Dr. Jennifer Hesterman, Watermark’s Vice President of Business Resiliency and Education Services, and a retired U.S. Air Force colonel, is warning of a new security challenge facing the U.S. and its allies — the battlefield in the mind. “The people arrested in al Qaeda plots after 9/11 are coming out of prison in the next couple years, and they have not been rehabbed. It’s a concern to me,” Dr. Hestermann says. “They are coming back out and we can’t keep track of them; we don’t have the resources. We’re not actively trying to work with them and train them to go the right direction.”

Dr. Hesterman’s comments are part of an interview where she was interviewed by Security Management Magazine, an ASIS International publication, for an article on terrorism in the U.S. and abroad. Also interviewed for the article was Michael McGarrity, Assistant Director of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division.

Both Dr. Hesterman and Mr. McGarrity say the threat these soon-to-be-released prisoners will pose in terms of recruitment and resuming their terrorist activities is significant. Both concede that counterterrorism efforts are struggling to keep up with the rapid evolution of recruitment and communication techniques. According to the article, “In the United States, about 25 Americans charged with terror crimes are expected to be released by 2021, and that number will jump to 72 in 2025.”

Unfortunately, there is currently no way to track those convicted of terror-related crimes.

To read all of Dr. Hesterman’s comments on the topic, check out the full article in Security Management Magazine, click HERE.

Working with Watermark

Risk Management

It can be challenging to see the “big risk picture.” We can help. We provide asset identification; threat vulnerability and risk assessments; strategic planning; security system specification; and security force design.

Training and Education

Training, education and follow up are the most effective way to drive change. We design and deliver training and education programs that make a measurable difference.

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Watermark has been providing subject matter expertise and program support across federal, state and local governments since our very first year.

After acquiring deep, hands-on experience in antiterrorism, critical infrastructure protection, physical security strategies, and risk management, Matt went on to develop executive government and business leadership and management skills that enable him to formulate strategy for Watermark’s clients.

Matt retired as a Colonel after serving 22 years in the U.S. Air Force. His military assignments included assignments as the senior U.S. government security official responsible for security oversight of our nation’s nuclear weapons program and as the senior security officer for the US Air Force Special Operations Command.

After retiring, Matt created and grew the integrated security consulting service division at a Fortune 500 company; within 3 years it was yielding >125% annual growth. He left that position to become VP/Chief Security Officer at Brinks Inc., one of the world’s largest risk-management companies. After establishing Watermark, he served for two years as Chairman of the Board and CEO of one of the largest security services companies in the U.S. At Watermark, he is responsible for overall business strategy, growth, and customer satisfaction.

Battlefield in the Mind

Risk Management

Training and Education

Organizational Optimization

Government Services