Courage
Priorities
Washington, D.C.
Students Discuss Leadership with Lew Robinson
Dr. Ryan Pemberton, the William Stamps Farish Fund Director of the McCain-Ravenel Center, invited his friend and former colleague Lew Robinson to speak to a group of students about September 11, 2001. Before the attacks, Robinson was working against organized crime. Being in the U.S. Capitol that day and seeing smoke pouring from the Pentagon in the distance changed the course of his career. “I’ve been doing terrorism since September 12, 2001,” he told the room of the impact of that day. He now serves the country as assistant director of the Directorate of Identity Intelligence at the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC).
His team of analysts is responsible for maintaining the U.S. Government’s terrorist watchlist, screening all travelers to the United States, and tracking down terrorist networks and their connections to the United States. “You need partnership,” he told the students of the importance of working in tandem with other government agencies to keep the country safe. “One agency cannot fight terrorism on its own.” He spoke of how important it is to listen to each other, especially if you do not agree. “The beauty of democracy is taking everyone’s viewpoint in before making a decision,” he said. He ended with advice on how to lead through fear. “If you’re panicked, people go into fight or flight mode,” he said of leading his team as calmly and effectively as possible. “You have to show them you’re worried without panicking.”
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His team of analysts is responsible for maintaining the U.S. Government’s terrorist watchlist, screening all travelers to the United States, and tracking down terrorist networks and their connections to the United States. “You need partnership,” he told the students of the importance of working in tandem with other government agencies to keep the country safe. “One agency cannot fight terrorism on its own.” He spoke of how important it is to listen to each other, especially if you do not agree. “The beauty of democracy is taking everyone’s viewpoint in before making a decision,” he said. He ended with advice on how to lead through fear. “If you’re panicked, people go into fight or flight mode,” he said of leading his team as calmly and effectively as possible. “You have to show them you’re worried without panicking.”
