News Center | National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center (NCITE)

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Get the latest updates from the National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education (NCITE) Center.

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NCITE News and Events

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News ReleaseNoNoYesYes1734588000000Researchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of Oklahoma will spearhead NCITE's push to probe cyber threats to the nation's critical infrastructure./news/2024/12/img/cyber-threats-cascade-graphic-1.png

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Our nation’s many interconnected cyber networks power businesses, schools, government, hospitals, and more. Already, malign profiteers who have hacked into systems for ransom have found the cyber domain to be an attractive target. How might terrorist or extremist actors attack critical infrastructure’s cyber networks?

This question arose during ENVISION24, NCITE’s conference that brought government stakeholders and academics together in Omaha in June 2024. Because the cyber domain is a highly salient but understudied area, NCITE launched its first targeted request for proposals, seeking research projects examining cyber threats to critical infrastructure.

Leading academics from across the country applied. NCITE chose two projects. One will create a cyber threat risk modeling tool; the other will examine the threat deepfakes and synthetic media pose.

“We live in an ultra-connected world,” said Bret Blackman, vice president for information technology and chief information officer for the University of Nebraska system. “These projects will help defend against a growing number of cyber threats to critical infrastructure, including our universities.”

Risk Model for Identifying Threats to Cyber for Critical Infrastructure

A team led by researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) will develop a model to measure the relative terrorist and extremist threat against the nation’s 16 critical infrastructure sectors and offer risk scores for each. The goal is to create a tool that not only maps threats to one sector, like energy, but also shows how disruptions could impact interdependent sectors, like health care. By doing so, the model can help identify which of the critical infrastructure sectors are most attractive to terrorist actors, in an effort to better address vulnerabilities and increase protections.

This interdisciplinary team is led by Ryan Shandler, Ph.D., a political scientist at Georgia Tech. Other key personnel include Saman Zonouz, Ph.D., who leads Georgia Tech’s Cyber-Physical Systems Security Lab, and Jon Lindsay, Ph.D., a political scientist with expertise in computer science. They will work with the federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), a component of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Together, these researchers will use controlled experimental conditions to identify the social and economic impact of cyberattacks and model vulnerabilities that may facilitate current and future threats. The team will identify motivations and cyber capabilities of adversaries. The team will also measure the societal upheaval such attacks may wreak.

This three-year project kicks off in January 2025. Findings will be shared with government and industry stakeholders, along with the public, through briefings, events, and publications.

How Deepfakes and Other Synthetic Media Threaten Critical Infrastructure

A team led by the University of Oklahoma will examine how emerging technologies, namely artificial intelligence (AI) and deepfakes, threaten our national security and critical infrastructure. This project will investigate how terrorist/extremist actors could use deepfakes to harm a critical infrastructure sector’s organizational reputation, financial health, and data security.

This research team is led by a veteran NCITE principal investigator, Matthew Jensen, Ph.D., co-director of the Center for Applied Social Research at the University of Oklahoma. Other experts on the team include Allen Johnston, Ph.D., a cybersecurity and management information systems professor at the University of Alabama, and Deanna House, Ph.D., a cybersecurity professor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and head of NCITE’s Cyber Threat Analysis Lab.

Their joint effort will respond to an alarm raised in 2023 by the National Security Agency (NSA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and CISA. These groups warned that the increasing availability and efficiency of synthetic media – created using AI – will increasingly be used by malicious actors who intend to cause widespread panic and violence. These synthetic media tools, the researchers note, are quick, effective, and difficult to counter. Evidence of this has already occurred in foreign countries and researchers cite a recent Microsoft threat intelligence report attributing malicious use of AI by Iran, Russia, and China in U.S. government and election contexts.

This 2½-year project kicks off in January 2025. The research team aims to provide DHS stakeholders with analysis and insight regarding the use of deepfakes in cyber terror attacks against organizations critical to the function of America.

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NCITE Selects Two New Research Teams to Study Cyber Threats

Researchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of Oklahoma will spearhead NCITE's push to probe cyber threats to the nation's critical infrastructure.

cybersecurity, deepfake, terrorist, artificial intelligenceNCITE CommunicationsResearchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of Oklahoma will spearhead NCITE's push to probe cyber threats to the nation's critical infrastructure.

