After September 11, 2001, Heritage was the first think tank to produce major research and to create a homeland security research team. Sixteen years later, that team is still at it.

“There have have been many sunshine homeland security programs in think tanks since 9/11,” said James Carafano, Vice President of The Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Institute for National Security and Foreign Policy and E. W. Richardson Fellow. “Most drifted away as the passion of 9/11 faded but not Heritage.”

Heritage is also the first and only organization to track and compile all Islamist terror plots and attacks against the U.S. homeland since 9/11.  

“We have the most robust and respected program in town,” said Carafano. “Much of the credit goes to David Inserra and his consistent work with the House Homeland Security Committee over the years.”

Inserra has been leading the charge behind conservative homeland security issues. He joined Heritage in 2012 and has been focusing his research on how to improve the refugee program, privatize the TSA , and improve cybersecurity by instating a system of active cyber defense. 

In the next five years, Inserra sees homegrown terrorism as one of the biggest threats to homeland security. He is also very concerned with the growing severity of cyber attacks and has published several reports on this threat. 

Inserra is also an influencer on Capitol Hill and in the administration concerning issues like the “laptop ban,” reauthorizing the Department of Homeland Security and border security. 

Inserra recently testified before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee as part of a hearing on the radicalization and rise of terrorism in the United States. 

“Heritage is well positioned to continue to advance cost-effective, risk-based solutions to the Trump Administration and Congress,” said Inserra. 

Read more of Heritage’s homeland security research and commentary here.