Sept. 11 Anniversary Experts for Media

By Mike Porter

RICHMOND, Va. (Sept. 6, 2006) – Virginia Commonwealth University, which offers the first bachelor’s degree program in homeland security and emergency preparedness at a major research university in the United States, has two experts available to media preparing stories on the 5^th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

William Parrish, associate professor, Homeland Security and Emergency Planning, has helped to develop the major.  He formerly served in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in several senior level positions, including the department’s representative to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. In October 2001, he established the first Office of Anti-Terrorism in the U.S. Customs Service.  Parrish is a retired United States Marine Colonel, and commanded the Marine Corps Security Forces.

William Newmann, associate professor, Homeland Security and Emergency Planning director, also has worked in the development of the program. His research interests include national security decision-making, terrorism and homeland security, presidential policy making, and East Asian security. Newmann authored “Managing National Security:  The President and the Process” (University of Pittsburgh Press, 2003).

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