Michael S. Smith II: Difference between revisions
Moving text up to enhance chronological presentation of career information; adjusting sentence structure in sentence concerning work as a fellow at New America |
Adding details about subject's education and career reported in major newspaper story and reflected in the education portion of subject's LinkedIn account, CV available on subject's website, and subject's written testimony for Senate hearing discussed in this article |
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== Education == |
== Education == |
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Smith received his undergraduate degree in arts management from the [[College of Charleston]], and a graduate certificate in Intelligence Analysis, followed by a Masters degree in Intelligence and Security Studies, from [[The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina]].<ref name=PostCourier2016>{{cite news |last1=Graham |first1=Alison |title=Charleston man on front line of intelligence monitoring by tracking ISIS social media |url=https://www.postandcourier.com/411/terror-analyst-tracks-isis-social-media-local-man-on-front/article_cdee1fde-0e9a-5be8-b71a-1b6c1a52543c.html |work=Post and Courier |date=July 29, 2016 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=linked/> |
Smith received his undergraduate degree in arts management from the [[College of Charleston]], and a graduate certificate in Intelligence Analysis, followed by a Masters degree in Intelligence and Security Studies, from [[The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina]].<ref name=PostCourier2016>{{cite news |last1=Graham |first1=Alison |title=Charleston man on front line of intelligence monitoring by tracking ISIS social media |url=https://www.postandcourier.com/411/terror-analyst-tracks-isis-social-media-local-man-on-front/article_cdee1fde-0e9a-5be8-b71a-1b6c1a52543c.html |work=Post and Courier |date=July 29, 2016 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=linked/> Smith briefly pursued a PhD in Communication at [[Georgia State University]], where his research focused on persuasion theory and terrorist propaganda produced to incite violence in the West.<ref>See biographical details contained in Smith’s written testimony for the October 31, 2017 Senate hearing titled “[https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/meetings/extremist-content-and-russian-disinformation-online-working-with-tech-to-find-solutions Extremist Content and Russian Disinformation Online: Working with Tech to Find Soluntions].” Testimony retrieved June 29, 2018 from the hearing page found on the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary’s website; Smith’s decision to pursue a doctorate degree versus accepting a position at the Pentagon was reported in Moore, Thad. “[https://www.postandcourier.com/news/charleston-based-terrorism-analyst-feuding-with-top-white-house-national/article_0e518788-fa0d-11e6-ac35-d7b41c7fb1ec.html Charleston-based terrorism analyst feuding with top White House national security adviser].” ''[[The Post and Courier]]''. February 23, 2017</ref> |
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== Career == |
== Career == |
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In 2016, in recognition of his work “funneling hacker tips” about [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant|ISIS]]’s activities online to government officials, ''[[Foreign Policy]]'' magazine included Smith among the “Moguls” on its annual list of “[[FP Top 100 Global Thinkers|100 Leading Global Thinkers]],” and ''[[Fast Company (magazine)|Fast Company]]'' magazine ranked Smith 14 on its list of the “100 Most Creative People in Business” for “helping hack the bad guys.”<ref>“[https://gt.foreignpolicy.com/2016/category/the-moguls 100 Leading Global Thinkers 2016: The Moguls].” ''Foreign Policy''. 2016 (precise publication date not specified). Retrieved June 29, 2018</ref><ref>“[https://www.fastcompany.com/most-creative-people/2016 The Most 100 Creative People in Business 2016].” ''Fast Company''. 2016 (precise publication date not specified)</ref> |
