Counterterrorism Conference

About the Conference

The horrific events of September 11, 2001 will stand out as one of the most catastrophic events in modern American history. It serves as a reminder of the dark and evil side of humanity that knows no bounds. To help create stability and security, we rely upon the forces of good to counteract the immoral however, there will most assuredly be periods of time when harm will befall the innocent. It is up to the forces of good – the guardians of society sworn to protect and serve - to render swift justice.

Since 9/11, the United States has lead the charge against individuals and groups who use terrorist acts to kill, injure and maim the innocent. Our men and woman, at home and abroad, through preparation, determination, training and community support have sought to keep others safe. Some claim our communities have been the benefactor of luck and Divine intervention and while we might believe in Divine intervention, we cannot rely on luck.  It is often said, luck is not a strategy - luck occurs when preparation meets opportunity. It is this statement that drives us, in part, to develop and offer this counterterrorism conference: preparing the guardians so they might make their own luck.

A critical component of our nation’s fabric are small and medium size communities unfortunately, the majority of opportunities for preparation occur in large urban areas where critical resources are more concentrated and readily available. What is missing is an opportunity for preparation in those small and medium size communities where the dark element of society knows no bounds. 

Attacks on police, military and ordinary citizens continue to mount in the new era of lone wolf threats, ISIS inspired radicals, and anti-government movements. We ask the questions: who are these bad actors; what drives these acts of violence; what are the precursor signs of an attack or a radical mindset; what can we learn by a careful examination of acts that have occurred; how can we work to improve coordination and collaboration with the public safety community and the individuals they serve?  Lastly, how do we develop a ‘preparation’ opportunity that may be readily available to small and medium size communities? The Orlando Counterterrorism Conference is an effort to address these important questions and concerns so all communities can begin to prepare to get ‘lucky’.

Registration Fee: $250 and includes Welcome Reception on Wednesday evening, May 24th, and both Breakfast and Lunch on Thursday, May 25th and Friday, May 26th.