Former FBI counter-terrorism chief Robert M. Blitzer will present “A Longtime Challenge” at 7:30 p.m., April 24, in 128 Clayton Hall as part of the 2002 Global Agenda speaker series titled “Understanding International Terrorism Today.”

Blitzer replaces Pamela Berkowsky, a former terrorism preparedness coordinator for the Pentagon, in the Global Agenda line-up.

Blitzer currently is associate director of the Center for Counterterrorism Technology and Analysis of Science Applications International Corporation in McLean, Va. He is responsible for assisting federal, state and local authorities respond to the increased threat of domestic and international terrorism.

Until the end of 1998, Blitzer was chief of the Domestic Terrorism and Counterterrorism Planning Section, National Security Division at FBI headquarters in Washington, D.C. In that role, he focused on criminal and intelligence investigations aimed at countering domestic terrorism, including domestic preparedness operations to prevent and respond to the use of weapons of mass destruction against the U.S. population and critical infrastructure.

From 1986 to 1995, he served in the FBI’s International Terrorism Operations Section, where he assisted in the management of several high profile terrorism matters, including the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 in 1988, the World Trade Center Bombing in 1993, the plot to bomb several locations in greater New York City in 1993, and the bombing of the Alfred E. Murrah Building in Oklahoma City in 1995.

Blitzer received the 1995 Attorney General's Distinguished Service Award and the Central Intelligence Agency's 1995 National Intelligence Medal of Achievement in connection with the 1993 World Trade Center bombing assignment.

Earlier in his career, Blitzer held various FBI and headquarters positions in which he investigated and managed issues related to violent crime, organized crime, property crime, white collar crime, counterintelligence and counterterrorism.

During more than 26 years at the FBI, Blitzer was responsible for training domestic and international first responder training. Additionally, he was involved in both cyber and physical infrastructure protection.

Blitzer graduated from St. John Fischer College in Pittsford, N.Y., in 1968. He joined the FBI in April 1972 as a Special Agent.

The Global Agenda lecture series is presented by the World Affairs Council of Wilmington, the University of Delaware’s Center for International Studies and departments of communication and political science and international relations.

For more information, call 831-2355 or log on to www.udel.edu/global.

April 18, 2002