ABOUT THE CENTER

MISSION

The Combating Terrorism Center at West Point contributes relevant scholarly perspectives through education, research and policy analysis to combat terrorist threats to the United States. We maintain expertise in four primary areas: terrorism, counterterrorism, homeland security, and weapons of mass destruction. By developing a curriculum of the highest quality, producing theoretically informed studies, and crafting relevant policy recommendations, we remain an internationally recognized center of excellence dedicated to the advancement of terrorism knowledge and expertise.

HISTORY

Recognizing the immediate need for a first-rate undergraduate education in intelligence and counterterrorism studies, the United States Military Academy at West Point opened the Combating Terrorism Center in 2003. The events of September 11, 2001 highlighted the changing and dangerous nature of the international security environment.

Given these events and the ensuing war on terror, it is imperative that current and future leaders of our country be armed with the tools to make sense of new terrorist threats, to lead our nation, and to succeed in a very complex and increasingly hostile world. Through the generosity of Vincent Viola, Chairman of the New York Mercantile Exchange and a 1977 graduate of West Point, the Center was officially launched in February 2003 within the Department of Social Sciences at the U.S. Military Academy.

The operational expertise of the Center's personnel creates a comparative advantage that allows the Center to develop and implement an internationally recognized program. Faculty members bring together their academic expertise, operational and policy experience to educate cadets, develop educational materials and conduct policy-relevant research. Additionally, the Center boasts one of the most extensive collections of primary-source documents in library holdings on terrorism and counterterrorism studies in the country.


CTC Staff
GEN (R) John P. Abizaid - Distinguished Chair
LTC Reid Sawyer- CTC Director
MAJ Bryan Groves - CTC Deputy Director
Dr. James Forest - Director of Terrorism Studies
Mr. Bill Braniff - Director of External Education
Dr. Assaf Moghadam - Senior Associate
Mr. Alex Gallo - Associate
Dr. Scott Helfstein - Associate
Mr. Don Rassler -Associate
Ms. Caroline Bray- Research Associate
Mr. Erich Marquardt- Editor in Chief of the CTC Sentinel
Ms. Irina Garrido de Stanton - Administrator and Executive Officer
Ms. Treshelle Griffith - Office Manager
Ms. Kanzy Witherington - Operations Officer, External Education Program

Senior Fellows
Dr. Bruce Hoffman
Dr. David Franz
AMB Michael Sheehan
Dr. Michele L. Malvesti

FBI Fellows
Mr. Dan Coleman
Mr. Bob Fromme
Mr. Chris Heffelfinger
Department of Social Sciences
COL Michael J. Meese - Department Head
COL Cindy R. Jebb - Deputy Department Head		 CTC Associates
LTC Isaiah Wilson
MAJ Fernando Lujan
Dr. Ruth Beitler
Dr. Matt Levitt
Dr. Frederick Moxley

 Harmony Fellows
Mr. Vahid Brown
The CTC is very proud of its former staff and associates. Click here for information on our alumni.
   

Contact Information

Combating Terrorism Center
Lincoln Hall
U.S. Military Academy
West Point, NY 10996
Tel: (845) 938-8495
Fax: (845) 938-8472

E-mail: bryan.groves@usma.edu