Dec 19, 2024 12:00 AM

News ReleaseNoNoYesYes1734588000000On the latest episode of the podcast, Erin sits down with NCITE graduate student Elle Ward to discuss her UNO-funded research on the intersection between human trafficking and terrorism. /news/2024/12/cascade_still.png

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1200800Host Erin Grace (left) and guest Elle Ward (right). Headshots of host Erin Grace on the left and guest Elle Ward on the right sit on an NCITE-branded background. ///

On the latest episode of NCITE Insights, Erin sits down with NCITE graduate student Elle Ward to discuss her UNO-funded research on the intersection between human trafficking and terrorism. They discuss why the nexus exists and risk factors leading to trafficking hotspots.

Ward, a graduate student in UNO's College of Arts and Sciences, was able to study the nexus via a Graduate Research and Creative Activity (GRACA) grant through the Office of Research and Creative Activity (ORCA). She graduates this week with her master's degree in geographic information science and technology and will begin a second master's in applied computing and informatics this spring.

Disclaimer: The views and conclusions contained in this podcast are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as necessarily representing the official policies or views, either expressed or implied, of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the University of Nebraska, or guest-affiliated institutions.

Listen and subscribe to NCITE Insights on major podcast platforms:

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NCITE Insights No. 17 — The Human Trafficking-Terrorism Nexus

On the latest episode of the podcast, Erin sits down with NCITE graduate student Elle Ward to discuss her UNO-funded research on the intersection between human trafficking and terrorism.

human trafficking, terrorism, graduate researchNCITE CommunicationsOn the latest episode of the podcast, Erin sits down with NCITE graduate student Elle Ward to discuss her UNO-funded research on the intersection between human trafficking and terrorism.

Dec 19, 2024 12:00 AM

News ReleaseNoNoYesYes1733983200000On the latest episode of the podcast, Erin speaks with Martha Crenshaw, Ph.D., NCITE researcher and professor emerita from Stanford University, to discuss the Syrian rebel group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and what a post-Assad Syria may look like. /news/2024/12/img/ep-16-thumbnail.jpg

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1200800Host Erin Grace (left) speaks with guest Martha Crenshaw, Ph.D. (right).On Zoom, host Erin Grace (on the left) speaks with guest Martha Crenshaw, Ph.D., (on the right).///

On the latest episode of NCITE Insights, host Erin Grace speaks with Martha Crenshaw, Ph.D., NCITE researcher and professor emerita from Stanford University, to discuss the Syrian rebel group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and what a post-Assad Syria may look like.

Drawing from a career spanning over five decades, Crenshaw speaks on the origins of HTS, their navigation of internal and regional power dynamics, and how their designation as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and other countries will affect diplomacy.

Listen and subscribe to NCITE Insights on major podcast platforms:

Resources

Mapping Militants Profile: Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham

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NCITE Insights No. 16 – Post-Assad Syria and HTS

On the latest episode of the podcast, Erin speaks with Martha Crenshaw, Ph.D., NCITE researcher and professor emerita from Stanford University, to discuss the Syrian rebel group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and what a post-Assad Syria may look like.

HTS, Syria, Assad, Hay'at Tahrir al-ShamNCITE CommunicationsOn the latest episode of the podcast, Erin speaks with Martha Crenshaw, Ph.D., NCITE researcher and professor emerita from Stanford University, to discuss the Syrian rebel group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and what a post-Assad Syria may look like.

Dec 12, 2024 12:00 AM

News ReleaseNoNoYesYes1733464800000On Dec. 5, NCITE hosted a webinar with NCITE researchers Daisy Muibu, Ph.D., and Joe Young, Ph.D., on vicarious trauma in the counterterrorism workforce and how peer support programs can help address it. /news/2024/12/12.05.24_building_resilience_webinar.jpg

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1200800A screenshot of a webinar featuring three windows with moderator Erin Grace, and panelists Joe Young and Daisy Muibu.///

On Dec. 5, NCITE hosted a webinar with researchers Daisy Muibu, Ph.D., and Joe Young, Ph.D., on vicarious trauma in the counterterrorism workforce and how peer support programs can help address it. Muibu and Young lead NCITE research exploring vicarious trauma among counterterrorism practitioners.

Daisy Muibu, Ph.D., NCITE principal investigator and assistant professor of security studies
Joe Young, Ph.D., NCITE principal investigator and director of the Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce at the University of Kentucky

Key Takeaways

Indirect exposure to traumatic material is an under-appreciated challenge. Vicarious trauma is the cumulative strain of repeated exposure to stress-inducing traumatic material such as accounts, photos, or videos of violence and abuse. Despite its distinction from primary traumatic stress (direct exposure), vicarious trauma can lead to “a change in someone’s worldview,” Young said, with significant mental health ramifications. “We don’t think about how, for counterterrorism professionals, there’s potentially costs associated with viewing these kinds of materials,” said Young.

