The Spread of Islamic Fundamentalism:
An Existential Threat to the United States?
Featuring
Dr. R. Nicholas Palarino
The Potomac Institute for Policy Studies is pleased to invite you to attend the next event in the "Bold Ideas" seminar series, featuring a conversation with Dr. R. Nicholas Palarino on the global expansion of the fundamentalist Islamic Jihadist movement and its plausibility as an existential threat to the United States. Dr. Palarino's expertise on this topic is related to his work in Congress on international affairs operations, investigation into government coordination of counter-terrorism efforts, as well as the development of numerous Congressional Delegations to overseas locations to include the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
Date: Monday, June 29
Time: 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Place: The Potomac Institute for Policy Studies
Main Conference Room, Suite 200 (Level M)
901 N. Stuart Street, Arlington, VA 22203
(Ballston Metro Station, Orange Line)
Agenda
2:00 PM - Introduction
2:10 PM - Presentation by Dr. R. Nicholas Palarino
3:10 PM - Questions and Discussion
4:00 PM - Reception
Dr. R. Nicholas Palarino Biography
Dr. Palarino served as the Deputy Staff Director in the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security from 2012-2014. In this position, Dr. Palarino implemented committee objectives, strategies, investigation, and oversight of government agencies related to national and homeland security issues while acting as the chairman’s policy advisor. Additionally, in 2011 he served as the Staff Director for the Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations and Management in the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security. In his time in the U.S. House of Representatives, Dr. Palarino developed and conducted numerous Congressional Delegations to overseas locations to include the Middle East and Southeast Asia. In 2010, Dr. Palarino served as Senior Investigator for the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs where he oversaw the Committee’s international affairs operations and conducted a comprehensive investigation of how government agencies coordinate counter-terrorism efforts. In 2009, Dr. Palarino served as the Country Director for the International Republican Institute in Pakistan, where he developed and implemented strategies for political party capacity-building, coalition-building, political polling and voter education activities. From 2000-2008, he served as a Senior Policy Analyst, Staff Director, and Senior Investigator for the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, where he reviewed government agencies and programs including the DoD, State, Homeland Security, and CIA, focusing on national security issues such as homeland security, counterterrorism, Iraq and Afghanistan reconstruction, arms control, technology transfer, and force protection. As the Director of Policy, Security, and Technology Analysis at Veridian/Pacific-Sierra Research Corporation from 1988-2000, he provided consulting services to the Departments of State and Defense and the Intelligence Community on national security issues including counter proliferation, arms control policy, treaty implementation and counter measures, counterterrorism, and technology transfer.
Prior to his involvement in Congress, Dr. Palarino served in the U.S. Army from 1966-1988 and retired at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. While in the Army he held positions including Joint Chiefs of Staff Representative to the CSCE, Special Assistant to the Deputy Director for International Negotiations, JCS Strategic Policy Planner, and Deputy Special Adviser to the President and Secretary of State for Arms Control Matters and as a helicopter pilot engaged in combat operations with the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam. Dr. Palarino currently teaches on the history of terrorism, current threats, and the future of terrorism as an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University.
CReST Bold Ideas Seminars
The Center for Revolutionary Scientific Thought (CReST) at the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies is an eclectic group of researchers and fellows dedicated to the study of novel and emergent ideas that could drive revolutionary futures of society. In addition to other studies and products, the CReST group hosts seminars and conferences designed to find and foster bold ideas in science and technology. A bold idea is more than just a good scientific discovery, and more than an innovative idea. A bold idea is one that can change how societies live and work, that can influence the future in terms of human endeavors. It can impact communications, learning, conflicts, or our lives. Bold ideas change how we view the world and interact with one another and with systems.
RSVP is required. Please RSVP by June 28th with the names of your attendees to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and specify that you are referring to the meeting with Dr. Palarino.