Keynote Speakers

James Risen

James Risen is an author and investigative reporter. A two-time Pulitzer Prize winner, Risen is the author of five books. His most recent book is The Last Honest Man: The CIA, the FBI, the Mafia, and the Kennedys — and One Senator’s Fight to Save Democracy, about Senator Frank Church and the Church Committee, which Risen co-authored with his son, Thomas Risen.

James Risen’s last three books, including The Last Honest Man, have all been New York Times bestsellers.

Risen lives in the Washington, D.C. area with his wife.

Gina Bennett

Gina M Bennett is a retired CIA seasoned counterterrorism specialist and member of the Senior Analytic Service who authored the earliest warnings in the 1990s about the growing danger of the movement Osama bin Laden fomented. She served for 34 years in the Intelligence Community, filling numerous roles in the counterterrorism mission throughout the entirety of her career. Ms. Bennett is often featured in documentaries and other media profiling her role in counterterrorism and as a pioneer for women in National Security and Intelligence careers, which she now continues as the new Strategic Advisor for Girl Security, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization which seeks to empower, secure, and advance young girls into national and international security missions.

Ms. Bennett remains an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University’s Center for Security Studies, where she teaches both Ethics in Intelligence Support to National Security and Hunter Gatherer National Security. She recently joined the Board of Directors of the Alturas Institute, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing American Democracy by promoting the Constitution, civic education, gender equality and equal protection of the law to continue serving her commitment to the Constitution even while fighting to ensure it includes all Americans.

She is the mother of five children, who were the source of inspiration for her two “National Security Mom” books comparing national security to parenting: “National Security Mom: While Going Soft Will Make America Strong,” and “National Security Mom 2: America Needs a Time Out.” She has written numerous articles for a variety of journals, including Joint Force Quarterly and Studies in Conflict and Terrorism.

Ms. Bennett earned her Bachelors degree in Economics and Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia and her Masters in Security Studies as a Distinguished Graduate of the Marine Corps War College.