Former Top Homeland Security and State Department Official Brings Extensive International Counterterrorism Experience
September 4, 2019 — WASHINGTON, DC— The Atlantic Council today announced that Thomas S. Warrick has joined its Middle East programs as a Nonresident Senior Fellow. Warrick will play a central role in the Council’s work on homeland security and law enforcement cooperation between the United States and key governments in the Middle East, with a particular focus on counterterrorism. Most recently, Warrick served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Counterterrorism Policy at the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
“Tom brings to the Atlantic Council a wealth of experience from over a decade leading counterterrorism efforts at DHS,” said Will Wechsler, Director for Middle East programs at the Atlantic Council. “Prior to his tenure at DHS, Tom was a central figure at the State Department, where he led the team that predicted the problems that would challenge an American occupation of Iraq. His insights were ignored by the George W. Bush administration, but ultimately proved correct. We are excited for Tom to apply his impressive experience to meeting our mission of building security and encouraging prosperity in the states in the Middle East and North Africa.”
Prior to Warrick’s retirement from DHS in June 2019, he served in the US Department of State on Middle East and international justice issues in the Office of War Crimes Issues and the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs. Outside of his government experience, Warrick was an international lawyer in private practice for 17 years.
In addition to his primary areas of work, Warrick has broad regional and global expertise, having worked on national strategies involving counterterrorism, Iran, defeating ISIS, Iraq, Syria, Turkey, Lebanon, Egypt, foreign influence, South Asia, Africa, West Africa counterterrorism, Somalia, Lebanese Hezbollah, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Israeli-Palestinian affairs, countering terrorist propaganda, terrorist travel, terrorist use of the internet, and Russia.
For media inquiries or to request an interview with Mr. Warrick, please contact press@atlanticcouncil.org.