Event: 2015 ATAC Anti-Piracy Conference

The first event of its kind, the annual ATAC Anti-Piracy Conference, sponsored by Maritime Executive, presents a dynamic and engaging international think tank focusing on Maritime Security and anti-piracy around the world. Through a host of world-class experts, speaking on a myriad of unique topics related to the industry, this conference is guaranteed to challenge the industry standard. 

The one-day conference and think tank will take place from 0900 to 1730 on 18 January 2015, the day prior to the world-renowned, exclusive, annual ATAC Range Day. Think tank participants and attendees are not required to attend ATAC Range Day but it is highly recommended. Reserve today, limited number of seats available.

Some of the topics subject matter experts (SME) will be speaking:

“Enhanced interpersonal communications in high threat situations” Former military interrogator shares how to read body language, detect deception and build rapport. How to conduct yourself to keep yourself alive if ever being held hostage.

The dynamics of port security and it’s vulnerabilities to terrorism, piracy, espionage and attacks on infrastructure.

Superior weaponry that is mission specific to counter-piracy security operations.

Out of the Shadows: The Health and Well-Being of Private Contractors Working in Conflict Environments.

Maritime Terrorism and Piracy: Understanding the Difference and their Impact on the Maritime Industry.

Location: Red Rocks Casino Resort Spa - 11011 W Charleston Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89135

Please contact the Red Rock Hotel & Casino today to make your lodging arrangements at the discounted conference rate. Availability of discounted rooms is limited. Call 866-767-7773

SME Speakers

John Campbell: For more than three decades (1975-2007) Ambassador Campbell served as a U.S. Department of State Foreign Service officer, serving twice in Nigeria, as political counselor (1988-1990) and as ambassador (2004 to 2007). In addition, Ambassador Campbell’s overseas postings include Lyon, Paris, Geneva, and Pretoria.  

Terrance Brennan, U.S. Coast Guard: Terry is an ATAC Global staff advisor, assisting in ATAC Global’s Maritime Security. Chief Warrant Officer Terry Brennan spent 28 years in the military. He has served in the Army, Air Force, and Coast Guard.  An adept port security specialist, both on active duty and in the reserve who has deployed to various parts of the world in 1995, 96, 97, 99, 2000, and 2005. After the attacks on the twin towers Mr. Brennan was deployed to the Port Mina Sulman, Bahrain on Sept 2001. His duties included, escorting high value warships and boarding hundreds of foreign flagged vessels before being assigned Tactical Action Officer for the port. In November 2002 he was assigned to Naval Coastal Warfare and redeployed to the Port of Ash Shuaybah Kuwait. 

Dan Johanknecht: Dan is a former Navy SEAL with over 10 years of experience between three different SEAL teams. He was a former SEAL Team 6 sniper and is an active counter-piracy team member. Dan is an ATAC Global staff advisor, assisting in ATAC Global’s Maritime Security. Dan has created a solid reputation as an experienced Maritime Security team leader and consultant. He has led shipboard security details for several years on both US and Foreign vessels around the globe. Dan works with the ATAC staff on researching and improving the current maritime industry standards. He has developed the specialized team concept of Maritime Security as well as weaponry solely for use by private maritime contractors.  

Lena Sisco: Ms. Sisco is a former Department of Defense (DoD) certified Military Interrogator and Naval Officer who served in the Global War on Terror. She is the recipient of the Joint Service and the Navy/Marine Corp Commendation and Achievement Medals. Ms. Sisco has 14 years experience in the field of Human Intelligence (HUMINT). She has worked for the Office of Naval Intelligence, Defense Intelligence Agency and partnered with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service in HUMINT Collection Activities. Ms. Sisco has been training DoD personnel in interrogation, tactical questioning/debriefing, site exploitation, elicitation, counter-elicitation, cross cultural communications, HUMINT policy, detecting deception and behavioral congruency for over 10 years.  

Chris Rawley – Vice President, Center for International Maritime Security: Mr. Rawley has more than two decades of experience in Maritime Security and counter-terrorism. A Captain (select) in the Navy Reserve, Chris has deployed to the Western Pacific, Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Africa with special operations and naval expeditionary units. Most recently he was the inaugural commander for Special Operations Command Forward – East Africa. He has an MBA and is a graduate of the U.S. Naval War College.  

Dr. Peter Chalk, – Senior Policy Analyst, RAND Corporation, United States: Dr Peter Chalk is a Senior Policy Analyst with the RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, California. He has worked on a range of projects examining soft power “diplomacy,” civil-military relations, security sector reform, international peace operations and unconventional sub-state threats in the Asia-Pacific, Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa. He is the author of numerous books, book chapters and journal articles on these subjects and has testified on several occasions before the U.S. Congress. He is also a regular commentator on mainstream media outlets in the United States, Australia, Canada and Europe. Dr. Chalk is a lifetime member of Cambridge Who’s Who and is Associate Editor of Studies in Conflict Terrorism – one of the foremost journals in the international security field.   

Dr. Molly Dunigan – RAND Corporation: Dr. Molly Dunigan has worked as a Political Scientist at the RAND Corporation since 2008. Her research interests include private security contracting, civil–military relations, irregular warfare, counterinsurgency, security force assistance, Maritime Security, and arms control. Prominent among Dr. Dunigan’s published work are her 2011 book Victory for Hire: Private Security Companies’ Impact on Military Effectiveness (Stanford University Press, 2011) and the RAND reports Hired Guns: Views About Armed Contractors in Operation Iraqi Freedom (Cotton et al., 2010), Characterizing and Exploring the Implications of Maritime Irregular Warfare (Dunigan et al., 2012) and Out of the Shadows.  

Clay Maitland: Clay Maitland has worked in the shipping industry since graduation from law school in 1968. Clay has been employed by International Registries, Inc. for 38 years and is now a managing partner of the company, which administers the Marshall Islands Ship Registry – the third largest registry in the world. He is President of the Trust Company of the Marshall Islands (TCMI), the statutory Maritime Administrator of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Prior to the year 2000, Clay held similar positions with regard to the maritime administration of the Republic of Liberia.  

Rear Adm. Terence “Terry” McKnight, USN (Retired): Terry McKnight, is a retired admiral of the United States Navy and the first commanding officer of Task Force 151, a multi-national force to confront piracy. In addition to an array of personal decorations and commands to include the 85th Commandant of Naval District Washington and the Deputy Commander of the Joint Force Headquarters National Capital Region, Admiral McKnight is also an accomplished writer. The author of Pirate Alley: Commanding Task Force 151 off Somalia, he has written several articles on maritime security that have appeared in a multitude of international and domestic newspapers and magazines.  He continues to lecture extensively on the issues of global maritime piracy. His formal education includes a master’s degree in International Relations as well as a graduate of the U.S Army War College.

ATAC Anti-Piracy Conference Agenda can be viewed Here