Prudence Bushnell, U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Kenya during the East African embassy bombings in August of 1998, discusses the "journey back from terror as a duty to the innocent people who have died in terrorist attacks and as a salute to the courage of survivors." Ambassador Bushnell describes Nairobi's American Embassy community, the truck bombing, the chaos of the aftermath, and how the community has sought to recover from the incident. This first-hand account helps to relate the tragedy for the victims and the bravery of the survivors who must overcome the devastation of a terrorist act.

Sam Gonzales, who was Oklahoma City Chief of Police when the Murrah Building was bombed, discusses the National Defense Preparedness Office (NDPO). His presentation includes discussion of Weapons of Mass Destruction, preparedness, information sharing, health and medical issues. He also indicates how first responders can subscribe to Law Enforcement Online and The Beacon magazine, both of which are published by NDPO.

Dr. Bruce Hoffman, a Director at the RAND Corporation and a world-class scholar on terrorism, offers a realistic assessment as to the current state of terrorism as a threat to national security. His presentation draws on his impressive body of work, including his recent book, Inside Terrorism. Topics in Dr. Hoffman's speech include: the new terrorism and its putative implications; misunderstood lessons of Aum, policy implications for potential chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear terrorism; and policy questions on counterterrorism we should be asking.

Brian Jenkins, one of the world's leading authorities on political violence and terrorism and a senior advisor at the Rand Corporation, reflects on how the phenomenon of terrorism has changed and evolved over the decades. His presentation discusses the state of the terrorism discipline, predictions from past conferences on terrorism, and how terrorism is perceived today. He also discusses how counterterrorism has succeeded and fallen short in stemming the tide of terrorism, and how terrorism may look in the next twenty years.