Dr. Joshua Sinai

Based in the Washington, DC area, Dr. Sinai has more than 35 years of experience in international security, national security, and homeland security studies with the U.S. government, academia, and the corporate sector. He has worked with the U.S. Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress as a senior intelligence analyst, and, for private sector firms as a contractor in support of government agencies such as the Department of Defense (DoD), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Foreign Terrorist Tracking Task Force (FTTTF). He also worked with the Virginia Tech’s Center for Technology, Security, and Policy (CTSP), located in Arlington, VA, as an Associate Professor/Research. At VT’s CTSP, he worked under the leadership of a retired U.S. Army Major General to develop a new educational program on terrorism and counterterrorism studies. Dr. Sinai is well-published in academic journals, trade magazines, edited volumes, and training curricula. His pocket handbook “Active Shooter: A Handbook on Prevention”, published by ASIS International in 2013 and as an expanded second edition in 2016, is a best-selling book on public safety that details active shooter incidents, preparation and prevention, and tactical responses.

When not teaching, Dr. Sinai enjoys hiking, traveling, watching movies, and reading. His advice to his students is: “Few people can write a perfect paper draft the first time, so write a rough draft and keep working on it. Also, make sure to fully answer your assignments. Finally, college is a terrific educational and social experience, so take full advantage of it and enjoy it as much as possible.”

Areas of Expertise:

• Terrorism and counterterrorism
• Intelligence and global security
• Intelligence analytic methodologies
• Military warfare
• Global security issues
• Measures of effectiveness metrics

Biography:

Education

• Ph.D., Columbia University, Political Science/Comparative Politics
• M.A., Columbia University, Political Science/Comparative Politics
• B.A., State University of New York College at New Paltz, Political Science/Comparative Politics

Certifications & Training

•  

Research & Publications

2022

“A Framework for Preempting Lone-Actor Terrorists During the Pre-Incident Phases,” Chapter 23 in Jacob C. Holzer, Pat Recupero, Paul Gill, and Andrea Dew, editors, Lone-Actor Terrorism: An Integrated Framework (New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2022).

2021

“How to Forecast and Predict Future Terrorist Warfare,” pages 33-40 in Nicolas Stockhammer, Editor, EICTP Vienna Research Papers on Transnational Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism: Trends and Scenarios of Transnational Terrorism – Forecast, Anticipation and Prediction of Defining Trends Against the Backdrop of Uncertainty. Volume III. (Vienna, Austria: European Institute for Counter Terrorism and Conflict Prevention (EICTP), December 2021).

“Prevention of Low-Tech, Lone Actor Terrorist Attacks in the United States,” pages 653-677 in Alex P. Schmid, Editor, Handbook of Terrorism Prevention and Preparedness (The Hague, The Netherlands: ICCT, 2021)

2020

“Issues in Predicting and Forecasting Future Terrorist Warfare,” The Journal of Counterterrorism & Homeland Security International, Vol. 26, No. 4, Spring 2020 (May 2020), pp. 28-32.

“A Resilience Framework for Businesses to Recover from a Pandemic Outbreak,” Homeland Security Today, April 25, 2020, https://www.hstoday.us/subject-matter-areas/cybersecurity/a-resilience-framework-for-businesses-to-recover-from-a-pandemic-outbreak/.

“A Methodology to Forecast Violent Attacks by Active Threat Perpetrators,” pages 99-205 in Isaac Kfir, editor, Counterterrorism Yearbook 2020 (Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), (March 2020). www.aspi.org.au.

“Red Teaming Future Waves of Catastrophic Terrorism,” The Journal of Counterterrorism & Homeland Security International, Vol. 26, No. 3, Winter 2020 (March 2020), pp. 22-26.

“Israel and Combating Terrorism: Assessing the Effectiveness of Netanyahu’s Combating Terrorism Strategy,” pp. 273-290 in Robert O. Freedman, editor, Israel Under Netanyahu: Domestic Politics and Foreign Policy (New York, NY: Routledge, 2020).

2019

“Assessing the Threat of Terrorists’ Use in Their Warfare of Radiological Exposure Devices (REDs) and Dirty Bombs,” The Journal of Counterterrorism & Homeland Security International, Vol. 26, No. 2, Fall 2019, pp. 14-18.

Co-Author with Jeffrey Fuller and Tiffany Seal, “Research Note: Research Note: Effectiveness in Counter-Terrorism and Countering Violent Extremism: A Literature Review,” Perspectives on Terrorism, Vol. 13, No. 6, December 2019, pp. 90-108.

