Michael Vandelune is a Research Fellow at the American Counterterrorism Targeting and Resilience Institute (ACTRI). Michael pursues research on the transnational capabilities of the far-right, focusing on how groups share training, weaponry, and support across borders and sub-cultures. His personal research focus is far-right extremism and ethnic-based conflict in Eastern Europe and the post-Soviet world. Michael is currently a senior at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) in Rochester, New York, studying for a Bachelor of Science degree in both Political Science and Psychology and an attached minor in Russian language. He has worked in foreign policy and international relations academia through two university-sponsored undergraduate research positions, contributing to two forthcoming books from professors Benjamin Banta (RIT) and Sarah Burns, Ph.D. (RIT), respectively. He has pursued further career experience through volunteering abroad and a certification program in post-conflict reconstruction taught by NATO and UN-affiliated instructors at the Frederick C. Cuny Center for Peace and Conflict Studies in Pristina, Kosovo. Michael’s undergraduate academic and published works have been featured in RIT’s Dept. of Political Science and College of Liberal Arts. Ardian Shajkovci, Ph.D., is Director at the American Counterterrorism Targeting and Resilience Institute (ACTRI). Ardian is a counter-terrorism researcher, lecturer, and security analyst. He has been conducting research on terrorism and violent extremism in Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Western Europe, the Balkans, Kenya and Central Asia, Somalia, and Ukraine. Ardian serves as a visiting lecturer and adjunct faculty, including at Nichols College, where he is teaching CT and P/CVE courses in the MSC Counterterrorism Program. Ardian obtained his Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration, with a focus on Homeland Security Policy, from Walden University. He obtained his M.A. in Public Policy and Administration, from Northwestern University, and a B.A. in International Relations and Diplomacy from Dominican University. Ardian has authored and co-authored numerous scientific and professional publications on the subject of violent extremism and terrorism. He has written for, and his work has been quoted by, The New York Times, The Hill, Homeland Security Today, New York Post, The Washington Times, Euronews, The Daily Beast, Le Figaro, Washington Examiner, AFP, Daily Caller, Fox News, and others.
Allison McDowell-Smith, Ph.D., is Deputy Director at the American Counterterrorism Targeting and Resilience Institute (ACTRI). Allison is the Associate Dean of the Graduate School of Liberal Arts & Sciences, Director of the Graduate Counterterrorism Program, Chair of the Undergraduate Criminal Justice Programs, and Associate Professor of Criminal Justice and Counterterrorism at Nichols College. She has launched the Nichols Master of Science in Counterterrorism (MSC) Program, the first graduate program in the United States with a focus on Violent Extremism (VE) and leadership for those pursuing careers in the fields of security, intelligence, and public policy. Prior to her academic life, she worked in the non-profit sector, most recently as a Senior Research Fellow for the International Center for the Study of Violent Extremism (ICSVE), where she conducted research on ISIS recruitment strategies, de-radicalization processes, and counter-messaging. She obtained a Ph.D. from Northcentral University focused on Homeland Security, Leadership, and Policy; an M.S. in Criminal Justice Administration from Northcentral University; and a B.S. in Criminal Justice from Rochester Institute of Technology.
Brock Long is the Executive Chairman of Hagerty Consulting and the former Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) (2017-2019). Throughout his more than 20-year career in emergency management, he has worked nationwide supporting local, state, territorial, tribal, and federal government agencies as they work to build robust emergency management and public health preparedness programs. He specializes in strategic planning, Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) exercises, evacuation, public safety, recovery management, and response logistics. In his role as Executive Chairman, he offers subject matter expertise for select projects and contributes to the growing body of knowledge in the emergency management community.
Manny Cancel is the Senior Vice President of the North America Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) and Chief Executive Officer of the Electricity Information Sharing and Analysis Center (E-ISAC). In this role, he is responsible for oversight of the E-ISAC and leading security operations and information sharing, threat intelligence and analysis, and stakeholder engagement initiatives designed to protect critical electricity infrastructure in North America. Prior to joining NERC, Mr. Cancel served as Con Edison’s chief information officer (CIO) leading all aspects of information technology, including cyber security initiatives.
Tonya D. Coultas is the Deputy Associate Administrator for Security and Hazardous Materials Safety at the Federal Aviation Administration. Ms. Coultas is responsible for implementing and maintaining the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) programs that support national security, aviation safety, and the National Airspace System (NAS). Ms. Coultas provides executive oversight and direction for the overall planning, coordination, and implementation of national security policies, plans, and national programs involving internal security, hazardous materials safety, investigations manned and unmanned systems, intelligence operations, emergency planning and operations, and workforce services.
Ms. Coultas has over 30 years of combined federal executive, local, state, military, and international experience transforming national level programs providing authoritative executive level guidance in support of national and international-level security, defense, intelligence, safety, disaster response, and crisis management. Before joining the FAA, Ms. Coultas served as the Deputy Executive Assistant Administrator for Security Operations at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). There she led a workforce of over 53,000 employees worldwide. She was responsible for mitigating the dynamic threat against the global supply chain and domestic transportation systems through the implementation of an array of countermeasures, including the latest technology, passenger and cargo screening canines, explosives experts, and other specialized programs such as C-UAS, Insider Threat and cyber security. She oversaw the safety of an average 2.5 million passengers a day at over 440 federalized airports. Ms. Coultas also led surface security operations and implementation of new technology to improve security effectiveness across a surface network that encompasses freight railroads, passenger rail, mass transit, maritime, and pipelines.
Ms. Coultas previously served as a Senior Executive for the DHS National Protection and Programs Directorate (now CISA), Office of Infrastructure Protection and for FEMA where she led the homeland security suite of grants managing over 25,000 multiyear open grants equating to $20 billion annually. She also served as the Executive Director for the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration at the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). Before joining DOT, Ms. Coultas worked for the Department of Defense as an Industrial Hygienist.
Ms. Coultas is a retired Chief Master Sergeant from the Maryland Air National Guard where she served for 24 years. During her service she participated in Operation Desert Shield/Storm, Operations Noble Eagle and Enduring Freedom. She served with Headquarters United States European Command, the Joint Chiefs of Staff J-4, and the National Security Agency. Ms. Coultas holds a Masters in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Toxicology.