Beyond personal well-being, Young and Muibu’s research into vicarious trauma has indicated that work performance can be significantly diminished by the effects of vicarious trauma. “This isn’t about just being touchy-feely and understanding people’s feelings,” said Young. “This is about securing our country.”

Stigma against seeking mental health support is diminishing but still present. The dedication to service among counterterrorism professionals serves as a protective factor, but also risks prioritizing mission over self-care. “There is a high motivation for folks to serve in a way that is not accepting of this idea that they would need to get help, mostly because they’re there to be the helpers,” said Muibu.

From their surveys and in-depth interviews with practitioners across intelligence, military, and law enforcement, the researchers found that acceptance of mental health support is slowly improving, and practitioners are increasingly seeking it out. “I think today people are much more comfortable sharing unpleasant things,” said Young. “In the old days there was much more of this machismo vibe … and I think that’s sort of melting away.”

Peer support programs stand to offer significant value to practitioners. In a comprehensive review of existing literature, the researchers found that peer support programs largely demonstrated positive outcomes for reducing work-related mental health strain. “Those that have shared experience are usually more uniquely situated in their understanding in order to empathize more closely with what an individual is going through,” Muibu said.

The researchers found that law enforcement officers who engaged in peer support programs had lower scores for post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety compared to officers who did not.

What are the keys to successful peer support programs? Muibu identified three key components:

Guaranteed Confidentiality. How programs manifest – in-person or remote, in a group or individual setting, the type of training offered – varies widely, but confidentiality remains a crucial component of success.
Peer support programs are not a substitute for formal mental health support with a dedicated professional. Young emphasized that, for those who need more targeted care, peer programs can serve as stepping stones for those who could benefit from professional aid.
Peer support providers are trained. Peer programs are more formal than social supports of coworkers, friends, and family, and providers should be trained to judge when the services they offer are appropriate for the needs of their participants.

Resources

Peer Support Program Project Overview

Vicarous Trauma in Counterterrorism Practitioners – Published June 2024

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RECAP: Building Resilience in the Counterterrorism Workforce

On Dec. 5, NCITE hosted a webinar with NCITE researchers Daisy Muibu, Ph.D., and Joe Young, Ph.D., on vicarious trauma in the counterterrorism workforce and how peer support programs can help address it.

vicarious trauma, counterterrorism, peer supportNCITE CommunicationsOn Dec. 5, NCITE hosted a webinar with NCITE researchers Daisy Muibu, Ph.D., and Joe Young, Ph.D., on vicarious trauma in the counterterrorism workforce and how peer support programs can help address it.

Dec 6, 2024 12:00 AM

Extras

News ReleaseNoNoYesYes1732255200000NCITE is bringing on three research-to-practice (R2P) fellows to ensure its research is relevant and ready for government partners. /news/2024/r2p-nr-photo.jpg

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1200800Members of the R2P team, from left to right: Russ Porter, Jenna Hopkins, and Matt Wein.///

NCITE is bringing on three research-to-practice (R2P) fellows to ensure its research is relevant and ready for government partners.

Modeled after positions at NCITE’s peer center, the Centre for Research and Evidence on Security Threats (CREST) in the U.K., the NCITE R2Ps will work directly with NCITE’s researchers and scientific review team to translate findings for government audiences. R2Ps are experts in taking highly technical literature and identifying policy implications and individuals positioned to implement findings.

“I am thrilled to have found these experts to shepherd our research into practice,” said NCITE Director Gina Ligon, Ph.D. “As NCITE has matured, so too has the need to have partners who can find the best stakeholders to guide our work to transition into policy and practice.”

NCITE R2Ps

	Russ Porter served as a director at the Iowa Department of Public Safety before working for more than a dozen years in various executive roles at the Director of National Intelligence (DNI). He’s advised and helped develop programs for the DNI, the Attorney General of the United States, the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and countless other senior executives and organizations across all levels of government.
	Jenna Hopkins is a national security expert with a decade of experience in policy, research, and strategic communications across nonprofits, government, and academia, including serving as a professional staff member on homeland security-focused committees within the U.S. Congress. She holds a master’s degree in Terrorism, Security & Society from the War Studies Department at King’s College London.
	Matthew Wein worked at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, in the private sector, and as a congressional staffer on national security issues. As an international expert in the government application of emerging technology, Wein has worked with partners from Afghanistan, Canada, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, the U.K., and others.

