INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR TERRORISM STUDIES AT

POTOMAC INSTITUTE FOR POLICY STUDIES

“Latin American Security Challenges:
From the Olympics to Zika”

 June 23, 2016

Latin America is increasingly facing multiple security challenges including organized crime, terrorism, insurgency, and threats to democratic governance. Experts with extensive diplomatic, academic, and professional experience analyzed these trends as well as the August 2016 Rio Olympics and the Zika crisis. Future national, regional, and global implications for stability and peace were discussed.

The opening remarks were provided by Professor Don Wallace, Jr., Chairman, International Law Institute. The discussion of the panelists was moderated by Professor Yonah Alexander, Director, Inter-University Center for Terrorism Studies, and Senior Fellow, Potomac Institute for Policy Studies. The keynote speaker was Ambassador (Ret.) Roger F. Noriega, Former assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs (Canada, Latin America, and the Caribbean) and former U.S. ambassador to the Organization of American States. The panel for the seminar consisted of: Professor Gary Simon, Director, Division of Infectious Diseases, Medical Faculty Associates, The George Washington University; Professor Gerald Sandler, Professor of Medicine and Pathology at Georgetown University Medical Center and Medical Director of the Blood Transfusion Service, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC; Dr. Asha George, Co-Director of the Blue Ribbon Study Panel on Biodefense; Dr. Tara Kirk Sell, Member of the USA national swim team for 8 years, served as captain for 6 national teams, and earned a silver medal at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. Currently, an associate at the Center for Health Security at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center; Dr. Rashid A. Chotani, The George Washington University and Senior Fellow, Potomac Institute for Policy Studies. The closing remarks were provided by General Alfred Gray, USMC (Ret.), Twenty-Ninth Commandant of the United States Marine Corps; Senior Fellow and Chairman of the Board of Regents, Potomac Institute for Policy Studies.