In 2016, in recognition of his work “funneling hacker tips” about [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant|ISIS]]’s activities online to government officials, ''[[Foreign Policy]]'' magazine included Smith among the “Moguls” on its annual list of “[[FP Top 100 Global Thinkers|100 Leading Global Thinkers]],” and ''[[Fast Company (magazine)|Fast Company]]'' magazine ranked Smith 14 on its list of the “100 Most Creative People in Business” for “helping hack the bad guys.”<ref>“[https://gt.foreignpolicy.com/2016/category/the-moguls 100 Leading Global Thinkers 2016: The Moguls].” ''Foreign Policy''. 2016 (precise publication date not specified). Retrieved June 29, 2018</ref><ref>“[https://www.fastcompany.com/most-creative-people/2016 The Most 100 Creative People in Business 2016].” ''Fast Company''. 2016 (precise publication date not specified)</ref> |
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In January 2017 Kronos was dissolved.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kronos Advisory LLC |url=https://businessfilings.sc.gov/BusinessFiling/Entity/Profile/f8b2f303-7a09-48bf-a324-3786f3427fdd |publisher=South Carolina Secretary of State |accessdate=29 June 2018 |language=en}}</ref> In February 2017, Smith became involved in a public dispute with |
In January 2017 Kronos was dissolved.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kronos Advisory LLC |url=https://businessfilings.sc.gov/BusinessFiling/Entity/Profile/f8b2f303-7a09-48bf-a324-3786f3427fdd |publisher=South Carolina Secretary of State |accessdate=29 June 2018 |language=en}}</ref> Smith reportedly considered taking a position in the [[The Pentagon|Pentagon]] at the request of [[National Security Advisor (United States)|National Security Advisor]] [[Michael Flynn]], but decided to instead pursue a doctorate degree due to his concerns about [[Sebastian Gorka]]’s role in the Trump administration.<ref>Moore, Thad. “[https://www.postandcourier.com/news/charleston-based-terrorism-analyst-feuding-with-top-white-house-national/article_0e518788-fa0d-11e6-ac35-d7b41c7fb1ec.html Charleston-based terrorism analyst feuding with top White House national security adviser].” ''[[The Post and Courier]]''. February 23, 2017</ref> In February 2017, Smith became involved in a public dispute with Gorka (then a senior advisor in the [[Presidency of Donald Trump|Trump administration]]) after Smith criticized Gorka on social media and in comments quoted in a story published by ''The Wall Street Journal.''<ref name=WSJ2017/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Welna |first1=David |title=Criticized By Peers, White House Counterterrorism Adviser Returns Fire |url=https://www.npr.org/2017/02/24/517097745/criticized-by-peers-white-house-counterterror-adviser-returns-fire |work=NPR |date=February 24, 2017 |language=en}}</ref><ref>Jeff Stein. “[http://www.newsweek.com/sebastian-gorka-white-house-terrorism-adviser-angry-call-559805 Listen to controversial White House terrorism adviser Sebastian Gorka's angry call to a critic].” ''Newsweek''. February 23, 2017</ref> |
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Beginning in October 2017, Smith served as a fellow at the Washington, DC-based think tank [[New America (organization)|New America]] for five months.<ref name=linked>{{cite web |title=Michael S Smith II |url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelssmithii |publisher=LinkedIn |accessdate=29 June 2018}}</ref> |
Beginning in October 2017, Smith served as a fellow at the Washington, DC-based think tank [[New America (organization)|New America]] for five months.<ref name=linked>{{cite web |title=Michael S Smith II |url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelssmithii |publisher=LinkedIn |accessdate=29 June 2018}}</ref> |
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Revision as of 16:49, 30 June 2018
Michael S. Smith II | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Bachelor of Arts in arts management; Graduate certificate and Master's in intelligence analysis[1][2] |
| Alma mater | College of Charleston; The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina |
| Occupation | Security consultant |
| Years active | 2005-present |
| Known for | Terrorism analysis and collaboration with anti-ISIS hactivists |
| Political party | Republican |
| Website | terrorismanalyst |
Michael S. Smith II is an American who runs a counterterrorism consulting business. He is known for his expertise with terrorists’ activities online, and he has provided expert testimony before the United States Senate on this topic. His work as a terrorism analyst and his views concerning national security policy, as well as national security personnel staffing issues within the United States government during the Presidency of Donald Trump, have been covered extensively by major media organizations.