“Hizballah: A Terrorist Group Profile,” The Journal of Counterterrorism & Homeland Security International, Vol. 25, No. 1, Summer 2019, pp. 20-26.

“Weaponized Letter and Package Attacks Against Public and Private Sector Targets: Key Takeaways for Security Practitioners,” The InfraGard Journal, Vol. 2, No. 1 (July 2019), pp. 12-23.

“Assessing Innovations and New Trends in Counterterrorism,” pages 129-134 in Isaac Kfir and Georgia Grice, editors, Counterterrorism Yearbook 2019 (Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), March 2019). www.aspi.org.au.

“Workplace Violence Attack at Sebring, Florida Bank: Key Takeaways for Business Leaders,” Torchstone Global, February 2019, https://www.torchstoneglobal.com/workplace-violence-attack-at-sebring-florida-bank-key-takeaways-for-business-leaders/.

2018

“Assessing the Violent Targeting of Faith-Based Organizations in the United States and Their Response Measures,” The Journal of Counterterrorism & Homeland Security International, Fall 2018, Vol. 24, No. 3, pages 20-25.

“The United States of America: Domestic Counterterrorism since 9/11,” Chapter 55, pages 635-647, in Andrew Silke, editor,  Routledge Handbook of Terrorism and Counterterrorism (New York, NY: Routledge, June 2018).

"Terrorist Threats Against Jordan and Its Counterterrorism Measures,” The Journal of Counterterrorism & Homeland Security International, Summer 2018, Vol. 24, No. 2, pages 16-20.

"IACSP Homeland Security Conference Review – Campus Safety Conference East, July 18-20, 2018, Herndon, VA,” The Journal of Counterterrorism & Homeland Security International, Summer 2018, Vol. 24, No. 2, pages 42-44.

"Assessing Precursor Crimes To Support Islamist Terrorism in the United States, The Journal of Counterterrorism & Homeland Security International, Spring 2018, Vol. 24, No. 1, pages 16-20.

2017

“New Trends in Asymmetric Warfare Threats,” The Journal of Counterterrorism & Homeland Security International, Fall 2017, Vol. 23, No. 3, pages 14-17.

“A Model for Countering Violent Extremism and Promoting Disengagement From Terrorism,” The Journal of Counterterrorism & Homeland Security International, Summer 2017, Vol. 23, No. 2, pages 24-28.

“Active Threats Against the Aviation Sector: Terrorism, Active Shooters, Workplace Violence, and ’Insiders,” The Journal of Counterterrorism & Homeland Security International, Winter 2017, Vol. 22, No. 4, pages 18-27.

“Terrorism Futures 2030: Identifying Analytic Methodologies to Forecast the Next Phase in the Terrorism Historical Wave,” pages 1-7 in Lawrence Fennelly, Mark Beaudry, and Marianna A. Perry, editors, Security in 2025 (Alexandria, VA: ASIS International, 2017).

2016

Co-author with Kathleen Kiernan and Dorian DeSantis, “Breaking the Trajectory Towards Mass Violence: Engaging the Community to Pre-Empt Potentail Active Shooters,” Sheriff & Deputy, September/October 2016, Volume 68, Issue 5, pages 68-69.

“Access Control Systems and Identification Badges,” pages 255-264 in Lawrence J. Fennelly, editor, Effective Physical Security [Fifth Edition] (Boston, MA: Butterworth-Heinemann/Elsevier, 2016).

“Trends in Terrorist Threats Against Sports Stadiums & Arenas and Effective Response Measures,” The Journal of Counterterrorism & Homeland Security International, Summer 2016.

Active Shooter: A Handbook on Prevention [Revised & Expanded Second Edition] (Alexandria, VA: ASIS International, May 2016).

“Trends in the Terrorist Threats Against the Business Sector and Effective Countermeasures,” The Mackenzie Insititute (Toronto, Canada), May 9, 2016, http://mackenzieinstitute.com/new-trends-in-terrorisms-targeting-of-the-business-sector/.  

“The Active Shooter Threat: Profiling Perpetrators for Preemptive Prevention,” Chapter 9, pages 206-219 in Michael Fredholm, editor, Lone Actor Terrorism: Past Experience, Future Outlook, and Response Strategies, (New York, NY: Routledge, February 2016).

