A new national, not-for-profit coalition has been launched by a broad group of first-responders, business groups, health advocates and homeland security experts . The coalition, called The Radiological Threat Awareness Coalition (R-TAC), Washington, DC, was formed to prepare, protect, and prevent a radiological disaster in our country by providing information and resources on the risk of a radiological catastrophe such as a series of 'dirty bomb' attacks.

James P. Pinkerton will serve as the organization’s first chairman. Pinkerton is a former White House adviser and long-time national media personality. The R-TAC mission will be reinforced and guided by a prominent Advisory Board consisting of the nation’s foremost radiological and preparedness experts, including: Dr. Albert L. Wiley, Jr., Director of Radiation Emergency Assistance Center/Training Site (REAC/TS) at Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Dr. Carol Marcus, Former Professor of Radiation Oncology and Radiological Sciences at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine and Dr. Tareg A. Bey, Clinical Professor of Emergency Medicine and Director of International Emergency Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California at Irvine (UCI).