Van Hipp presented a lecture on “The Greatest Challenge Of Our Next President: Keeping America Safe During These Times” at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids, Michigan on November 3, 2016.

Earlier in the day, Hipp visited the West Michigan Aviation Academy to speak with nearly 600 students from grades 9-12. Hipp’s remarks included discussing cyber security and the need for students to pursue careers in IT as its industry growth continues to expand.

Hipp is Chairman of American Defense International, Inc. (ADI), a Washington, DC based consulting firm specializing in government affairs, business development, and public relations. He was the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army and Deputy General Counsel of the Navy during President George H.W. Bush’s Administration. He is the author of ‘The New Terrorism: How to Fight It and Defeat It’.

Regarding national security and terrorism, Van Hipp began his remarks noting that our leaders must not take anything for granted…expect the unexpected. He recited the findings from the 9/11 Commission’s report which described the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks as a result of our ‘failure of imagination’.

Hipp also reflected on Radical Islam, the use of social media for recruitment by terrorists, utilizing social media for information gathering for counter-terrorism tactics, securing America’s borders, missile defense capabilities, regular security sweeps and updates to our ports of commence, North Korea and Iran, Electromagnetic Pulse Threats, and Open-Source Intelligence, amongst others.

He concluded his remarks with his belief that America must come together to keep us all safe. Hipp also recited a quote from Gerald R. Ford – “The Constitution is the bedrock of all our freedoms; guard and cherish it; keep honor and order in your own house; and the republic will endure”.

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