Prerequisites: None

Exam Type: No Exam

This one-credit course will examine a series of current legal and policy issues at the intersection of national security law and technology. An enduring challenge for national security lawyers is keeping pace with technological change and innovation. We will explore a range of selected topics involving emerging technologies that confront national security lawyers and policy makers, including: intelligence surveillance; encryption; lethal targeting and artificial intelligence; and cyber security. We will focus on discrete issues from the perspective of government decision-making and operational practice.

Matt Olsen was the director of the National Counterterrorism Center from 2011 to 2014. He also served as General Counsel at the National Security Agency and as a federal prosecutor.

Note: This is a one-credit course and will meet for six 2-hour classes during the semester.