Sir David Veness delivers a keynote address and answers questions at the Overcoming Extremism: Protecting Civilians from Terrorist Violence conference. Christine Wormuth moderates.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) hosted a two-day conference featuring high-profile leaders, experts, and opinion-makers to develop a shared international agenda for protecting civilians from terrorist violence. In addition to examining government responses and legal structures, the conference considers how local communities and international partners can transform the enabling environment that can intimidate local actors into silence or acquiescence. Topics include the impact of new media tools, changes in international humanitarian law, the evolution of terrorist tactics, the proliferation of suicide bombings, and innovative approaches to protecting civilians- CSIS
Bio
David Veness
David Veness is the Under-Secretary-General for Safety and Security at the United Nations. He formerly served as Assistant Commissioner, Specialist Operations in the Metropolitan Police Service in London (1994-2005), which he originally entered as a cadet in 1964. He was on the hostage negotiating team at the Iranian Embassy siege (1980) and led the negotiations at the Libyan Peoples Bureau incident in 1984. He was an instructor and then Director of the Scotland Yard Negotiators Course between 1980 and 1987. Mr. Veness was appointed Commander in 1987 and served with Royalty and Diplomatic Protection until 1990.
In 1990, he became Commander Public Order, Territorial Security and Operational Support. He was promoted to Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Specialist Operations, Crime, in November 1991, and was promoted to Assistant Commissioner in 1994. He was awarded the Queen's Police Medal in 1994 and the Commander of the British Empire in 2000. He was knighted at the end of 2004. He served as a member of the Service Authorities for the National Criminal Intelligence Service and the National Crime Squad. Mr. Veness was educated at Raynes Park County Grammar School in south London and Trinity College, Cambridge (Master of Arts and Master of Law).
Christine Wormuth
Christine Wormuth is a senior fellow in the International Security Program at CSIS, where she works on defense and homeland security issues, including emergency response and preparedness challenges, homeland security policy development, defense strategy and resources, and the capabilities and readiness of the U.S. military.
In 2007, she served as staff director for the Independent Commission on the Security Forces of Iraq, also known as The Jones Commission. As staff director, she traveled with the commission to Iraq and focused in particular on the readiness of Iraqi police forces. Her other projects include developing recommendations for America on better managing responses to future catastrophes (expected in early 2008) and a study on the future of the National Guard and Reserves. Wormuth has held a variety of jobs in the defense world. She was a principal at DFI Government Services (now DeticaDFI), worked in the Policy Office of the Office of the Secretary of Defense, was a French desk officer during and after the September 11 attacks, and was special assistant to the under secretary for policy. Wormuth received her master's in public policy from the University of Maryland, her bachelor's degree from Williams College, and is a member of Women in International Security.