The Terrorism Research Center has been involved in several ground-breaking projects that contributed directly to international counterterrorism efforts.
Responder Knowledge Base – TRC conceived, prototyped, designed, built and operated the RKB over a period of six years. The RKB provided emergency responders, purchasers, and planners with a trusted, integrated, online source of information on products, standards, certifications, grants, and other equipment-related information. In 2005 the TRC received a U.S. flag that had been flown over the U.S. Capital building in honor of TRC’s contributions to the first responder community through the development of the RKB system.
Terrorism Early Warning Group Expansion Project – Having worked with the Los Angeles Terrorism Early Warning Group since 1997, the TRC and L.A.S.D submitted a grant application to the Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism to expand the TEW to six high threat cities in the U.S. After the September 11 attacks and the formation of the Department of Homeland Security, the TEW program was migrated to DHS and expanded to cover 56 high threat urban areas. The TRC worked with these 56 cities to develop early warning and intelligence centers that became the precursor the national Fusion Center network.
Mirror Image Training – TRC developed the renowned Mirror Image training program in 2001 to allow military, intelligence, security and first responder personnel to better understand the international terrorist threat. Participants were subjected to an intense immersion program where they were trained to think and act like the adversary and adopt their tactics, techniques, and procedures. TRC Mirror Image training became a U.S. Army Foundry course, was featured in major news media, and became the most popular training course the TRC ever developed.<
RealNews List– The TRC provided a free daily news clipping service on a variety of global security issues. An archive of several hundred thousand clippings was available via the TRC web site and the mailing became known as the “early bird” of global risk issues.
Project Pediatric Preparedness – This project explained these unique needs and gaps, and provided a foundation for homeland security planning for pediatric victims of terrorism. The final report described the minimum capabilities essential for emergency response to pediatric victims. The report laid out fifteen Functional Areas for pediatric response – general areas describing functions, tasks, and missions of emergency response.
TRC Lecture Series – The TRC lecture series brought together a wide array of experts to discuss emerging threats. These lectures were then released as audio downloads on the site. Popular speakers from the lecture series included Brian Jenkins, Rohan Gunaratna, and Hekmat Karzai.