Speaker: Dr. Todd C. Helmus, Senior Behavioral Scientist; Affiliate Faculty, Pardee RAND Graduate School
Title: Countering Violent Extremism in the Military
Zoom: https://ucf.zoom.us/j/91067081763
Or watch online via Youtube at seminar.findingthefanatic.com
Abstract: Concerns are on the rise that members of the U.S. military could be at risk of radicalization to violent extremism. Todd Helmus will present results of research that considers how terrorism prevention or countering violent extremism framework might address the issue. He will review the terrorism prevention framework as it has been applied in the U.S. civilian sector and focus on initiatives that might be relevant and adaptable to the military context. This review will highlight broader evidence for such initiatives, place the initiatives in the context of the radicalization process and in the context of other such initiatives, and offers at least a cursory review of the evidence base for interventions.
Bio: Todd C. Helmus is a senior behavioral scientist at the RAND Corporation and a member of the Pardee RAND Graduate School faculty. He specializes in strategic communications, disinformation, and terrorism. Helmus' latest research focuses on ways to counter Russian disinformation campaigns in the United States and Europe and assess the impact of international counter violent extremism campaigns. His research also focuses on examining the networks of ISIS supporters and opponents on Twitter, identifying ways to enlist key influencers in support of U.S. strategic communications and developing approaches to assess the impact of propaganda campaigns. Helmus has served as a deployed advisor to U.S. commanders in Iraq (2008) and Afghanistan (2010-2011) and led studies on U.S. efforts to train Afghan special operations forces. He received his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Wayne State University.
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