Counterterrorism Study Group

The Atlantic Council’s Counterterrorism Study Group is a bipartisan network of former US government professionals with experience in counterterrorism policymaking and operations. Participants include former senior officials who have served in both Democratic and Republican administrations on the National Security Council staff; at the departments of State, Defense, Justice, Treasury and Homeland Security; as agents at the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other federal law enforcement agencies; and at the Central Intelligence Agency, the National Counterterrorism Center, and other elements of the US intelligence community. The Counterterrorism Study Group hosts meetings under the Chatham House Rule with current executive branch counterterrorism professionals; with members of Congress and key Congressional staff with responsibilities for counterterrorism laws, policies and resources; and with foreign counterterrorism partners. Many participants regularly offer public commentary on counterterrorism subjects, but their individual views should not be understood to reflect the views of other participants of the Counterterrorism Study Group.

Engage with our 9/11 series as we continue forecasting the future of counterterrorism

*Not all speakers hosted by the group are listed above.

Featured content

The future of counterterrorism: Twenty years after 9/11

National security experts examine how the United States and its allies and partners must reimagine their counterterrorism strategies to counter the next terrorist threat.

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Issue briefs and reports

Oct 20, 2020

Improving counterterrorism and law enforcement cooperation between the United States and the Arab Gulf States

By Thomas S. Warrick, Joze Pelayo

Thomas S. Warrick and Joze Pelayo present recommendations to improve and increase cooperation in civilian counterterrorism, law enforcement, border security, and aviation security between the United States and the Arab countries of the Gulf.

Defense Industry Defense Policy

MENASource Jun 30, 2020

Amid the coronavirus, where are US-Gulf counterterrorism efforts headed?

By Joze Pelayo

As governments of the Gulf Arab states seek to meet the extraordinary challenges posed by COVID-19, extremists have hastened to find ways to exploit the crisis.

Middle East Politics & Diplomacy

Report Sep 9, 2020

Future of DHS Project: Full report

By Thomas Warrick & Caitlin Durkovich

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) needs to refocus its mission to lead the defense of the United States against major nonmilitary threats.

China Coronavirus

Article Sep 7, 2021

Combating domestic extremism means combating the insider threat in law enforcement

By Mary McCord

Dozens of law enforcement officers have been investigated or charged for their participation in events culminating in the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the US Capitol.

National Security Nationalism

Article Sep 7, 2021

An intellectual reckoning on counterterrorism

By LTG Michael Nagata

The time has come for the US counterterrorism community to undertake a difficult and probably painful review of whether the United States’ current practices and investments are sufficiently advancing its strategic interests and policy goals against terrorism.

Security & Defense Terrorism

Issue briefs and reports May 18, 2021

Domestic violent extremism and the intelligence challenge

By Mitchell D. Silber

Mitchell Silber presents recommendations to improve the effectiveness of the post-9/11 intelligence architecture against the domestic violent-extremist threat, including a more robust collection of social media content.

Americas Intelligence

Article Sep 7, 2021

Counterterrorism and great-power competition

By Nathan Sales

For nearly two decades after the attacks of September 11, 2001, counterterrorism was the United States’ top national security and foreign policy priority. That is no longer the case, as resources and policy maker bandwidth are increasingly shifting to challenges associated with peer and near-peer rivals such as China and Russia.

China Middle East

All content

In the News

May 19, 2022

Konaev in Washington Post on assessing Ukraine’s military

By Atlantic Council

Margarita Konaev argues that the US military had better assessments of the capabilities of Ukraine’s military as they trained them.

Conflict Crisis Management

Event Recap

May 18, 2022

Viva la space: Why the commercial small satellite revolution matters for the US government

By Madison Littlepage

A panel of space experts and practitioners discuss with Forward Defense how the US government can leverage commercial small satellite technology to secure the space domain.

Defense Industry Defense Technologies

Press Release

May 17, 2022

Atlantic Council’s Matthew Kroenig Appointed to Congressional Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United States

Director of Studies and Deputy Director of Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security will bring expertise in nuclear strategy and policy to high-level commission

Arms Control Defense Policy

In the News

May 12, 2022

Sadat in SpaceNews on the Arctic and space

By Atlantic Council

Mir Sadat asserts that the US military does not adequately consider the implications of the space domain on its Arctic strategies.

Defense Policy Maritime Security

In the News

May 11, 2022

Polymeropoulos in the Week on Russian intelligence operations in Europe

By Atlantic Council

Marc Polymeropoulos asserts that the war in Ukraine has devastated Russia’s intelligence operations in Europe.

Conflict Intelligence

Report

May 5, 2022

Small satellites: The implications for national security

By Nicholas Eftimiades

Forward Defense nonresident senior fellow Nicholas Eftimiades considers how the US government can better leverage commercial satellites to enhance space security.

China Defense Industry

In the News

May 4, 2022

Kroenig in Politico Pro on Nuclear Weapons Council testimony

By Atlantic Council

Scowcroft Center deputy director Matthew Kroenig anticipates testimony from the Nuclear Weapons Council.

Defense Policy Missile Defense

New Atlanticist

May 2, 2022

Diversity in the US space community is mission critical

By Julia Siegel

All of humankind is fascinated by outer space, which is why it should be a domain for all of humankind. Here’s how to make that happen.

Defense Policy National Security

Hybrid Conflict Project

Apr 25, 2022

I helped defend against China’s economic hybrid war. Here’s how the US can respond.

By David L. Fogel

Washington must regain its strategic momentum relative to China and stem Beijing’s global economic influence.

China Economy & Business

Middle East Programs

Through our Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East and Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative, the Atlantic Council works with allies and partners in Europe and the wider Middle East to protect US interests, build peace and security, and unlock the human potential of the region.

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