Description

Building on the success of last year’s inaugural program, we are proud to host COUNTERTERRORISM2026 — now expanded to two full days in response to overwhelming demand and the rapidly evolving threat environment.

This mission-focused convening brings together leaders from government, law enforcement, academia, and the private sector to examine the current state of terrorism and the complex landscape shaping tomorrow’s risks.

As threats continue to evolve in speed, scale, and sophistication, this year’s expanded program will provide deeper operational insight and strategic analysis into:

• Emerging terrorist organizations and global networks
• Shifting tactics, tradecraft, and technology adoption
• Target selection trends and critical infrastructure risks
• Domestic radicalization dynamics
• Cross-border and transnational threat linkages
• The role of innovation, AI, and digital platforms in extremist operations

Designed for practitioners and decision-makers, the Summit moves beyond theory to explore real-world case studies, intelligence assessments, and frontline lessons learned.

SPEAKERS: 

Welcoming Presentations: 

🟡 AI-Enabled Hybrid Threats and the Cognitive Dimension of Cyberterrorism: Implications for Homeland Security

By: Tamara Schwartz & Robert Thomson, York College of Pennsylvania, Carnegie Mellon University & Cognitive Security Institute

🟡 Applying a Security Risk Management Framework to Assess Effectiveness in Governments Counterterrorism Campaigns

By: Joshua Sinai, PhD, Professor of Practice, Intelligence & Global Security Studies, Capitol Technology University

🟡 Detection vs. Reality: Can We Detect the Threat in Time? Operational Realities of CBRN Detection in Urban Areas

By: Brandon Graham, CBRN Unit, Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD), Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA)

🟡 Election Security Under Pressure: How to Protect Critical Election Infrastructure from Emerging Threat

By: Tina Barton, Co-Chair, Committee for Safe and Secure Elections

🟡 Hezbollah’s Inconspicuous Threat in the Western Hemisphere

By: Aurora Ortega, PhD Candidate, Public Policy Program, George Mason University

🟡 OSINT and the Digital Pathways of Radicalization and Recruitment

By: Claire Moravec, Director, Intelligence Operations for Social Media Exploitation, Sentinel & Nikki Rutman, Managing Partner, Global Intelligence, Sentinel

Audience

COUNTERTERRORISM 2026 welcomes contributions relevant to:

• Federal, state, and local counterterrorism and homeland security professionals
• Law enforcement and intelligence community practitioners
• Academic researchers in security studies, political science, computer science, and related fields
• Policy makers, analysts, and private sector partners engaged in security technologies and risk management