From Human Rights to Biological Threats, 25th National Security Law Institute Covers U.S. Safety

Prominent national security scholars and other experts, including former and current government officials, convened at the University of Virginia School of Law for the 25th National Security Law Institute earlier this month to discuss the nation’s current national security standing.

The intensive two-week institute, held June 4-16 and organized and hosted by the Center for National Security Law at UVA, provided advanced training to further professional and public understanding through lectures, panels and debates.

The week featured more than 40 classes taught by a range of experts.

Elisa Massimino, president and chief executive officer of Human Rights First, led a session on the relationship between human rights and national security.

Laura Donohue, Georgetown Law professor, conducted a talk on how biological threats and warfare, both past and present, can impact national security.

Jennifer Cafarella, lead intelligence planner at Institute for the Study of War, provided a threat briefing on the ongoing conflict with the Islamic State group, and offered her suggestions for improving the situation on the ground.

James F. Jeffrey, former United States ambassador to Iraq and assistant to President George W. Bush, gave an overview of current U.S. policy in the Middle East.

Additional institute presenters included current and past officials from the U.S. Treasury, Federal Bureau of Investigation, National Security Council and the Department of Defense and Department of Justice.

UVA Law organizers and presenters included professors John Norton Moore, director of the Center for National Security Law; Robert Turner, associate director of the center; and Professor Molly Shadel, who previously worked for the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Intelligence Policy and Review.

Class topics included terrorism, conflict management, international relations, human rights and how they pertain to national security, combating weapons of mass destruction, cybersecurity, immigration law and policy, the ongoing conflict with the Islamic State group and the U.S. relationship with the Middle East.

The Center for National Security Law was established at the University of Virginia School of Law in 1981 to further professional and public understandings of security law. The institute was also hosted by the Daniel Morgan Graduate School of National Security.