From the Doomsday Plane to the Front Lines: A Counterterrorism Career with Dexter Ingram

About the Lecture: What does it actually take to serve in national security? Dexter Ingram has lived the answer. From flying nuclear deterrent missions to coordinating strategy across 89 nations to defeat ISIS, he has operated at the highest levels of WMD prevention and counterterrorism for more than two decades. In this conversation and book signing, Dexter shares the real story behind the career paths, clearance processes, and hard lessons that shaped his journey and the journeys of those he has mentored. Drawing from his new book National Security Careers: The Ultimate Guide to Breaking In — Real Stories, Career Paths, and Insider Lessons, he offers a candid, practical guide for students and professionals ready to serve. All book proceeds support IN Network: The National Security Academy, a nonprofit dedicated to mentoring the next generation of national security professionals. About the Speaker: He once flew the nuclear "doomsday" plane. Twenty-five years later, he had coordinated strategy across 89 nations, removed nuclear material from Central Asia, and built counterterrorism frameworks on six continents. Dexter Ingram is one of the most accomplished national security leaders of his generation. As Director of the Office of Countering Violent Extremism, Dexter built multilateral programs across more than 30 nations. As Acting Director of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, he coordinated strategy among 89 nations. He served as Senior Counterterrorism Coordinator at INTERPOL in Lyon and spent a year on the ground in Afghanistan's Helmand Province. Dexter holds an MPA from the University of Oklahoma and an MA in Strategic Security Studies from the National Defense University. He serves on the boards of the International Spy Museum, NCITE (National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center), and Globally, and contributes to The Cipher Brief and Homeland Security Today. He is current student at The Institute of World Politics in the professional doctoral program in Statecraft and National Security. He is also the founder of IN Network: The National Security Academy. **Learn more about IWP graduate programs: https://www.iwp.edu/academics/graduate-degree-programs/ ***Make a gift to IWP: https://wl.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E231090&id=3