Security Talks

Interlinkages and partnerships for security webinar series June – September 2023

Three-part webinar series ” Interlinkages and Partnerships for Security” organized by the Special Operations Association of America (SOAA) and the ACTRI, where over the next three months, we will be convening policymakers and leading US experts from across military, academia, think-tank, and other research institutions. 

Webinar #1: The war in Ukraine: The role of governments, nonprofits, and international organizations in
supporting Ukraine’s urgent needs, addressing the
impact of the war, and supporting its long-term
development goals.

Webinar #2: The Syrian protracted conflict, terrorism, and shifting geopolitical dynamics in the Middle East:
Implications for US foreign policy as it confronts
activities of the Islamic State, the involvement of
Russia and China, and the impact of the Ukraine war
with potential implications for CT policy in the Middle
East.

Webinar #3: Counterterrorism and AI: Examining AI exploitation by terrorists and the role of AI in CT efforts through multilateral and bilateral organizations and
meaningful partnerships.

WEBINAR#1: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE U.S. FOREIGN POLICY AS IT CONFRONTS THE ISLAMIC STATE, THE INVOLVEMENT OF RUSSIA AND CHINA, AND THE IMPACT OF THE UKRAINE WAR ON CT POLICY IN THE MIDDLE EAST

June 28, 2023, 2:00 PM -03: 15 PM EST

The first of the three-part webinar series ” Interlinkages and Partnerships for Security” organized by the Special Operations Association of America (SOAA) and the ACTRI, where over the next three months, we will be convening policymakers and leading US experts from across military, academia, think-tank, and other research institutions. 

Discussion panel: Katherine Zimmerman, Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI); Dr. Aaron Y. Zelin, Richard Borow Fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy; David Cook, Executive Director at Special Operations Association of America (SOAA), and Dr. Ardian Shajkovci, Director at American Counterterrorism Targeting and Resilience Institute (ACTRI). CLICK HERE TO WATCH

EMERGING THREATS OF VIOLENT EXTREMISM:
BUILDING & EMPOWERING COMMUNITY RESILIENCE

October 30, 2020

The American Counterterrorism Targeting and Resilience Institute (ACTRI) virtual conference examined current approaches to confronting the threat of violent extremism and terrorism domestically to inform future policy and response measures. ACTRI convened leaders and stakeholders from the U.S. government, academia, civil society, religious institutions, community organizations, and law enforcement together to explore the processes of radicalization leading to mobilization and violence, the impact of violent extremism on higher education institutions, the impact of violent extremism on minority religious groups, efforts to building community resilience, and opportunities to expanding initiatives and partnerships to address hate crime and other acts of violent extremism in the United States.

Justice, Repatriation & Gender Considerations Among Travelers to ISIS

September 28, 2020

The American Counterterrorism and Targeting Resilience Institute (ACTRI) virtual webinar explored the experiences of the US, European, and the Balkan countries in trying and rehabilitating Foreign Terrorist Fighters (FTFs) and women returnees from the so-called Islamic State. The panelists highlighted the experiences of countries that have actively repatriated their citizens from Iraq and Syria, as well as complexities of prosecution, repatriation, evidence collection, information sharing, and judicial responses to FTFs and women returnees that demand greater attention and dialogue from the global CT-PCVE community.

Briefing on Somalia’s Security Situation

August 6, 2020

The American Counterterrorism Targeting and Resilience Institute (ACTRI) Security Talk Speaker Series presented Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, former President of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia, former U.S. Ambassador to Somalia, Stephen Schwartz, and Martine Zeuthen, Senior Research Fellow at RUSI, on a “Briefing on Somalia’s Security Situation.” The panelists discussed the trajectory of African Union and International community engagement in Somalia, the international civilian and military efforts, and the Somalia government’s role in combatting al-Shabaab as it continues to fight for presence.

Unpacking Security & Regional Diplomacy in the Horn of Africa

Building and Empowering Somali Resilience

December 21, 2020

The American Counterterrorism Targeting and Resilience Institute (ACTRI) virtual conference addressed Somalia’s current tumultuous political, economic, and security pathways, while also highlighting its diplomatic efforts across the Horn of Africa to deepen economic and national security cooperation and uphold participation in multilateral regional diplomacy. As foreign governments continue to assert their presence in the Horn of Africa, including in Somalia, in the form of increased military presence, military installations, ports, and economic aid, the panelists discussed unique opportunities for such governments to also dynamically expand their conflict resolution and peacekeeping efforts in the region.

Drawing from the American Counterterrorism Targeting and Resilience Institute (ACTRI) 2020 field research in Mogadishu, Somalia, panelists offered first-hand evidence on al Shabaab recruitment, disengagement, and reintegration post-exit efforts. A look at Somalia’s Defector Rehabilitation Program (DRP), launched under the auspices of the Federal Republic of Somalia and the Ministry of Internal Security, served to unveil both successes and complexities associated with the process of disengagement, rehabilitation, and reintegration of al Shabaab members in the context of an active conflict environment. Risk assessments and security mitigation practices identified are applicable beyond Somalia and hold relevance to similar programs and environmental contexts.

Conspiracy Theories-Violent Extremism Nexus Mapping of QAnon and the Utility of Integrative Complexity (IC) Systems in Dissecting QAnon Semantics.

April 28, 2021

Nichols College and the American Counterterrorism Targeting and Resilience Institute (ACTRI) co-hosted a webinar that examined the connection between conspiracy theories and violent extremism. The events of January 6th, 2021, that led to the siege of the US Capitol prominently stress and remind us of the growing danger of violent extremism in the United States. The manner in which our citizens interpret facts and classify information no longer fits the traditional norms. Domestic and foreign threats have managed to exploit such a shift to foment anger, undermine confidence in our democratic institutions, and generate deception, violence, and death. The presenters introduced innovative, pioneering, and scientifically rigorous approaches to understanding and combating violent extremism, disinformation, and persuasive propaganda online through the perspective of both far left and far right extremist groups, with QAnon serving as a case study.

RIGHT and Left-Wing Extremism online & offline

March 24, 2021

ACTRI and Nichols College hosted an event to inform U.S. Military on practical research implications related to confronting the current threat of violent extremism within our communities via right and left-wing extremism online and offline.

Law Enforcement Only Event:

Anti-Government Extremists: Who They Are & How to Combat Them Organized by Homeland Security Today, GTSC

March 17, 2021

FBI Director Chris Wray told the Senate this month that anti-government violent extremism including militia extremism and the sovereign citizen movement has experienced a “huge uptick” in the past year, with some of the movements represented in the attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6. This webinar will delve into what Wray called a “broad bucket” of movements grounded in ideologies ranging from eco-fascism to conspiracy theories and discuss how law enforcement can better recognize threats tied to anti-government extremism.

SPEAKERS: Alex Friedfeld, Investigative Researcher, Center on Extremism, Anti-Defamation League; Allison McDowell-Smith, Co-Founder and Deputy Director of the American Counterterrorism Targeting and Resilience Institute (ACTRI); and Bridget Johnson, Managing Editor, Homeland Security Today.

Local, State, Federal, and International Training

2019-2020

ACTRI’s Director of Strategic Initiatives & Community Programming, Mohamed Ahmed, trained local, state, federal, and international law enforcement and justice organizations in cultural competency, community relations, CVE, and radicalization awareness. Training audiences consisted of CVE delegations (Kenya, Nigeria, and Belgium), FBI, U.S. Attorney’s Office, San Diego University Police, and San Diego Sheriff’s Department.