Randall Larsen
 Randall Larsen  (officer) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Nationality | US |
| Alma mater | Texas State University, Naval Postgraduate School |
Military/Homeland Security WMD expert. | |
Colonel Randall Larsen (Ret) is the national security advisor at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security and a senior fellow at the Homeland Security Policy Institute at George Washington University.
Biosecurity will change many aspects of our lives in the 21st century. It has three key elements. First, it will be one of the economic dynamos that drives the global economy in the 21st century. The biotechnical revolution will revolutionize economic development as dramatically as the industrial revolution did in the 19th century. Second, proper investments can leverage this technology to make quantum improvements in both public health and medical care delivery, not only for Americans, but for all people. Third, there will unfortunately be a dark side to the biotechnical revolution that will include bio-terrorists, bio-hackers, and bio-errors in addition to the naturally-occurring bio-threats we will face.[1]
Career
He retired as an Air Force Colonel in July 2000 after serving in both the Army and Air Force for a combined total of 32 years of active duty military service. His flying career began as a 19-year old Cobra pilot in the 101st Airborne Division. He flew 400 combat missions in Vietnam. He also served as military attaché at the US Embassy in Bangkok, the chief of legislative liaison at the US Transportation Command, and the commander of America’s fleet of VIP aircraft at Andrews AFB MD.[2]
He earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminology from Texas State University in 1974, and a Master of Arts Degree in National Security Studies from the Naval Postgraduate School in 1983.[3]
He was a professor and department chair at the National War College, where in 1999 he created the nation’s first graduate course in homeland security; the founding director of the Institute for Homeland Security, the executive director of the bipartisan Congressional Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism, and along with former Senators Bob Graham and Jim Talent founded the Bipartisan WMD Terrorism Research Center where he served as the chief executive officer until December 2011.[2]
He was one of the first witnesses to testify before the 9/11 Commission.
Larsen is the author of several books, including Our Own Worst Enemy: Asking the Right Questions About Security to Protect You, Your Family, and America (Warner Books, 2007). His op-eds and commentaries have been published in the Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Business Week, USA Today, New York Post, DomPrep, and the Ripon Forum.[2]
His decorations include the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, 17 awards of the Air Medal (3 with “V” Device for Valor), and the South Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry.
Websites
Events Participated in
| Event | Start | End | Location(s) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event 201 | 18 October 2019 | 18 October 2019 | New York US | A Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security/World Economic Forum/Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation sponsored large scale simulation of a global coronavirus pandemic predicting an apocalyptic outcome. Held October 2019. |
| Operation Dark Winter | 22 June 2001 | 23 June 2001 | Washington DC Andrews Air Force Base | An exercise where senior former officials would respond to a bioterrorist induced national security crisis. Uncannily predicted the 2001 anthrax attacks and other narratives. Held June 2001. |
