Anti-Terrorism Expert To Discuss Security Issues
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Brig. Gen. (Ret.)
Jonathan H. Cofer |
Responsibility for our nation's security does not solely
belong to the military and federal agencies, according to
an anti-terrorism expert who will be speaking at Sam Houston
State University next week.
"State, local and private sector entities focused on
all aspects of protection can benefit from tactics, techniques
and procedures learned and instituted through the federal
sector's anti-terrorism programs," said Brig. Gen. (Ret.)
Jonathan H. Cofer on the current status of homeland security.
Cofer, a highly decorated 20-year army veteran, will be at
SHSU to discuss his concerns in a presentation entitled, "Anti-terrorism,
Force Protection and Homeland Security - A New Era of Threat."
The public is invited to attend the presentation, which will
be held on Monday, Nov. 3, at 6 p.m. in the SHSU Killinger
Auditorium. There is no admission charge.
The presentation will look at several ways to improve safety
against terrorism and ways to progress the overall status
of homeland security.
According to a report made to Congress last summer, Cofer
believes terrorism could strike anywhere at anytime.
"Terrorists are adaptive adversaries who constantly look
for ways to strike where their victims are most vulnerable,"
Cofer said.
Since the tragic events of Sept. 11, Cofer has been one of
many government officials taking steps to ensure our country
is safe. According to the retired general, it was the dreadful
actions of the terrorist attack on that day that revealed
weaknesses in the United States' defense system.
"Events of Sept. 11 introduced vulnerabilities to personnel
and critical infrastructures to our homeland heretofore only
the object of speculation," said Cofer. "These new
vulnerabilities require a flexible, synchronized and adaptive
approach to protection and mission assurance by the entire
community of security professionals."
Cofer, a former deputy director for anti-terrorism/force protection
for the Joint Staff in Washington, D.C., offers a plethora
of experience and knowledge in the field of terrorism, and
officials at SHSU are excited about the opportunity to listen
in on Cofer's beliefs.
"General Cofer has been very involved in homeland security
efforts since 9-11, and he brings a wealth of expertise on
terrorism," said Richard Ward, dean of the College of
Criminal Justice. "His experience as a military police
officer gives him an understanding of many of the problems
being faced in the criminal justice system today."
The retired general is now the senior executive vice president
for force protection at MZM, INC.
-END-
Media Contact: Eric
Barton
October 29, 2003
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