Research, ideas, and leadership for a more secure, peaceful world

Past Event
Seminar

"Nuclear and Biological Terrorism: Is the Threat Real?" Intelligence Lunch with Rolf Mowatt-Larssen

Harvard Faculty, Fellows, Staff, and Students

The Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs will host an Intelligence Lunch with Rolf Mowatt-Larssen, Director of the Belfer Center’s Intelligence Project, former Director of Intelligence and Counterintelligence for the DOE, and career CIA officer, on Wednesday, December 6th from 12:00-1:00pm in One Brattle 350.

Lunch from Flour Bakery will be provided. Harvard IDs checked at the door. First come, first served.

Date: Time: - Location: Room 350
Rolf Mowatt-Larssen (right) and BG Kevin Ryan

About

It has been 16 years since the 9/11 attack. Many have predicted that terrorists would detonate a dirty bomb by now. Conducted an attack using biological weapons. The sum of all fears - a yield producing nuclear device - seems like a remote possibility. Is it?

Why has there not been a terrorist WMD attack since 9/11? Has the threat been hyped? How does the demise of Daesh in Iraq and Syria, combined with the diminution of al-Qaeda, impact on terrorist WMD intent and ability to acquire capability?

Please join us for the last Intelligence Lunch of the semester where Rolf Mowatt-Larssen will host an open discussion of these and other questions.

Lunch from Flour Bakery will be provided. Harvard IDs checked at the door. First come, first served.

Biography

Rolf Mowatt-Larssen is the Director of Intelligence and Defense Projects at the Belfer Center.

Prior to assuming the Director position, Rolf served as a senior fellow at the Center and served over three years as the Director of Intelligence and Counterintelligence at the U.S. Department of Energy.

Prior to this, he served for 23 years as a CIA intelligence officer in various domestic and international posts, to include Chief of the Europe Division in the Directorate of Operations, Chief of the Weapons of Mass Destruction Department, Counterterrorist Center, and Deputy Associate Director of Central Intelligence for Military Support.

Prior to his career in intelligence, Mr. Mowatt-Larssen served as an officer in the U.S. Army. He is a graduate of the United States Military Academy, West Point, NY. He is married to Roswitha and has three children.

He is a recipient of the CIA Director's Award, the George W. Bush Award for Excellence in Counterterrorism, the Secretary of Energy's Exceptional Service Medal, the Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal, Secretary of Defense Civilian Distinguished Service Medal, and the National Intelligence Superior Performance Medal, among others.