Contact Stephen Johnson
- Email: s.johnson@cranfield.ac.uk
- Twitter: @cbrnesteve
- Blog: https://sinkingblackswans.com/
- ORCID
- Google Scholar
- ResearchGate
Areas of expertise
- CBRN Focus Areas
- Computing, Simulation & Modelling
- Counter-IED
- Defence Systems Engineering
- Defence Training Analysis
- Systems Engineering
Background
Steve was commissioned in to the British Army serving with 33 EOD Regiment (Royal Engineers) on a Short Service Limited Commission before a full career with the Royal Tank Regiment and Joint CBRN Regiment. This included service in Northern Ireland, Iraq, Falkland Islands, Belize, Canada and Germany. He continues to serve in the reserves as a technical officer.
He left regular military service to join the Foreign and Commonwealth Office spending time in London and the Middle East (he is a fluent Arabic speaker). He then worked in Security and Defence consultancy at System Consultant Services Ltd before being head hunted by Thales UK to work on CBRN detection systems. He developed a new type of mobile sensing vehicle (CAS-I) and assessed innovations in detection systems including bees, Deep UV and novel CZT structures for radiation sensing.
Steve spent 2 years working for the leading CBRNE journal, CBRNe World, as deputy editor and head of consulting. He built an explosive detection test house from scratch, co-authored two books on CBRN technologies and had incredible access to CBRNE specialists around the world as he interviewed, visited or helped develop workshops for them. Most recently he resigned as Deputy Editor, taking a position as News editor.
Following developments within his research on the impact of terrorism attacks he was recruited to Intelligence Management Services Ltd where he was Director of Consulting and worked with most of the major players in insurance as well as supporting work on intelligence analysis training and software.
Current activities
Stephen Johnson was the Course Director for the MSc in Forensic Explosive and Explosion Investigation, which explores other hazardous incidents e.g. CBRN and Fire. He actively works with Police, Fire, OGDs and International Organisations on themes of terrorism, CBRNE, intelligence and forensic science. This has included the FCO, ICRC, London Fire Brigade, SO15 and the International Institute of Criminal Investigation. He has taught on or delivered the following courses:
- Hazardous Forensics
- Forensic Intelligence and Exploitation
- Forensic Investigation of Explosives and Explosive Devices
- Fire and Explosion Investigation
- Counter IED Capability
- Royal Engineer Force Protection Course
- Terrorism Risk Management and Mitigation
He regularly lectures on Police CBRN courses around the UK, Imperial College London (On explosive devices), University of Rome Tor Vergata and previously at Georgetown University.
Steve's research investigates the exploitation of forensic evidence for intelligence purposes and ranges from CBRNE detection through to Open Source Intelligence. He has supported research with a wide range of British and American and International Universities. On CBRN he worked with Sussex, Bath and LSE on CBRN investigations in Syria. A significant phase of research was funded by Pool Re (The Government Terrorism Re-Insurance Pool), on modelling the impact and forecast of terrorism attacks.
Steve serves on a wide range of working groups, panels and advisory boards. He has provided comment for the media on CBRNE and terrorism.
He has spent the last 2 years on a full time posting as the SO2 Training Policy (C-CBRN) heading Defence Training Policy for CBRN defence. Since Oct 2021 He was appointed Lt Col, SO1 C-CBRN for the Land Warfare Centre, leading on 'WarDev' and support to 'CapDev' for CBRN Defence.
Clients
- Ministry of Defence
- Home Office
- International Committee of the Red Cross
- European Defence Agency
- European Commission Directorate Generals (Home Affairs, Justice, Enterprise)
- Thales
- Smiths Detection
- Aon Benfield
- Towers Watson
- JLT Group
- Niteworks
- BBC
- Cardiff university
- Georgetown university
- Aegis
- Pool Re
- ICRC
- Interpol
Publications
Articles In Journals
- Georgiou A, Masters P, Johnson S & Feetham L (2022) UAV-assisted real-time evidence detection in outdoor crime scene investigations, Journal of Forensic Sciences, 67 (3) 1221-1232.
- Critchley R, Hazael R, Bhatti K, Wood D, Peare A, Johnson S & Temple T (2022) Blast mitigation using polymeric 3D printed auxetic lattice structures - a preliminary study, International Journal of Protective Structures, 13 (3) 469-486.
- da Silva LA, Johnson S, Critchley R, Clements J, Norris K & Stennett C (2020) Experimental fragmentation of pipe bombs with varying case thickness, Forensic Science International, 306 (January) Article No. 110034.
- Johnson S (2019) Virtual reality, computer based training and C-IED training, Counter - IED Report, 2018/19 (Winter) 43-46.
- Johnson S (2018) Holding your nerve, Crisis Response Journal, 13 (3) 61-61.
- Johnson S (2016) I can see right through you: aviation screening, CBRNe World (April 2016) 44-48.
- Johnson S (2016) The Emperor's new shroud: international response to CBRN, CBRNe World (February 2016) 46-48.
- Lewis T & Johnson S (2016) Hashtag hazards, Crisis Response Journal, 12 (1) 85-85.
- Johnson S (2015) Elementary my dear Johnson: detecting nuclear explosions, CBRNe World (October 2015) 60-62.
- Johnson S (2015) Detector walks into two bars, CBRNe World (December 2015) 50-52.
Books
- Ackerman G & Johnson S (2023) Terrorism databases problems and solutions. In: A Research Agenda for Terrorism Studies, Edward Elgar Publishing, p. 159-176.
- Johnson S, Harrison K & Dean J (2021) Chapter 6: Challenges in Fire Investigation. In: Challenges in detection approaches for forensic science, Royal Society of Chemistry, p. 139-152.
- Norman K & Johnson S (2017) A review of spiking chemicals used in the first 40 OPCW Proficiency Tests. In: Recommended operating procedures for CWC-related analysis, Finland: University of Helsinki, p. 753-807, ed. 1st ed..
- Winfield G & Johnson S (2014) Global directory of CBRNE equipment: protection and decontamination. Falcon Communications.
- Winfield G & Johnson S (2014) Global directory of CBRNE equipment: detection and mitigation. Falcon Communications, ed. 2014 Edition.
