Counterterrorism/Aviation Expert Available at Western Illinois University

Newswise — MACOMB, IL — Western Illinois University's Homeland Security Research Program Director Dean Alexander is available for interviews regarding the disappearance of EgyptAir Flight 804 on May 19, 2016, and its relation to the U.S.

Alexander is a professor in Western's School of Law Enforcement and Justice Administration (LEJA) and teaches LEJA and homeland security courses. He also conducts homeland security-related research, writes articles for security publications and presents at international conferences on a regular basis.

In addition to his homeland security work, Alexander has conducted extensive research in the area of aviation terrorism, including co-authoring the article, "Expecting the Unexpected in Aviation Terrorism," which appeared in the April issue of Security magazine. The article was co-authored with WIU senior law enforcement and justice administration major Andrew Highland, of Darien (IL).

The article includes information on the use of drones by terror organizations to bring down air and land-based targets. It also addresses recent aviation-related terror attacks around the world.

The full article can be found at: http://www.securitymagazine.com/articles/87074-expecting-the-unexpected-in-aviation-terrorism.

Publications:

Other terrorism-related articles authored by Alexander include: "Brussels attacks indicative of jihadist threats facing the United States,” Security Magazine, Mar. 24, 2016.http://www.securitymagazine.com/articles/87032-brussels-attacks-indicative-of-jihadist-threats-facing-the-united-states"Islamic State’s lure to foreign women," The Jerusalem Post, Dec. 20, 2015. http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Islamic-States-lure-to-foreign-women-437896"ISIS attack in U.S. may only be a matter of time," Peoria Journal Star, Nov. 21, 2015. http://www.pjstar.com/article/20151121/OPINION/151129914/2011/OPINION"Paris attacks and ISIS in the family," State Journal-Register, Nov. 20, 2015. http://m.sj-r.com/article/20151120/OPINION/151129973/13312/OPINION"The Islamic State and Its Implications for Security," Security Magazine, Sept. 8, 2015. http://www.securitymagazine.com/articles/86645-the-islamic-state-and-its-implications-for-security"Local police have a role in stopping Islamic State," State Journal-Register, July 9, 2016. http://www.sj-r.com/article/20150709/OPINION/150709522

Alexander also co-authored the book, "Islamic State, The Islamic State: Combating the Caliphate Without Borders" (Lexington, 2015).http://www.wiu.edu/news/newsrelease.php?release_id=12738

More information about Alexander's background is available on his WIU faculty webpage at www.wiu.edu/coehs/leja/faculty_staff/alexander.php. For more information, contact Alexander at [email protected] or University Relations at (309) 298-1993.

Journal Link: Security magazine, April 2016