Past Events

ICTS Seminar - The Refugee Crisis: Humanitarian and Security Implications March 9, 2016
ICTS Seminar - The Refugee Crisis: Humanitarian and Security Implications March 9, 2016
Potomac Institute for Policy Studies March 9, 2016 The latest expansion of terrorism, civil wars, and regional conflicts has resulted in internal displacements and forced migrations of millions of refugees around the world. Despite the grave humanitarian and strategic implications of the continuing...
ICTS Seminar - Combating Terrorism: The Role of Sharing Intelligence - April 14, 2016
ICTS Seminar - Combating Terrorism: The Role of Sharing Intelligence - April 14, 2016
International Center for Terrorism Studies, at the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies. In the wake of the escalated terrorist plots and attacks worldwide as well as the April 2016 Nuclear Security Summit’s warning that “the threat of nuclear and radiological terrorism remains one of the gre...
Combating Terrorism: Lessons from the Middle East, North Africa, the Sahel, and Beyond
Combating Terrorism: Lessons from the Middle East, North Africa, the Sahel, and Beyond
Since 9/11, security challenges with grave global implications have emerged in the Middle East, Africa, and other regions. Terrorists networks, particularly al-Qa’ida and the newly-formed Daesh, are expanding their deadly operations across an arc of instability that exists without borders. In the...
"International Cooperation in Combating Terrorism: Review of 2015 and Outlook for 2016"
Date: Monday, February 8, 2016 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM Place: The National Press Club 529 14th Street NW, 13th Floor, Holeman Lounge Washington, D.C. 20045 Opening Remarks: Michael S. Swetnam CEO and Chairman, Potomac Institute for Policy Studies ...
Cyber Readiness Index 2.0 Launch (Part 2 of 2)
Cyber Readiness Index 2.0 Launch (Part 2 of 2)
The Launch of: "The Cyber Readiness Index 2.0: A Baseline and an Index" Today, no country is cyber ready. The Cyber Readiness Index 2.0 examines one hundred twenty-five countries that have embraced, or are starting to embrace, information communications technologies and the Internet and then applie...
Cyber Readiness Index 2.0 Launch (Part 1 of 2)
Cyber Readiness Index 2.0 Launch (Part 1 of 2)
The Launch of: "The Cyber Readiness Index 2.0: A Baseline and an Index" Today, no country is cyber ready. The Cyber Readiness Index 2.0 examines one hundred twenty-five countries that have embraced, or are starting to embrace, information communications technologies and the Internet and then applie...

The Potomac Institute for Policy Studies is pleased to announce that Lt. Gen. Donald C. Wurster, USAF (Ret.) has been named a Senior Fellow and Member of the Board of Regents.  Lt. Gen. Wurster retired in August, 2011 from his post as Commander, Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Florida.

Institute Chairman and CEO Michael Swetnam welcomed Lt. Gen. Wurster's appointment, commenting, "Lt. Gen. Wurster is one of the finest senior officers to serve this country during the past decade of conflict. His vast knowledge and experience will be a tremendous asset for the Institute. The Board of Director and I take great pleasure in announcing his election to our Board of Regents." Lt. Gen. Wurster added, "It will be a privilege to participate and contribute in the important areas of science, technology, and national defense while working with an organization with the prestige and integrity of the Potomac Institute."
As AFSOC Commander, Lt. Gen. Wurster had oversight of the Air Force component of US Special Operations Command, providing Air Force Special Operations Forces for worldwide deployment and assignment to unified combatant commanders. The command has approximately 16,000 active-duty, Reserve, Air National Guard and civilian professionals.
Lt. Gen. Wurster was born in Washington, DC, and was commissioned in 1973 upon graduation from the US Air Force Academy.  In 1974, he completed undergraduate helicopter training at Fort Rucker, Ala. He has commanded special operations forces at the squadron, group, wing and subunified command level, and served as commander of all US forces assigned to Joint Task Force-510 during Operation Enduring Freedom - Philippines. Prior to his AFSOC command, he served as AFSOC Vice Commander. Lt. Gen. Wurster is a command pilot with more than 4,000 flying hours, including assignments in both rescue and special operations.

In addition to receiving his Bachelor of Science degree from the Air Force Academy, Lt. Gen. Wurster received his MA from Webster University and is a distinguished graduate of the Air Command and Staff College, and a graduate of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.