August 29, 2013
ACADEMI congratulates The Aspen Institute on the success of the 2013 Security Forum, where top representatives from the United States Department of Defense, the Intelligence Community, the Department of Homeland Security and the media debated the future of counterterrorism, stability operations and global security.
ACADEMI Independent Director John Ashcroft helped kick off Friday’s sessions, joining General Michael Hayden, Phil Mudd, Judge William Webster and Juan Zarate in discussing how terrorism has evolved in the post-Bin Laden era. "Information is the best friend of prevention,” said Ashcroft. Moreover, the former Attorney General said that the United States should not be forced to choose between treating terrorism as a military or a law enforcement matter. "We need a blended response," he said.
Also on Friday, Craig Nixon, CEO of ACADEMI, introduced the “Putting out Fires before They Spread: The US's Role in Preventing Conflict” panel, which included Admiral Bill McRaven, Ambassador Rick Barton, Assistant Secretary of Defense (Special Operations/Low Intensity Conflict) Michael Sheehan, and Major General Raymond ‘Tony’ Thomas.
“We’ve been part of the network…since 1997,” said Nixon, who served with Special Operations during his 29 year military career before coming to lead ACADEMI, a provider of security and training to the US government and commercial clients. “Security, as we’ve been talking about all week, is not about reacting, but how do you avoid it (the threat) or how do you prevent it? I’ve had a lot of roles in a lot of different places and I’ve had the distinct privilege to serve with a number of the panelists in combat.”
The panel members discussed the future of Special Operations Forces after more than a decade of war, including the role that contractors play in global contingency operations. "Contractors are part of the landscape," said Assistant Secretary of Defense Sheehan. “Contracting, the civilian part, is essential to everything we do.”
ACADEMI not only supports U.S. security objectives through its operational excellence, but also in the necessary debate and discussion of the nation’s most complex security challenges by top government officials, business leaders, journalists and analysts.
About ACADEMI: The niche security services company was created in 1997 as a premiere provider of training and protective services in high-threat environments. www.academi.com
ACADEMI Independent Director John Ashcroft speaks at the 2013 Aspen Security Forum, of which ACADEMI was a proud sponsor.
Former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft speaks on the “The Threat Matrix” panel, discussing the evolving terrorism threat.
"Information is the best friend of prevention." - ACADEMI Independent Director John Ashcroft at the 2013 Aspen Security Forum.