Education
Smith received his undergraduate degree in arts management from the College of Charleston, and a graduate certificate in Intelligence Analysis, followed by a Masters degree in Intelligence and Security Studies, from The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina.[1][2] Smith briefly pursued a PhD in Communication at Georgia State University, where his research focused on persuasion theory and terrorist propaganda produced to incite violence in the West.[3]
Career
In 2011, Smith founded Kronos Advisory, a security consulting firm with retired Marine General James E. Livingston.[1][4] In 2013, Kronos began briefing the United States government on ISIS’s aspiration to perpetrate terrorist attacks in Europe.[5] Along with consulting for various government agencies, he tracked terrorist activity on social media and commented on it, and became known for this and was called on as a pundit by various media groups.[1][6] He has variously been described as "a Republican counterterrorism specialist"[7] and "an al-Qaeda analyst".[8]
In 2016, in recognition of his work “funneling hacker tips” about ISIS’s activities online to government officials, Foreign Policy magazine included Smith among the “Moguls” on its annual list of “100 Leading Global Thinkers,” and Fast Company magazine ranked Smith 14 on its list of the “100 Most Creative People in Business” for “helping hack the bad guys.”[9][10]
In January 2017 Kronos was dissolved.[11] Smith reportedly considered taking a position in the Pentagon at the request of National Security Advisor Michael Flynn, but decided to instead pursue a doctorate degree due to his concerns about Sebastian Gorka’s role in the Trump administration.[12] In February 2017, Smith became involved in a public dispute with Gorka (then a senior advisor in the Trump administration) after Smith criticized Gorka on social media and in comments quoted in a story published by The Wall Street Journal.[7][13][14]
Beginning in October 2017, Smith served as a fellow at the Washington, DC-based think tank New America for five months.[2]
With representatives of Twitter, Facebook and Google, Smith provided expert testimony during the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism’s October 31, 2017 hearing focused on extremist content and Russian disinformation online.[15] In his testimony, Smith argued anonymity provided to social media users by major companies has increased the attractiveness of their technologies for terrorist groups like ISIS and he suggested that legislation should be implemented to compel tech companies to restrict VPN use on their platforms only to those whose identities they know.[16][17]
In February 2018, Smith tweeted statements about the Chinese government that were described by HuffPost and various online news commentators as racist.[18][19] New America terminated Smith’s fellowship in response to his tweet and Smith apologized for it.[20]
References
- ^ a b c d e Graham, Alison (July 29, 2016). "Charleston man on front line of intelligence monitoring by tracking ISIS social media". Post and Courier.
- ^ a b c "Michael S Smith II". LinkedIn. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
- ^ See biographical details contained in Smith’s written testimony for the October 31, 2017 Senate hearing titled “Extremist Content and Russian Disinformation Online: Working with Tech to Find Soluntions.” Testimony retrieved June 29, 2018 from the hearing page found on the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary’s website; Smith’s decision to pursue a doctorate degree versus accepting a position at the Pentagon was reported in Moore, Thad. “Charleston-based terrorism analyst feuding with top White House national security adviser.” The Post and Courier. February 23, 2017
- ^ Knibbs, Kate (February 3, 2016). "Is This Vigilante Group Fighting ISIS or Just Feeding the Media a Fat Load of Crap?". Gizmodo.
- ^ Rukmini Callimachi. “How ISIS Built the Machinery of Terror Under Europe’s Gaze.” The New York Times. March 29, 2016
- ^ Stewart, Christopher S.; Maremont, Mark (13 April 2016). "Twitter and Islamic State Deadlock on Social Media Battlefield". Wall Street Journal.
- ^ a b Harris, Shane (21 February 2017). "Conservative Pundit Sebastian Gorka Brings 'Global Jihadist Movement' Theory Into White House". Wall Street Journal.
- ^ Callimachi, Rukmini; Schmitt, Eric (September 17, 2015). "Iran Released Top Members of Al Qaeda in a Trade". New York Times.
- ^ “100 Leading Global Thinkers 2016: The Moguls.” Foreign Policy. 2016 (precise publication date not specified). Retrieved June 29, 2018
- ^ “The Most 100 Creative People in Business 2016.” Fast Company. 2016 (precise publication date not specified)
- ^ "Kronos Advisory LLC". South Carolina Secretary of State. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
- ^ Moore, Thad. “Charleston-based terrorism analyst feuding with top White House national security adviser.” The Post and Courier. February 23, 2017
- ^ Welna, David (February 24, 2017). "Criticized By Peers, White House Counterterrorism Adviser Returns Fire". NPR.
- ^ Jeff Stein. “Listen to controversial White House terrorism adviser Sebastian Gorka's angry call to a critic.” Newsweek. February 23, 2017
- ^ Kathryn Watson. “Social media sites testify before lawmakers in Russia probe - live updates.” CBS News. Last updated November 1, 2017
- ^ Rutenberg, Jim (November 5, 2017). "Terrorism Is Faster Than Twitter". New York Times.
- ^ Francis, David (August 18, 2016). "Twitter Just Suspended 235,000 Extremist Accounts. It's the Ones Still Open That Are the Problem". Foreign Policy.
- ^ Yam, Kimberly (23 February 2018). "Terrorism Analyst Fired For Racist Tweet Mocking Chinese Government". Huffington Post.
- ^ Watson, Libby (February 23, 2018). "I Cannot Believe This Racist Tweet". Splinter.
- ^ Caralle, Katelyn (23 February 2018). "Think tank analyst fired after mocking Chinese-American accent on Twitter". Washington Examiner.