Medallion Award is earned by businesses that demonstrate unparalleled commitment to attracting, hiring and retaining veterans. The 2026 HIRE Vets Medallion Award application period will open to employers on Jan. 31, 2026. For more information about the program and the application process, visit HIREVets.gov.

SummitET News

SummitET Receives the 2025 Hire Vets Medallion Award from the U.S. Department of Labor

SummitET Receives 2024 HIRE Vets Medallion Award from the U.S. Department of Labor

by | Oct 31, 2024 | Awards, Defense Industry, SummitET News

October 31, 2024 | St. Petersburg, FL

U.S. Acting Secretary of Labor Julie A. Su recognized Summit Exercises and Training LLC (SummitET®) as one of 839 recipients of the 2024 HIRE Vets Medallion Award during a virtual award ceremony presented by U.S. Department of Labor. SummitET earned the Gold Medallion award for the fourth time since 2020. The Honoring Investments in Recruiting and Employing American Military Veterans Act (HIRE Vets Act) Medallion Program is the only federal award program that recognizes employers who successfully recruit, hire, and retain veterans.

a gold and a platinum colored medallion on an American flag background
man in suit jacket smiling

John Duda, CEO

“We are honored to receive the HIRE Vets Medallion Award a fourth time, a testament to our dedicated team and unwavering values,” expressed John Duda, CEO of SummitET. “This award embodies our strategic efforts to recruit, retain, and empower veterans, acknowledging their invaluable contributions and unique skill sets that both strengthen our organizational capabilities and set us apart in the preparedness field.”

SummitET joins 838 other companies from 49 states, plus the District of Columbia, who have shown a commitment to hiring veterans and ensuring long-term career and growth plan that utilizes diverse skills acquired through military service. 

Recipients of the 2024 HIRE Vets Medallion Award meet rigorous employment and veteran integration assistance criteria, including veteran hiring and retention percentages; availability of veteran-specific resources; leadership programming for veterans; dedicated human resource efforts; pay compensation and tuition assistance programs for veterans.

About SummitET  

Summit Exercises and Training LLC (SummitET®) is a Florida-based, veteran-owned preparedness solutions company that provides proven full spectrum solutions to threats facing U.S. and international government and non-government organizations, as well as private entities through industry-leading experts and impeccable customer service. 

About the HIRE Vets Medallion Program 

The HIRE Vets Medallion Award is earned by businesses that demonstrate unparalleled commitment to attracting, hiring and retaining veterans. The 2025 HIRE Vets Medallion Award application period will open to employers on Jan. 31, 2025. For more information about the program and the application process, visit HIREVets.gov. 

There are different awards for large employers (500-plus employees), medium employers (51-499 employees), and small employers (50 or fewer employees). Additionally, there are two award tiers: platinum and gold.

SummitET News

SummitET Experts to Attend 2024 Joint Civil and DoD CBRN Symposium

SummitET Experts to Attend 2024 Joint Civil and DoD CBRN Symposium

by | Mar 4, 2024 | Defense Industry, SummitET News

Summit Exercises and Training LLC (SummitET®) experts are attending the 12th Annual Joint Civil and DoD CBRN Symposium in Washington D.C. March 13 – 14, 2024.

This year’s symposium will convene senior level experts from across the military, federal government, state and local responders, and academia to explore effective CBRN incident detection, protection, and recovery strategies amid a dynamic threat environment. It will also feature a panel that will highlight the utilization of emerging technologies and capabilities to bolster recovery and response in a CBRN-affected, densely populated urban environment.

SummitET subject matter experts can assist in areas of mission support, planning and policy, and crisis communications for CBRN threats and hazards. We specialize in the design, facilitation, and support of federal and state CBRNE and WMD training and exercises that test, validate, and improve incident prevention, preparedness, and response capabilities and address known emerging threats.

