Personnel / Staff
Walter Purdy, Vice President , TRC Training and Special Projects
Walter Purdy created and currently directs the Terrorism Research Center's Training and Special Projects Office. Over eight years ago he created "Mirror Image: Training to Combat Terrorism based upon his previous research and work in the Middle East. For the last ten years he has developed and directed all of the TRC's Training and Special Projects which has trained thousands of law enforcement, military and intelligence personnel. Mr. Purdy has undertaken a number of special projects and research projects and has supported efforts for a number of government agencies and private entities. Mr. Purdy's educational background includes receiving a Bachelor's Degree and a Juris Doctorate. Mr. Purdy has served in the United States Marine Corps and has traveled extensively to include the Middle East, and Asia.
Ed Reed, Senior Director, TRC Training and Special Projects
Ed Reed is the former Program Manager for the Terrorism Early Warning Group (TEW) Expansion Project and currently serves TRC as Senior Program Director. Col Reed has been instrumental in the coordination and stand up of numerous cities TEW groups. Mr. Reed also is a training team member of Mirror Image, TRC’s intensive, one-week classroom and field training program, designed to realistically simulate terrorist recruiting, training techniques and operational tactics. Previously, Col. Reed was the Program Manager Pierce County, Washington Department of Emergency Management for seven years. During that timeframe, he successfully established and administered a TEW, modeled after the Los Angles TEW group. Col. Reed graduated from Eastern Washington State College and received a Master’s of Science degree in Public Administration from Shippensburg University in 1990. He served in the US Army for 28 years in a variety of command and staff assignments both in the US and overseas, he retired from the Army in 1995. His military awards include; two awards of the Silver Star Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, two awards of the Legion of Merit, Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman Badge, In 2002 he was recognized as Pierce County’s top employee with a Standing Ovation award.
Betty G. O'Hearn, Training Operations Manager, TRC Training and Special Projects
Betty has been with the Terrorism Research Center since 2001. Her background was in Information Warfare, Information Operation, and Cyber Terrorism. Betty has helped manage TRC’s training as Mirror Image for eight years and rotates throughout the program where needed.Betty handles all registrations, contracting, logistics, and issues relevant to scheduling and travel for all SME’s and staff. She also coordinates some of the training programs TRC does around the country. Ms. O’Hearn was instrumental in development and management of the conference InfoWarCon for many years. She is an active member of The Electronic Warfare and Information Operations Association, and Federation of American Scientists. She also participates in several list-serv’s relevant to Information Operations and Cyberterrorism. Ms. O'Hearn holds several degrees and has attended Temple Univeristy, Old Dominion University, Brazosport Community College, and University of South Florida.
Terry Buchanan, Associate Director, TRC Training and Special Projects
Terry Buchanan has both a Military and Law Enforcement background having served a 6 year contract in the United States Army Infantry and 22 years in Law Enforcement. Mr. Buchanan is a graduate of Kaplan University’s Terrorism & National Security Management program and a graduate of the Southern Police Institute’s, Police Executive Leadership Graduate program and Administrative Officer’s Course with the University of Louisville. Mr. Buchanan worked as a Department of Defense Contractor in Anti-terrorism programs worldwide for the past eight years. Mr. Buchanan has worked with the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Foreign Deployed Advisory Support Teams (FAST) from 2004 to 2009 in Afghanistan building a Counter Narcotics training academy and training foreign national narcotics interdiction teams. Mr. Buchanan set up and managed training programs responsible for training more than ten thousand foreign nationals in Border Security and Narcotics Interdiction.Mr. Buchanan continues to serve with a North Carolina law enforcement agency and works part time with the North Carolina Community College system as a Law Enforcement Academy Instructor. Buchanan has received his Advanced Law Enforcement Certification issued through the North Carolina Department of Justice and holds numerous other certifications through the North Carolina Department of Justice Training & Standards Division.Mr. Buchanan is a certified North Carolina Department of Justice General Instructor, specialized firearms instructor, private protective services instructor, National Rifle Association certified hand/shotgun Instructor, rifle/carbine instructor and a concealed weapons instructor. Mr. Buchanan has worked and traveled extensively throughout the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe and South America.