“The Insider Threat in Information Technology: Risk Factors and Case Studies,” Chapter 14, pages 280-294 in Michael Fredholm, editor, Lone Actor Terrorism: Past Experience, Future Outlook, and Response Strategies, (New York, NY: Routledge, February 2016).

2015

“The Terrorist Threats Against Russia and its Counterterrorism Response Measures,” Connections [Quarterly Journal Published by Partnership for Peace Consortium/The Marshall Center], Vol. 14, No. 4, Fall 2015, pages 95-101. 

“The Greater Middle East’s Fifth Historical Wave: Revolutionary Upheavals, but Game Changing Progress? An Application for Preemptive Early Warning Intelligence Analysis,” American Intelligence Journal, Vol. 32, No. 1 (2015), pages 65-69.

“Active Shooters Can Be Preempted,” The Mackenzie Institute (Toronto, Canada), November 19, 2015, http://www.mackenzieinstitute.com/active-shooters-can-preempted/

“Assessing How the Provisions of Canada’s New Anti-Terrorism Act (Bill C-51) Contributes to Effective Counter-Terrorism,” The Mackenzie Institute (Toronto, Canada), August 4, 2015, http://www.mackenzieinstitute.com/assessing-provisions-canadas-new-anti-terrorism-act-bill-c-51-contributes-effective-counter-terrorism/.  

“Innovation in Terrorists’ Counter-Surveillance: The Case of al-Qaeda and its Affiliates,” pages 196-210 in Magnus Ranstorp and Magnus Normark, editors, Understanding Terrorism Innovation and Learning: Al Qaeda and Beyond (New York, NY: Routledge, 2015).

2014

“The Stable States Index: Assessing Indicators on State Stability and Effectiveness for Anticipatory Forecasting,” The Intelligencer: Journal of U.S. Intelligence Studies,” Spring/Summer 2014, pages 29-32.

“The Terrorist Threats Against Saudi Arabia and Its Counterterrorism Response Measures,” The Journal of Counterterrorism & Homeland Security International, Winter 2014, Vol. 20, No. 4, pages 26-28.

“Kidnapping for Ransom Fueling Terrorism Worldwide,” The Journal of Counterterrorism & Homeland Security International, Vol. 20, No. 2, Summer 2014, pages 14-16.

“Assessing the Evolving Threat of Suicide Terrorism,” The Journal of Counterterrorism & Homeland Security International, Vol. 20, No. 2, Summer 2014, pages 22-24.

2013

“Developing a Model of Prison Radicalisation,” pages 35-46 in Andrew Silke, editor, Prisons, Terrorism and Extremism: Critical Issues in Management, Radicalisation and Reform (New York, NY: Routledge, December 2013).

“The Terrorist Threats Against India and Its Counterterrorism Response,” The Journal of Counterterrorism & Homeland Security International, Fall 2013, Vol. 19, No. 3, pages 29-24.

“Forecasting Terrorism Is Possible,” The Intelligencer: Journal of U.S. Intelligence Studies,” Vol. 20, No. 1, Fall/Winter 2013, pages 27-31.

Active Shooter: A Handbook on Prevention (Alexandria, VA: ASIS International, January 2013).  http://www.abdi-secure-ecommerce.com/asis/ps-1172-37-2040.aspx.

“Najibullah Zazi’s Plot to Bomb the New York City Subway System: A Case Study of How U.S. Domestic Counterterrorism Operates,” pages 116-131 in James Forest, Russell Howard and Joanne Moore, editors, Homeland Security and Terrorism: Readings and Interpretations, 2nd Edition (New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, March 2013).

2012

“A Model on Radicalization into Extremism and Terrorism,” The Intelligencer: Journal of U.S. Intelligence Studies,” Summer/Fall 2012 (September 2012), pages 21-25.

“Top 150 Books on Terrorism & Counterterrorism Studies,” Perspectives on Terrorism (www.terrorismanalysts.com), May 2012, Vol. 6, No. 2.

2011

“Terrorism on the Internet and Effective Countermeasures,” The Intelligencer: Journal of U.S. Intelligence Studies, Vol. 18, No. 3, Summer/Fall 2011, pp. 21-24.

2006

“A Framework for Critical Infrastructure Resilience to Terrorism,” The Journal of Counterterrorism & Homeland Security International, Summer 2006, Vol. 12, No. 2, pages 24-30.

Organizations & Affiliations

• AFCEA International
• ASIS International
• IEEE
• International Association of Law Enforcement and Intelligence Analysts (IALEIA)
• Middle East Institute