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NCITE Welcomes Three Research-to-Practice Fellows

NCITE is bringing on three research-to-practice (R2P) fellows to ensure its research is relevant and ready for government partners.

NCITE CommunicationsNCITE is bringing on three research-to-practice (R2P) fellows to ensure its research is relevant and ready for government partners.

Nov 22, 2024 12:00 AM

News ReleaseNoNoYesYes1731650400000In NCITE's fourth year, the Center responded quickly to a changing threat environment and found a new home on the UNO campus. Read about it in our Year 4 annual report. /news/2024/07/1ribbon-cutting-students-cascade.jpg

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1200800A group of six students stand in a line and cut through a red ribbon bearing the NCITE birdie logo. ///

NCITE's fourth year marked several milestones.

Funding, outputs, and capabilities have all grown as the Center continues to add projects, present research through deliverables and a new podcast, and increase audience and esteem in the homeland security enterprise.

NCITE hosted our second in-person conference, ENVISION24, at our home in Omaha. There, researchers from across the consortium gathered to network and build bridges between academia and government.

And we cut the ribbon on our new headquarters at the Scott Technology Center, which provides office space for the growing number of faculty, staff, and students joining NCITE.

Read about it all – alongside stories of our students, faculty, and staff – in our Year 4 annual report. Download it here or scroll through below.

/news/2024/11/year-4-annual-report

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A New Home for Critical Knowledge: Read NCITE's Year 4 Annual Report

In NCITE's fourth year, the Center responded quickly to a changing threat environment and found a new home on the UNO campus. Read about it in our Year 4 annual report.

ncite, annual report, year 4NCITE CommunicationsIn NCITE's fourth year, the Center responded quickly to a changing threat environment and found a new home on the UNO campus. Read about it in our Year 4 annual report.

Nov 15, 2024 12:00 AM

News ReleaseNoNoYesYes1731564000000On the latest episode of the podcast, interim host Blake Ursch speaks with NCITE senior research faculty and policy associate Seamus Hughes about his research on threats to public officials in light of the recent presidential election./news/2024/ep-15_website-thumbnail.jpg

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1200800Interim host Blake Ursch (left) speaks with NCITE researcher Seamus Hughes (right). On a Zoom Call, interim host Blake Ursch (left) speaks with NCITE researcher Seamus Hughes (right). ///

On the latest episode of the podcast, interim host Blake Ursch speaks with NCITE senior research faculty and policy associate Seamus Hughes about his research on threats to public officials in light of the recent presidential election.

Hughes draws from nearly a decade of data examining such threats, discussing how the trend may change following this year's decisive election.

Listen and subscribe to NCITE Insights on major podcast platforms:

Resources

Understanding Threats to Public Officials – NCITE project page

NCITE Insights No. 14 — Threats to Election Workers

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NCITE Insights No. 15 — Forecasting Post-Election Threats to Public Officials

threats, election workers, public officials, trumpNCITE CommunicationsOn the latest episode of the podcast, interim host Blake Ursch speaks with NCITE senior research faculty and policy associate Seamus Hughes about his research on threats to public officials in light of the recent presidential election.

Nov 14, 2024 12:00 AM

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Mavericks are making news. Follow the latest headlines to learn about our dedication to students, our national recognition for community engagement and Division I athletics, and the opportunities to excel in scholarship and research. Students, faculty, staff, and alumni are changing the landscape of our community every day. Mavericks are making news. Follow the latest headlines to learn about our dedication to students, our national recognition for community engagement and Division I athletics, and the opportunities to excel in scholarship and research. Students, faculty, staff, and alumni are changing the landscape of our community every day.

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Events

NCITE Events & Partner EventsList of upcoming and past events for NCITE and partners. http:///http://///Check out events //ENVISION24 - NCITE Annual Conference/events/envision-conference

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NCITE Conference: ENVISION

NCITE ENVISION Conference

This is the landing page for ENVISION, NCITE's conference.

This is the landing page for ENVISION, the conference for the National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology and Education (NCITE) center at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. http:///http:///http:///http:///http://

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Featured

NCITE Selects Two New Research Teams to Study Cyber Threats

Researchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of Oklahoma will spearhead NCITE's push to probe cyber threats to the nation's critical infrastructure.

NCITE Insights No. 17 — The Human Trafficking-Terrorism Nexus

On the latest episode of the podcast, Erin sits down with NCITE graduate student Elle Ward to discuss her UNO-funded research on the intersection between human trafficking and terrorism.