Steven Pomerantz, Former Head Of FBI's Counterterrorism Unit, Takes On New American Jewish Committee Post As Senior Adviser On Counterterrorism

American Jewish Committee
Thursday, 22 October 1998

The American Jewish Committee has retained the services of Steven L. Pomerantz, a former Assistant Director of the FBI, as its new Senior Adviser on Counterterrorism. Mr. Pomerantz, who headed the FBI counterterrorism unit and has written extensively on extremist movements and terrorism, will work with AJC to guide its educational and advocacy programs on the threats posed by domestic and international terrorism, and in the development of effective strategies to counter those threats.

Mr. Pomerantz will write periodic briefings for AJC, including a "Report on International Terrorism," and will regularly advise the organization's national and local leaders on specific terrorist threats to the United States, Israel, and Jewish communities around the world. He will speak on the subjects of terrorism, counterterrorism policy and extremist movements at AJC chapters around the country.

Mr. Pomerantz retired from the FBI in June 1995 after a career spanning twenty-seven years. He currently operates his own consulting firm in Annandale, Virginia, specializing in security and criminal justice related matters. He also serves as the Executive Vice President of the Institute for The Study of Terrorism and Political Violence, a non-profit international organization located in Washington, DC.

He has represented the FBI and the law enforcement community on numerous occasions in a variety of settings both domestically and internationally. He has testified before Congress on terrorism and criminal justice and is regularly called upon by the media to comment on issues involving law enforcement in general and the FBI in particular.

"Steve Pomerantz brings to AJC vast experience in confronting the global menace of terrorism," said David A. Harris, AJC's Executive Director. "Recent history -- from Pan Am Flight 103, to the World Trade Center, to Oklahoma City, to the U.S. embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania -- has shown the devastating reach of terrorism here at home and around the world, and fueled ongoing policy debates on the best approaches to meet this threat. AJC has been and will remain deeply involved in those debates, and in the policy analysis and public education that surround them; with his distinguished background of public service, Steve Pomerantz will make a critical contribution to this effort."

The American Jewish Committee has put issues of terrorism and counterterrorism high on its agenda in recent years. It has held briefings in Washington, DC, and elsewhere with high-ranking officials; raised the issues at its annual diplomatic "marathon" with prime ministers and foreign ministers; released numerous publications highlighting the current and future dangers posed by international and domestic terrorism; and published advertisements in the New York Times and other major newspapers and periodicals to draw public attention to these critical concerns.

For more information, or to contact American Jewish Committee, see their website at: www.ajc.org