University News
Two WIU Faculty Propose Homeland Security Intelligence Academy
June 14, 2010
In a recent peer-reviewed article, Dean C. Alexander from Western Illinois University's School of Law Enforcement and Justice Administration, and Jamie L. Johnson, from WIU's health sciences department, proposed an academic institution that will "aid in educating and training future homeland security and intelligence professionals in a more effective and efficient paradigm than currently exists."
MACOMB, IL -- Despite the barrage of homegrown and international terror plots targeting Americans globally, many Americans are not as alarmed as they once were by the threat of terrorism. But two Western Illinois University faculty members think it is important that Americans continue to be vigilant about such risks. Recently, they undertook an academic endeavor, which they hope will culminate in the establishment of a federally run, four-year, full-time, resident undergraduate institution focusing on homeland security and intelligence issues. More specifically, according to Dean C. Alexander, associate professor in WIU's School of Law Enforcement and Justice Administration, and Jamie L. Johnson, associate professor in the health sciences department, the institution would provide education and training of American homeland security and terrorism professionals, and thereby, enhance the security of U.S. citizens at home and abroad.
In their "Creation of U.S. Homeland Security Agency Intelligence Academy" peer-reviewed article published in the October-December 2009 issue of the Journal of Applied Security Research, Alexander and Johnson discuss the "need for establishing a federally run, full-time, resident, self-contained national academy: the U.S. Homeland Security Intelligence Academy (HSIA)." The article expands their research and publications on HSIA in Security Magazine. The peer-reviewed piece provides an evidence-based look at how such an academy could not only benefit the future professionals working in the homeland security field, but also aid in enhancing the safety and security of U.S. citizens overall.
"Jamie and I have been working on homeland security issues for a number of years separately, and since I've been at Western, we have been meeting about different issues in that realm," said Alexander, who is also the director of the Homeland Security Research Program at Western. "While conducting research about homeland security and intelligence academic training, we began to notice a market gap. We soon realized that there is not anything akin to HSIA."
In their article, Alexander and Johnson noted the present training programs in these areas -- including the FBI Academy, the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center and others -- "do not provide the thoroughness and tailored academic and physical exposure that are required today." Their article, "Creation of U.S. Homeland Security Agency Intelligence Academy," includes charts that compare the types of education and training offered at selected government, academic and educational institutions, and these charts provide readers with a comparative overview of the training offered via these institutions.
"At HSIA, the proposed academic courses include, among others: homeland security, terrorism, intelligence, law, political science, criminal justice and economics," Alexander said. "Also, upon graduation, all students will have advanced levels of proficiencies in at least two foreign languages with substantial adeptness in computers and technology. In addition, students will be exposed to a variety of practical and tactical skills during their time in the program, including weapons and preparedness training, hand-to-hand combat, survival skills, paramedics, intelligence gathering, investigations and cyberwarfare."
The article also delineates the physical training that would be required by students enrolled at such an institution.
"The physical training program in the HSIA will consist of strength conditioning, augmenting endurance, increasing flexibility, hand-to-hand combat, firearm tactics and survival training. Each of these spheres is essential for developing highly skilled graduates, who will then excel in their respective fields. In doing so, they will contribute to increasing U.S. Security and intelligence capabilities globally," Johnson explained.
Also in their article, Alexander and Johnson discuss prospective job opportunities for HSIA graduates. In addition, they discuss some of the issues that will have to be addressed in order to make HSIA a reality.
"We provide information and background about possible site locations, funding and recruiting issues," Alexander noted. "We are confident such an institution will aid in educating and training future homeland security and intelligence professionals in a more effective and efficient paradigm than currently exists. Present and future threats do not allow for complacency or satisfaction with the status quo."
To obtain a copy of "Creation of U.S. Homeland Security Agency Intelligence Academy," contact Alexander at (309) 298-2120 or DC-Alexander@wiu.edu or Johnson at (309) 298-1013 or JL-Johnson12@wiu.edu.
Dean C. Alexander, J.D., LL.M.
Alexander is director of the Homeland Security Research Program and associate professor at the School of Law Enforcement and Justice Administration. His teaching, research and speaking activities encompass terrorism, security and legal issues. His professional experience includes: director, International Business Development, Grant Thornton (Chile); in-house counsel, Heron International (U.K.) and Bezeq Globe (Israel); executive director, The NAFTA Research Institute (U.S.); and financial adviser, UBS Financial Services (U.S.). He worked as a consultant to the State Department, World Bank, Organization of American States, homeland security firms and investment companies. He has lectured on terrorism, legal and business subjects in Chile, Israel, Mexico, Panama, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom and the United States. He has trained law enforcement on terrorism/extremist-related issues in Arizona, California, Illinois, Oregon, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin.
Alexander is a member of the Anti-Terrorism Advisory Council Executive Board for the Central District of Illinois and Advisory Board of Security Magazine. He was a founding advisory council member of the Marsh Center for Risk Insights. In 2006, he received a grant from the State of Illinois to study homeland security and business issues.
In December 2007, Security Magazine designated him as a Top 25 Influential Person in the Security Industry. Dean's eight books and 10 law journal articles include: "Business Confronts Terrorism: Risks and Responses" (University of Wisconsin Press, 2004) and "Terrorism and Business: The Impact of September 11, 2001" (Transnational, 2002) and "Maritime Terrorism and Legal Responses," 19 Transportation Law Journal 453 (1991).
Alexander earned law degrees from Georgetown University Law Center (LL.M., International & Comparative Law, 1991) and American University, Washington College of Law (J.D., 1990). He is a graduate of Georgetown University (B.A., 1986) and attended the Graduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva, Switzerland (Diplome Program, 1986-87). He has been a member of the Bar since 1990.
Jamie L. Johnson, Ph.D., CHES
Johnson is an associate professor in the WIU Department of Health Sciences. He earned a doctorate of philosophy from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale (IL) in August 2002. A faculty member at Western Illinois University since 2002, Johnson's professional research and interests include all hazard principles, weapons of mass destruction, behavioral theory and safety issues.
Johnson began formal martial arts training in 1987. He has trained in eight martial arts: Tae Kwon Do, Chinese Kenpo Karate, Okinawan Karate, Jeet Kune Do, Filipino Martial Arts, Aikido, Ninjustu and Kendo. Johnson's weapons training includes: blades, blunts, flexibles and projectiles. Johnson has also served as an instructor in hand-to-hand combat tactics and weaponry tactics, such as flexible, rigid and bladed weapons. Johnson developed a system of training that could scientifically fit the right martial art techniques to a student by body, personality and intellectual type, which he said provides an end result of a martial arts system accessible, adaptable and effective for everyone. Johnson has also worked as a survival educator, teaching the public the importance of wilderness and urban survival tactics for human and natural disasters.
Currently, Johnson is constantly improving his martial arts system to address today's new threats and is developing new programs dealing with WMD prevention, survival and health preparedness for Western Illinois University. He has published peer-reviewed articles on health, safety, homeland security and education.
Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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