Think Like the Enemy - Sarah Adams
April 12th, 2025 6-10PM
Synopsis: Think Like The Enemy
In this question-and-answer event, former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) targeter Sarah Adams will explore the critical need to understand al-Qaeda’s evolving tactics to prevent their next attack on U.S. soil. Over the past two decades, al-Qaeda has proven its ability to adapt, studying and exploiting American weaknesses in counterterrorism, legal frameworks, and border security. This adaptability has transformed the group from a centralized force into a flexible, decentralized network, capable of launching lethal attacks despite years of U.S. counterterrorism efforts.
Al-Qaeda’s resilience is rooted in its capacity to learn from interactions with U.S. forces and foreign policymakers since the 1990s. The group has refined its recruitment, radicalization, and propaganda techniques, maintaining relevance in an ever-changing global landscape. Following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, ground truth suggests that al-Qaeda's central leadership is actively preparing for another major 9/11-style attack on the U.S. Homeland. This operation, planned for 2025, is led by Hamza bin Laden to honor his father, Osama bin Laden.
This presentation will provide insights into al-Qaeda’s evolution, the current threats we face, and the importance of thinking like the enemy to safeguard the nation.
Sarah Adams is a distinguished targeting officer and global threat advisor with a proven track record in government, private, and non-profit sectors. Renowned for her counterterrorism expertise, she has served on the frontlines of U.S. intelligence operations, deploying her skills across Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia. From covert assignments to high-stakes missions, Sarah has been a driving force behind efforts to protect national security.
Currently, she leads groundbreaking research and development projects for the Department of Defense, focusing on discovering and deploying innovative solutions to address the world’s most complex security challenges. Prior to this, Sarah served as a Senior Advisor to the U.S. House of Representatives, following an executive appointment from the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), where she leveraged her counterterrorism expertise.
A published author, Sarah co-wrote Benghazi: Know Thy Enemy, an in-depth cold case investigation into the al-Qaeda operatives behind the 2012 attack on the U.S. Consulate and CIA Annex in Benghazi. Her relentless pursuit of justice and truth has earned her recognition as a leading authority in homeland security and threat mitigation.
Sarah holds a Master’s degree in International Relations from the University of San Diego and a Bachelor of Science in International Business from the University of Central Florida.