Class Descriptions & Schedule

 

The 2023 Suumer Institute offers advanced classes in Homeland Security Human Factors so participants can continue to build their knowledge base. Participants can register for individual classes, or the entire six-class certificate program. All classes are broadcast live online Tuesdays from July 11 through August 15 at 1:00 PM ET and recorded for convenient on-demand viewing. Participants in the full series will receive certificates of achievement to demonstrate their successful completion of the program. A link to the recorded program, as well as a PDF of the training materials, is made available in the Institute Library later on the day of the broadcast.

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July 11 | Mental Illness & Targeted Violence 

 

The FBI Pre-attack Behaviors of Active Shooters study identified mental health issues as the most common factors (62% of cases studied) in incidents of targeted violence. While research has consistently demonstrated that individuals with diagnosed mental illnesses are no more likely to be violent than anyone else, stress and challenges to mental wellness are recognized as contributing factors. This is significant given the increase in the prevalence of mental health problems since the beginning of the pandemic era when the rate of mental illness in the U.S. jumped from 18.6% to 24.6% (from 1 in 5 to 1 in 4 U.S. adults). Many more people are struggling with their mental health, and there is a growing gap between the demand for mental health services and the availability of those services. In this program you will learn about:

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• The relationship between mental wellness, mental illness, and violence

• Affective vs. Predatory violence

• Psychosis and dangerousness

• Threat control-override symptoms and extreme violence

• Distinguishing delusions from extreme beliefs

• Mental health and lone actor violence

• Psychopathy and targeted violence

 

Register for this single session

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July 18 | Type V Workplace Violence: When Terrorism Comes to Work

 

Type V workplace violence is that which is directed at an organization, its people, and/or property for ideological, religious, or political reasons. The violence is perpetrated by extremists and value-driven groups justified by their beliefs, advancing or defending their causes. Many of the recent active assailant and terrorist incidents across the country and around the globe fall under this category. Organizations that are perceived to have a particular position about controversial hot-button cultural issues such as reproductive rights, LGTQIA+ issues, immigration, climate change, Artificial Intelligence, or the current election cycle, can find themselves in the crosshairs of hostile individuals or groups that can be disruptive, dangerous, even deadly. Learn about:

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• The current ideological threat landscape

• Ideological drivers of Type V violence

• True believers and violence risk

• Warning behaviors associated with ideological violence

• Integrating Type V violence prevention into existing policies and Programs

• Strategies for preventing Type V violence

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 Register for this single session​

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July 25 | Armed Protests in the U.S. & Evolving Security Challenges 

 

In the United States, public protests, demonstrations, rallies, and marches have increasingly become armed events. The sight of protesters with assault-style rifles protesting or counter-protesting various issues has become a fixture in the American protest landscape. The 6 January armed insurrection at the U.S. Capitol by members of far-right extremist groups and militia networks put a fine point on the challenges of armed protests.

 

While armed protest groups have seen their popularity surge since the election of President Barack Obama in 2008, the situation may be reaching a tipping point. It is unlikely that this combustible mixture of public expression and open firearm carrying will be able to safely coexist in its current form. A mass shooting or other catastrophic incident could drastically change the environment in a moment. While not exclusive to the U.S., the complexities around armed protests will likely continue to vex civic leaders and law enforcement personnel anywhere open carry of firearms is permitted or tolerated. This may prove to be one of the most pressing challenges for those concerned about public safety and crowd management. In this program you will learn about:

 

• Changes in the armed carry landscape

• Challenges for security and law enforcement

• Crowd management concerns

• Conflict and aggression in protest environments

• Strategies for safety and security

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Register for this single session

 

August 1 | Hell on Wheels: Understanding the Threat of Vehicle Ramming Attacks

 

You can feel the energy and excitement in a crowd of revelers at festivals, parades, and other large outdoor public gatherings. Whether it’s a day of sightseeing around popular landmarks or an evening of shared pride and patriotism at a fireworks display, being caught up in a crowd can be part of the fun. But in a flash, that energy and excitement can turn to horror punctuated by the sounds of screams, screeching tires, and the roaring engine of a car or truck used as a powerful weapon by a fanatic in a vehicular terrorist attack. It is critical to your safety and survival to understand this emerging threat and have an action plan in mind.

