Center on Terrorism, Counter-Terrorism, and Homeland Security
at the Foreign Policy Research Institute

Dedicated To Understanding Terrorism and Developing Methods To Defend Against and Defeat Terrorists

Mission

The Center’s mission is to study the goals, tactics, and strategies of terrorism and develop responses to it, using:

  • Advanced Computer Technology
  • Scenarios and Storyboarding
  • Simulation and Modeling
  • Organizational Change

Project Areas

The focus of the Center’s research is on terrorists, their strategies and tactics, and their objectives, resources, and capabilities for creating MUD (multilateral unconstrained disruption). The Center makes projections on future terrorist actions and develops improved systems for protecting our nation’s vital institutions and interests.

The Center’s current projects focus on management, organization, systems, tools, and methods in the following areas:

  • ES/ESP - Enterprise Systems/Enterprise Security Planning— develop tools for integration of security into mission-critical business information systems
  • Risk Assessment and Management— Use VAM software to model an analyze terrorist threats and risks, and assess investments necessary to counter them
  • Organizational Coordination for Security Enhancement— Scenario development for use in organizational restructuring
  • Network Infrastructure Security Tools— Use of innovative hardware and software tools to “harden” critical information infrastructure
  • Terror Dossier Database— a computer database containing exhaustive information on most known terrorist and revolutionary organizations for use by researchers conducting analysis of terrorism and its goals and methods
  • Input/Output Analytical Modeling— for identification of highly leverage-able targets of attack and protection
  • Technology transfer from Federal to state, local and private-sector organizations of presently classified security assessment information bases
  • Analysis and recommendations related to the Homeland Security Information System
  • Analysis of defense transformation and the military’s role in the War on Terrorism.

Situation Reports

Every other month, the Center holds a Situation Report on the War on Terrorism. These briefings, supported by grants from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, are free and open to the public. Audio and video of selected SitReps are available.

Center on Terrorism, Counter-Terrorism, and Homeland Security

Energy Security in Pennsylvania and the Nation

On December 3, 2007, the Center will sponsor a conference on energy security at the Union League of Philadelphia. Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell will deliver the keynote address.

Five Years After 9/11: What Needs to be Done?

On December 4–5, 2006, the Center sponsored a conference in Philadelphia evaluating the country’s progress on counterterrorism since 9/11. Materials from the conference including articles, presentations, and audio and video available.