February 11, 2016

Countering the threat posed by the nexus between Islamic extremism and international terrorism is a major challenge facing the United States and its allies. Amid growing fears of terrorism following graphic media coverage of online recruitment and attacks by self-proclaimed jihadists, signs are emerging that the public has become more concerned about how to keep people safe and prevent incidents of violent extremism. Our February speaker will provide an overview of the threat and prospects for its resolution.

Dr. James L. Regens is Regents Professor and founding Director of the University of Oklahoma Center for Intelligence and National Security, an Intelligence Community Center for Academic Excellence. He holds the Edward E. and Helen T. Bartlett Foundation Chair at the OU Health Sciences Center.

Dr. Regens previously served in policy and analytical positions in the US Government and national laboratories, in the USMC, and on the faculty of major research universities. He has field experience in Western Europe, Russia, China, the Middle East, Latin America, and sub-Saharan Africa. He has chaired multiple IAEA technical committees, is a former chair of the OECD Group on Energy and Environment, and been a consultant to and/or served on review panels for numerous organizations including SOCOM, DTRA, CIA, DHS, NIH, and the National Academy of Engineering.

He has authored over 200 publications including articles in journals such as Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and 8 books. His most recent book is Islamic Radicalism and Global Jihad (Georgetown University Press, 2009). He has been Principal Investigator for almost $40 million in research funding.

Dr. Regens is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations; International Institute for Strategic Studies; Association of Former Intelligence Officers; and International Association for Intelligence Education. He is a Fellow, Royal Society for Public Health.