University News
IL Terrorism Intelligence Ctr. Director, Alumnus Brad Carnduff to Deliver Oct. 22 Talk at WIU
October 17, 2012
MACOMB, IL – Western Illinois University alumnus Brad Carnduff, who currently serves as the director of the Illinois Statewide Terrorism and Intelligence Center (STIC) in Springfield (IL), will deliver a talk at his alma mater at noon, Monday, Oct. 22 in Stipes Hall, room 121.
Carnduff, who is also a captain at STIC, will provide an overview of the agency, intelligence-gathering methodologies and privacy issues. According to School of Law Enforcement and Justice Administration (LEJA) Associate Professor and Director of Western's Homeland Security Research Program Dean Alexander, Carnduff's lecture is open free to the public.
"We are pleased that Brad will expose our students to the significant work, which STIC provides in the all-risks, all-hazards realms, particularly in counterterrorism. As such, students will obtain first-hand, current insights and expertise on a myriad of homeland security issues," Alexander said. "With Brad's cooperation, School of LEJA Professor and Internship Coordinator Ken Durkin has helped place several LEJA students in internships at STIC."
Joshua Sheppard, who graduated from Western last May with an LEJA bachelor's degree and a minor in homeland security, completed an internship at the STIC during the Spring 2012 semester. According to Sheppard, his homeland security classes at Western provided him with a solid background for his internship experience.
"When I walked into my internship on day one, I was hoping my homeland security studies would give me an insight into some of the tasks I would have to accomplish at the Statewide Terrorism and Intelligence Center. One of the first things I noticed was the vast number of areas the analysts at STIC cover — whether it be a counter intelligence analyst, a terrorism research specialist, someone who works on motorcycle gangs or Amber Alerts or whatever the task may be. Thanks to my classes with Professor Alexander and other School of LEJA faculty, I felt like I was more prepared going into my internship than I would have been if I had not minored in homeland security. I was able to relate to most of the analysts when they were talking about topics such as the Somali Islamist insurgent group al-Shabab or Al Qaeda," Sheppard explained.
Alexander noted hosting speakers like Carnduff demonstrates to students the important opportunities available in the homeland security area of the law enforcement field. He said, as of this semester, the School of LEJA has added two new School of LEJA homeland security-focused courses for students pursuing the homeland security minor at Western, including: "Terrorism Financing and Responses" and "Terrorism and Law Enforcement."
As of the Fall 2012 semester, the number of students enrolled in the School of Law Enforcement and Justice Administration's homeland security minor is more than 190, making it "one of the largest minors in terms of enrollment at Western," Alexander added.
For more information about Carnduff's Oct. 22 presentation or about Western's Homeland Security Research program or homeland security minor, contact Alexander at DC-Alexander@wiu.edu. Visit Western's School of Law Enforcement and Justice Administration online at www.wiu.edu/leja.
Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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