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Colonel Randall Larsen, USAF (Ret.)
Founding Director, The Institute for Homeland Security

Colonel Randall Larsen, USAF (Ret), is the Director of The Institute for Homeland Security and the National Security Advisor to the Center for Biosecurity of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. 

Colonel Larsen began his studies of homeland security in 1994 while on a one-year fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public and International Affairs. In 1999, while serving as the Chairman of the Department of Military Strategy and Operations at the National War College, he created the nation's first graduate course in homeland security.

Larsen was one of the first witnesses to testify before the 9-11 Commission, and since 9-11 he has served as an expert witness to the Senate Armed Services, Senate Judiciary, Senate Homeland Security, House Government Reform, House Homeland Security, and House Budget Committees.

In 2009, he served as the Executive Director of the Congressional Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism. In 2010, former US Senators Bob Graham (D-FL) and Jim Talent (R-MO) founded the Bi-Partisan WMD Terrorism Research Center to continue the work of the WMD Commission.  Larsen served as the CEO of the WMD Center until December 2012.  

His publications include: OUR OWN WORST ENEMY: Asking the Right Questions About Security to Protect You, Your Family, and America (Grand Central Publishing, September 2007), The Executive's Desk Book on Corporate Risks and Response for Homeland Security (The National Legal Center for the Public Interest, March 2003), and Defending the American Homeland 1993-2003 (Air University Press, December 2003). His op-eds have appeared in the Washington PostWall Street JournalNew York Post, and USA Today.

Larsen was the co-host of the weekly, one-hour public radio show, Homeland Security: Inside and Out. He is also a frequent guest on radio and television including: CBS, NBC, ABC, CNN, BBC, NPR, and The Jim Bohannon show.

Colonel Larsen served in both the Army and Air Force for a combined total of 32 years of military service. He began his flying career as a 19-year old Cobra pilot in the 101st Airborne Division, where he flew 400 combat missions in Vietnam. He also served as military attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok, the chief of legislative liaison at the U.S. Transportation Command, and the commander of America's fleet of VIP aircraft at Andrews AFB MD. His decorations include the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, 17 awards of the Air Medal (3 with "V" Device for Valor), and the South Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry.