NEW ORLEANS, La.— As the world turned its eyes to New Orleans, Louisiana, for Super Bowl LIX, a dedicated group of engineers from the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) were behind the scenes, quietly operating cutting-edge security systems to keep fans, players and staff safe during the big game.
In partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T), the DHS Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the National Football League (NFL), and local, state and federal law enforcement, ERDC deployed two patented technologies designed to safeguard against potential vehicular and explosive attacks.
“ERDC worked with our federal partners and joined law enforcement in New Orleans to secure and protect Super Bowl LIX,” said Nick Boone, director of ERDC’s Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory. “The innovative work we do with these agencies to meet our mission of making the world a safer and better place is so rewarding.”
Originally designed by ERDC to protect Soldiers in urban environments, Ready Armor Protection for Instant Deployment (RAPID) is an accordion-like security wall that can be set up quickly and serve as a bulletproof barrier to shield critical areas. Once RAPID was set up, the technology was wrapped in an NFL-branded cover, allowing the system to blend in.
The second ERDC technology utilized for Super Bowl celebrations was DETER, which is short for Deployable Expedient Traffic Entry Regulator. DETER is a barrier that protects against vehicular attacks, providing quick protection in multiple scenarios. Patented in 2022, DETER was developed when ERDC was researching ways to protect deployed troops at base camps.
“Protecting people that come to enjoy events and critical infrastructure requires innovative solutions that can be rapidly deployed in dynamic environments, like the Super Bowl, where there may be potential threats,” said Ali Fadel, Physical Security Program Manager for DHS S&T “Together, with our partners at ERDC and CISA, we are continuously ensuring that vital assets remain secure in times of heightened risk.”
“I want to commend our partners, ERDC, DHS S&T and our colleagues from CISA Region 6, for their involvement in providing a secure and safe atmosphere at the Super Bowl,” said DHS CISA Office for Bombing Prevention Associate Director Sean Haglund. “This comes at a time where recent events have demonstrated a surge in bomb threats, underscoring the significance of our work. As partners, we are resolved in this mission to secure the nation, mitigate threats and harden our events and critical infrastructure from potential attacks to protect our people.”
In addition to being set up near Caesers Superdome, RAPID and DETER were also used at other high-profile locations, such as the Saenger Theater at the NFL Honors event to celebrate the top performers in the league.
Super Bowl LIX is the most recent in a long line of partnerships where RAPID and DETER have been successfully deployed to enhance security at major events, including the 2023 NFL Draft, 2024 Super Bowl, and the 2024 Indianapolis 500.