Mark Bowden

Keynote speaker Mark Bowden is an author, journalist, screenwriter, and teacher. His book BLACK HAWK DOWN: A STORY OF MODERN WAR (1999)—an international bestseller that spent more than a year on the New York Times bestseller list—was a finalist for the National Book Award. Bowden also worked on the screenplay for Black Hawk Down, a film adaptation of the book, directed by Ridley Scott. Bowden is also the author of the international bestseller KILLING PABLO: THE HUNT FOR THE WORLD’S GREATEST OUTLAW (2001), GUESTS OF THE AYATOLLAH: THE FIRST BATTLE IN AMERICA’S WAR WITH MILITANT ISLAM (2006) and several other works.

Dr. John Radsan

Dr. Radsan is the Founder and Director of the National Security Forum and Associate Professor at the William Mitchell College of Law and holds a J.D. from Harvard Law School. He is a leading authority on national security issues; Dr. Radsan has a unique combination of professional experience in both law enforcement and intelligence activities. His research and writing pursue an appropriate balance between individual liberty and public safety. He has served as a federal prosecutor and as assistant general counsel at the CIA, in addition to his work as a corporate lawyer and consultant. Professor Radsan has also advised officials from other countries, including Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, and Ukraine. Capitalizing on his expertise, interest, and wide range of contacts, he founded the National Security Forum with several goals in mind: to host events on the theme of safeguarding this country and its liberties; to bring an ongoing discussion of this subject to the Midwest; and to increase public awareness, influence policy, and facilitate scholarship.

Read some of Dr. Radsan's work here.  

Mr. Benito served as a Staff Sergeant in a special unit of the IDF's Paratrooper Brigade. He was in charge of the IDF's Elite Officers School Medical and Emergency Team and received the President Award for Excellence in Service. He joined the ISA (Israel Security Agency - SHIN Beit) and was deployed in several positions security Israel's infrastructures. In 2002 he was assigned to LAX, Los Angeles International Airport, as a security officer and expert profiler. He received specialized training in areas such as explosives and both passenger and air freight screenings. During his service at LAX, Mr. Benito was part of the terrorist attack mitigation that occurred at the terminal in July 2002.

Among his duties as an instructor and consultant, Mr. Benito has developed training programs and initiatives that have been implemented by organizations worldwide. He designed, developed, and delivered training and development initiatives to various agencies and multinational organizations. Mr. Benito is the author of Rain for the Wicked-a fictitious training novel, various training manuals, and several articles in leading magazines. he is an expert in public speaking, security engineering, and articulation of vulnerabilities.

Mr. Benito holds a Bachelor of Arts in Geography from the University of Haifa, Israel and a Master of Arts in Geographical Information Systems from California State University, Northridge. He is under contract with DHS - The Science and Technology Directorate, the regional representative of The International Tactical officers Training Association and a member of several academic think tanks.

Special Agent Mark Tyson

Mark Tyson has been an FBI Special Agent for 12 years.  He is currently assigned to the Minneapolis Field Office HUMIT Squad working Counter-Terrorism matters.  He has received training regarding Counter-Terrorism collection domestically and overseas and has done extensive work in human intelligence collection.  His previous assignment was in the Los Angeles FBI office where he worked Organized Crime and Drugs as well as Counter-Terrorism.  He has served in Somalia, Pakistan, Kuwait, and Cuba.  He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin and served as an artillery officer in the United States Marine Corps.