March 23, 2012 — A panel discussion focused on critical incidents will convene Sunday at 1 p.m. in the Dome Room of the University of Virginia's Rotunda.

Former U.S. Attorney General Edwin Meese III will moderate a panel discussion, "Our Culture Confirmed or Confounded: Critical Incidents in the Public Eye." The talk is sponsored by the U.Va.-based Critical Incident Analysis Group.

Each panelist will provide brief remarks related to their experiences in managing and mitigating critical incidents.

Scheduled panelists include:

• Steve Tidwell, executive director of the FBI National Academy, who will discuss the formation of the FBI's Hostage Rescue Team and its preparation for the 1984 Summer Olympics.
• Shaun Casey, associate professor of Christian ethics and director of the National Capital Semester for Seminarians at Wesley Theological Seminary, who will discuss the ways in which the academic and religious studies guilds have provided expert advice to the FBI over the past two decades.
• Simeon Yates, director of the Cultural, Communication and Computing Research Institute at Sheffield Hallam University in the United Kingdoim, who will discuss the social media movement and the challenges it brings regarding civil unrest within the U.K.
• Jerry DeFrancisco, president for humanitarian services at the American Red Cross, who will discuss the unique relationship between his organization and federal government with respect to its response due to critical incidents.
• Brad Kieserman, chief counsel for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, who will focus on relevant cases based upon his domestic and international leadership experience within both the U.S. Coast Guard and FEMA.

The event is free, open to the public and will last approximately one hour and 45 minutes. For information, call 434-243-9458 or email ciag@virginia.edu.