SummitET at 2024 Joint Civil & DoD CBRN Symposium

The real-life experience of our team members makes all the difference in the support we offer. Their expert backgrounds include biological threat response, bomb technician, CWMD coordinators and operations, CBRNE hazmat, detection, and sampling, FBI counterterrorism, emergency management, crisis communications, and much more.

Conference attendees can connect with SummitET experts to discuss our CBRNE preparedness solutions for current and emerging threats, including exercises, training, plan development, and war-gaming.

Learn more about our preparedness capabilities

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SummitET partner Chuck Stevens-marrone

Chuck Stevens-Marrone

Chief Projects Officer

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SummitET News

Bridging the Gap Episode 3, Part 1: Improving Exercise Design and Evaluation; the XF Score

Bridging the Gap Episode 3, Part 1: Improving Exercise Design and Evaluation; the XF Score

by | Jan 26, 2024 | Bridging the Gap, Defense Industry, Preparedness Blog

SummitET preparedness experts and guest discuss the XF ScoreTM, a rubric for analyzing the effectiveness of tabletop exercises and trainings for crises.

Read more about the XF ScoreTM in the following article:

“Creating a New Standard for Evaluating Tabletop Exercises” by John Duda and Scott Glick

Domestic Preparedness Journal, July 25, 2023 

Tabletop exercise design checklist

Is your organization better prepared today after completing a tabletop exercise or training? How did the experience better position you to face a threat or hazard? If it is difficult to answer these questions, how do you know the exercise was an effective use of time and resources?

In Part 1 of Episode 3 of Bridging the Gap, preparedness experts introduce you to the XF ScoreTM, a rubric for analyzing the effectiveness of tabletop exercises and trainings for crises.

The creators of the XF ScoreTM speak with Pete Gaynor, former DHS Acting Secretary and former FEMA Administrator, about how this new evaluation tool allows for a better outcome than the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program, or HSEEP. Created by FEMA, HSEEP provides a set of principles for evaluating exercise programs. The XF ScoreTM helps to prove whether your agency is more prepared because of the training and allows you to address weaknesses in a revised training plan.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of this podcast episode: once you’ve collected data from your training or exercise evaluation, how do you interpret and utilize it to strengthen future plans?

Contributors:

Pete Gaynor

Pete Gaynor

Former DHS Acting Secretary; Former FEMA Administrator

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John Duda, Chief Executive Officer and founding partner at SummitET

John Duda

Co-creator of the XF ScoreTM; Chairman and CEO of SummitET®

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Scott Glick VP and General Counsel

Scott Glick

Co-creator of the XF ScoreTM; Former US DOJ Director, Preparedness & Response
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Adam Montella, Senior Vice President at SummitET

Adam Montella

Senior Vice President of SummitET®

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Creating a New Standard for Evaluating Tabletop Exercises

Creating a New Standard for Evaluating Tabletop Exercises

by | Jul 7, 2023 | Defense Industry, Resources

By John Duda and Scott J. Glick

Even though tabletop exercises (TTXs) have been used for decades, an industry standard has not emerged on how to evaluate their effectiveness. Since 2012, John Duda, CEO of SummitET, has noted the lack of an industry standard for quantitative assessments of TTXs, which prompted him to develop a rubric for analyzing and measuring exercise effectiveness. Based on their extensive exercise experience in both the government and the private sector, Mr. Duda and Scott J. Glick, SummitET’s General Counsel, have refined the rubric and its scoring of various exercise factors into what they call the XF ScoreTM, which they discuss in their article published by the Domestic Preparedness Journal entitled Creating A New Standard for Evaluating Tabletop Exercises.

Access the full article published by DomesticPreparedness.com.

Read the Full Article
Tabletop exercise design checklist

Go to our checklist for organizations to use to ensure that the critical design elements for a successful TTX are considered.

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John Duda, Chief Executive Officer and founding partner at SummitET

John Duda

CEO

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Scott Glick VP and General Counsel

Scott Glick

General Counsel

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By combining all elements of news media into simulation exercises, you can ensure your team stands ready to interact in real-time with the media in the face of a crisis.