$1 million in funding
for security initiatives each year
Since the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, communities worldwide have seen a rise in extremist radicalization and experienced a surge in antisemitic rhetoric and violence.
This module offers an in-depth overview of that global event – told from the perspective of an FBI Agent who was living and working in Israel at the time – and examines the growing trend of antisemitism that has emerged in its aftermath.
The instructor for this block of training is Senior Research Fellow David Zimmermann. Mr. Zimmermann is a retired FBI Special Agent with extensive experience in counterterrorism. He led investigations in the US, London, and Tel Aviv, including efforts to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas. Zimmermann received multiple prestigious awards during his career and is now a Fellow at the Institute for Counter Terrorism at Reichman University.
This module is designed to provide a comprehensive overview of the DVE landscape today. The presentation will detail the framework through which the US government analyzes the DVE threat, including legal mechanisms and the data driven, analytic assessments which inform them.
The instructors for this block will be Research Fellows Jon Lewis and Luke Baumgartner. Mr. Lewis studies domestic terrorism, with a specialization in the evolution of white supremacist and anti-government movements in the United States and federal responses to the threat. His analysis and insights have been featured in numerous media outlets and academic publications, including: The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and BBC News. Mr. Baumgartner’s research focuses on domestic terrorism, white supremacist movements, and the role of military veterans in political violence. His analysis and insights have been featured in media outlets and academic publications, including: The Georgetown Security Studies Review, CNN, Military.com, and Inkstick.
This module analyzes the history of Hamas in America, from its origins in the 1980s to its latest spinoffs, which have been key players in recent campus protests. Using internal Hamas documents and evidence used in a federal prosecution, the module highlights key players, tactics, and narratives essential for identifying and countering this network’s activities.
The instructor for this block will be Head of Terrorism Research Lara Burns. She retired from the FBI after 23 years dedicated to leading teams in complex international terrorism investigations. At the outset of her career as an FBI Special Agent, she led the Department of Justice’s largest terrorism financing investigation and prosecution, United States v. Holy Land Foundation, et al., which led to the conviction of some of Hamas’ top fundraisers in America.
This module features case studies of various HVE ideologies and networks, followed by a discussion on emerging cross-ideological trends and the adoption of jihadist narratives, tactics and propaganda by violent extremists across the ideological spectrum.
The instructors for this block will be Research Fellows Jon Lewis and Luke Baumgartner.
Boxed lunch will be provided.
Register Below. Invitation to this program is non transferrable.
The Program on Extremism at The George Washington University provides training courses and seminars tailored for law enforcement, community organizations, university leaders and other key audiences.
Since its founding in 2015, the Program, has conducted a wide range of training activities. It now offers an enhanced selection of training modules designed to provide fact-based and up-to-date analysis of the various extremist movements operating in the United States.
The Program’s staff, which includes a diverse group of distinguished former law enforcement personnel and subject matter experts, offers a nuanced analysis of extremist groups and movements across the ideological spectrum.