The Institute for Security Policy and Law (SPL), formerly known as the ''Institute for National Security and Counterterrorism (INSCT)'', is a multidisciplinary

research institute A research institute, research centre, research center or research organization, is an establishment founded for doing research. Research institutes may specialize in basic research or may be oriented to applied research. Although the term often i ...

based in the

Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs The Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs (Maxwell School) is the professional public policy school of Syracuse University, a private research university in Syracuse, New York. The school is organized in 11 academic departments and 1 ...

and the Syracuse University College of Law. SPL was established in 2003 by Prof. William C. Banks with the goal of support an interdisciplinary approach to questions of

national security National security, or national defence, is the security and defence of a sovereign state, including its citizens, economy, and institutions, which is regarded as a duty of government. Originally conceived as protection against military att ...

and

counter-terrorism Counterterrorism (also spelled counter-terrorism), also known as anti-terrorism, incorporates the practices, military tactics, techniques, and strategies that governments, law enforcement, business, and intelligence agencies use to combat or ...

law and policy. SPL consists of several full-time fellows and graduate research assistants and dozens of affiliated faculty members at

Syracuse University Syracuse University (informally 'Cuse or SU) is a Private university, private research university in Syracuse, New York. Established in 1870 with roots in the Methodist Episcopal Church, the university has been nonsectarian since 1920. Locate ...

. The Institute publishes analytical policy papers, journal articles, and books; it develops courses and other academic opportunities for graduate certificate of advanced study and curricular programs in national security and counter-terrorism law; and it convenes conferences and seminars at

and at its collaborating institutions.

History and mission

The mission of the Institute for Security Policy and Law is to perform interdisciplinary research, teaching, public service, and policy analysis in the fields of national and international security and counter-terrorism. It emphasizes collaborating with national and international practice-based institutes in order to advance common research and project goals. It does this by conducting research, policy analysis, and other projects in consultation with government agencies, municipalities, universities, and other public entities that facilitate public service. SPL offers students from the

and Syracuse University College of Law innovative educational opportunities through certificates of advanced study, curricular programs, and other law and graduate initiatives. SPL alumni work across the security industry, in organizations such as the

Brookings Institution The Brookings Institution, often stylized as simply Brookings, is an American research group founded in 1916. Located on Think Tank Row in Washington, D.C., the organization conducts research and education in the social sciences, primarily in e ...

; Combined/Joint Task Force-Afghanistan;

DARPA The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is a research and development agency of the United States Department of Defense responsible for the development of emerging technologies for use by the military. Originally known as the A ...

;

Deloitte Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (), commonly referred to as Deloitte, is an international professional services network headquartered in London, England. Deloitte is the largest professional services network by revenue and number of professio ...

;

US Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through com ...

; US Military Commissions Prosecutions Unit; US Naval Air Systems Command; the

US Department of Defense The United States Department of Defense (DoD, USDOD or DOD) is an executive branch department of the federal government charged with coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the government directly related to national sec ...

State State may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Literature * ''State Magazine'', a monthly magazine published by the U.S. Department of State * ''The State'' (newspaper), a daily newspaper in Columbia, South Carolina, United States * ''Our S ...

Justice Justice, in its broadest sense, is the principle that people receive that which they deserve, with the interpretation of what then constitutes "deserving" being impacted upon by numerous fields, with many differing viewpoints and perspective ...

, and

Homeland Security Homeland security is an American national security term for "the national effort to ensure a homeland that is safe, secure, and resilient against terrorism and other hazards where American interests, aspirations, and ways of life can thrive" t ...

; and elsewhere. In October 2013, SPL announced it will begin offering Counterterrorism in the 21st Century, an interdisciplinary executive education course, in collaboration with the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism at Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya in

Israel Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...

Leadership and notable faculty

* The Hon. James E. Baker is the current Director of the Institute for Security Policy and Law. He was the former Chief Judge to the

United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces The United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces (in case citations, C.A.A.F. or USCAAF) is an Article I court that exercises worldwide appellate jurisdiction over members of the United States Armed Forces on active duty and other perso ...

. He also serves as a Professor of Law at the Syracuse University College of Law, and a Professor of Public Administration at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. * William C. Banks is the founding Director of the institute, Syracuse University College of Law Board of Advisors Distinguished Professor of Law, and Professor Emeritus of Public Administration and International Affairs at the

. Banks co-wrote ''National Security Law'', first published in 1990. In addition, Banks and his co-authors published ''Counterterrorism Law'' in 2007 in an effort to define the emerging field of counter-terrorism law. * Robert B. Murrett is the current Deputy Director of SPL and served as the director of the

National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) is a combat support agency within the United States Department of Defense whose primary mission is collecting, analyzing, and distributing geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) in support of natio ...

from 2006 to 2010 before coming to

. * Keli Perrin, Managing Director, is an alumna of the joint-degree program at Syracuse University College of Law and

. Her areas of interest include homeland security, cybersecurity, and emergency management. * David Crane, faculty member, served as founding chief prosecutor of the

Special Court for Sierra Leone The Special Court for Sierra Leone, or the "Special Court" (SCSL), also called the Sierra Leone Tribunal, was a judicial body set up by the government of Sierra Leone and the United Nations to "prosecute persons who bear the greatest responsibil ...

, an international war crimes tribunal. He was appointed to that position by the Secretary General of the

United Nations The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a centre for harmoni ...

Kofi Annan Kofi Atta Annan (; 8 April 193818 August 2018) was a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh secretary-general of the United Nations from 1997 to 2006. Annan and the UN were the co-recipients of the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize. He was the founde ...

, in 2002. He was briefly cast in an NBC reality TV series called "The Wanted" and is featured in the documentary
War Don Don
" * Isaac Kfir is a visiting professor from the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism at the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya. He lectures on topics relating to conflict resolution and international security, and also provides commentary with a regional focus on South Asia and the Greater Middle East * Nicholas Armstrong, senior research fellow, manages th
Postconflict Research Database and Analysis Project
The database aggregates postconflict literature to improve access to and management of postconflict scholarship. He is an Army veteran and a fellow with th
Institute for Veterans and Military Families
* Corri Zoli, director of research and research assistant professor, focuses on issues relating to Islam and

humanitarian law International humanitarian law (IHL), also referred to as the laws of armed conflict, is the law that regulates the conduct of war (''jus in bello''). It is a branch of international law that seeks to limit the effects of armed conflict by pro ...

, the

rule of law The rule of law is the political philosophy that all citizens and institutions within a country, state, or community are accountable to the same laws, including lawmakers and leaders. The rule of law is defined in the ''Encyclopedia Britannic ...

, and

cybersecurity Computer security, cybersecurity (cyber security), or information technology security (IT security) is the protection of computer systems and networks from attack by malicious actors that may result in unauthorized information disclosure, t ...

. Numerous affiliated faculty and staff from Syracuse University College of Law and

contribute to research projects and academic coursework at SPL.

Publications

The
Journal of National Security Law and Policy
' is a semi-annual, peer-reviewed journal that SPL originally co-published with the University of the Pacific's

McGeorge School of Law University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law is a private, American Bar Association (ABA)-approved law school in the Oak Park neighborhood of the city of Sacramento, California. It is part of the University of the Pacific and is located on t ...

, before beginning an editorial collaboration with Georgetown Law in 2011.

References

External links

Institute for Security Policy and Law website
{{Authority control Foreign policy and strategy think tanks in the United States Counterterrorism in the United States National security institutions Syracuse University College of Law Syracuse University research institutes 2003 establishments in New York (state) Educational institutions established in 2003