Dr. Erroll Southers
Professor of the Practice in National & Homeland Security, University of Southern California
2021, 2022, 2023
Dr. Erroll G. Southers is a former FBI Special Agent, Professor of the Practice in National and Homeland Security, Director of the Safe Communities Institute, and Director of Homegrown Violent Extremism Studies at the University of Southern California (USC) Sol Price School of Public Policy. He is also an adjunct subject matter expert for the RAND Corporation. Southers was President Barack Obama’s first nominee for Transportation Security Administration Assistant Secretary and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Deputy Director for Critical Infrastructure of the California Office of Homeland Security. He served as Assistant Chief of Homeland Security and Intelligence at the Los Angeles World Airports Police Department, police officer and gang expert with the Santa Monica Police Department and enjoyed the distinction of being a member of FBI SWAT. Southers has testified before the full Congressional Committee on Homeland Security as a subject matter expert. As the author of Homegrown Violent Extremism, he is a noted counterterrorism expert and security analyst to a variety of media networks, lectures, and consults around the world. Southers earned his undergraduate degree from Brown University, and he holds masters and doctoral degrees in public policy from USC.
At the Summit
The Summit was more than empty words – it made clear that a solution-driven approach is the only way to fight hate. That’s why the working group activities, which are results driven are going to be critical in defeating violent extremism. The Summit brought together the best minds in government, private sector, academia, and civil society. Being surrounded by these experts sparked new ideas – some of which I’ve already implemented or have written about.