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At holiday celebrations and on ordinary days,  extremists have used cars and trucks to plow into unsuspecting crowds in this low-tech form of terrorism. In some instances, the attackers have followed the ramming attack with knives or firearms to inflict more carnage. These individuals see crowds as target-rich environments and an opportunity to conduct a terror attack on the cheap. While this tactic dates back to the early 1970s, vehicular terrorist attacks are now viewed by some as the poor man’s weapon of mass destruction, and they are on the rise. In this program you will learn:

 

• Scope and prevalence of vehicle ramming attacks

• Strategies and tactics of attackers

• Specific situational awareness points for individual and family safety

• Defensive actions to improve survivability

• Immediate post-attack priorities

 

 Register for this single session  

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August 8 | When You Are the Target: Threats Against Security & Violence Prevention Professionals

 

A March 2023 study found that two-thirds of professionals researching terrorism and extremism experienced harm, either from external threats of harm such as being trolled or receiving threats of violence; and/or internal threats, such as depression, anxiety, or nightmares, related to their work. While some work is being done in the area of “wellness” and “stress management” for professionals working with violent or toxic information, there is a paucity of information available addressing the physical and psychological hazards related to threat assessment and violence prevention.

 

Exposure to extreme content and case facts can immerse professionals into dark and disturbing worlds, often without the ability to discuss the impact of that exposure on themselves due to the confidential and/or classified nature of that information. Working threat cases that may result in a Person of Concern losing their job, or their freedom, can trigger acts of retaliation. Public or professional presentations, as well as media coverage describing a professional’s work or area of expertise, can draw the ire of trolls who engage in online and real-life violence that can threaten the professional, as well as their family.

 

As the field of threat assessment advances, new teams are forming in businesses, schools, and communities, and more people are becoming involved in threat assessment work, the risk of physical and psychological harm will likely increase. This is an important and timely discussion about the safety and health of anyone involved in the threat assessment and management or part of the violence prevention and security field.  In this program you will learn:

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• The psychological hazards of threat assessment/violence prevention work

• The risk of physical aggression and violence

• The impact on the physical and mental health of the professional

• Warning signs of harm

• Strategies and techniques for preserving physical and mental wellness 

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 Register for this single session

 

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August 15 | The Climate Change-Workplace Violence Connection

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Security studies since the early 1990s have been looking at the connection between the environment and violence, and there is a growing body of research demonstrating the link. There is increasing acknowledgment within the research and policy communities—and among the public and private security sectors—that climate change acts as a threat multiplier for a range of adverse behavioral impacts.

 

Awareness of this relationship and integration of these concepts into violence prevention and threat assessment practices will become increasingly necessary as the planet continues to warm. To understand the relationship, it is important first to be aware of the behavioral effects of climate change ranging from that of individuals and groups to the potential for civil unrest and war.​Information about the relationship between climate change and violence can be valuable to any professional concerned with workplace, campus, or community violence prevention, including those involved in threat assessment and management.

 

It will be important to prepare for the likelihood of an increased risk of violence and to adapt violence prevention and threat management approaches accordingly in response to the dynamics of a warming planet. Plans, policies, procedures, and even exercises will require recalibration to this new environment. Behavioral threat assessment and management (BTAM) models should consider current and projected climate change, as these factors can influence the timing, frequency, and intensity of threats and other behaviors of concern. In this program you will learn:

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• The effects of climate change on human behavior

• The effects of heat on aggression and violence

• The three routes to climate-driven violence

• Eco-terrorism and eco-fascism

• Becoming a climate-informed professional

 

Register for this single session 

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