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Trump Appoints 22-Year-Old Ex-Gardener and Grocery Store Assistant to Lead U.S. Terror Prevention

William Braniff headed it prior to Fugate being appointed.

This is Braniff’s background below.

Anyone notice any differences?


—————


William Braniff, the former head of the Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships (CP3) at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has a robust background in national security, counterterrorism, and terrorism prevention. Here is a detailed overview of his background:
  • Education:
    • United States Military Academy: Braniff graduated from West Point, earning a bachelor’s degree.
    • Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS): He received a master’s degree in international relations.
  • Military Service:
    • Served as an Armor Officer in the U.S. Army, achieving the rank of Company Commander.
  • Professional Experience:
    • Director of CP3, DHS (April 2023 – March 2025): Led DHS efforts to prevent targeted violence and terrorism through a public health-informed approach, managing a multidisciplinary team that included law enforcement, public health officials, social workers, and mental health professionals. He oversaw the $18 million Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention (TVTP) grant program.
    • Executive Director, National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START), University of Maryland (2012 – 2023): Served as executive director (2012–2018) and director (2018–2023), leading research and education on terrorism and counterterrorism. He was also a professor of the practice at the university.
    • West Point’s Combating Terrorism Center (CTC): Served as director of practitioner education, overseeing the largest counterterrorism education program for government audiences, and as an instructor in the Department of Social Sciences.
    • Foreign Affairs Specialist, National Nuclear Security Agency: Worked on international security issues following his military service.
    • Executive Director, Polarization & Extremism Research and Innovation Lab (PERIL), American University (March 2025 – Present): Currently leads PERIL, focusing on evidence-based tools to prevent radicalization and violent extremism. He is also a research assistant professor in the Department of Justice, Law, and Criminology.
  • Key Contributions and Activities:
    • Frequently lectured for counterterrorism audiences, including the FBI, Joint Special Operations University, National Defense University, and other federal agencies.
    • Testified before Congress five times on topics related to terrorism, counterterrorism, and global jihadism.
    • Spoke at high-profile events, including the White House Summit on Countering Violent Extremism (2015) and the United We Stand Summit (2022).
    • Served on advisory boards, including the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism-The Hague, RESOLVE Network, and Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism.
    • Founding board member of We the Veterans, an organization focused on strengthening American democracy.
    • Recipient of the 2024 Homeland Security Today National Award for Excellence in Outreach – Public Health for CP3’s efforts.
  • Resignation from CP3: Braniff resigned from CP3 in March 2025, citing the Trump administration’s termination of eight probationary employees as a key factor. He emphasized the critical importance of CP3’s mission to prevent terrorism, noting the high demand for its services from state governments, law enforcement, schools, and workplaces.
Braniff’s extensive experience in terrorism studies, counterterrorism education, and prevention strategies, combined with his military background and academic credentials, made him a highly qualified leader in national security before transitioning to his current role at PERIL
 
RetiredAtLast said:
WOW! He must really be bright!
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The thing is leadership role require more than being bright, since there's experience leading people and managing budget allocation that's required. This wouldn't fly in the private sector, and I think you know that.
:)
 
mike2810 said:
What makes Trump's current press sect. qualified in your opinion?
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She’s a graduate in Communications and Political Science and worked in the White House Office of Presidential Correspondence.
 
Emlee said:
William Braniff headed it prior to Fugate being appointed.

This is Braniff’s background below.

Anyone notice any differences?


—————


William Braniff, the former head of the Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships (CP3) at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has a robust background in national security, counterterrorism, and terrorism prevention. Here is a detailed overview of his background:
  • Education:
    • United States Military Academy: Braniff graduated from West Point, earning a bachelor’s degree.
    • Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS): He received a master’s degree in international relations.
  • Military Service:
    • Served as an Armor Officer in the U.S. Army, achieving the rank of Company Commander.
  • Professional Experience:
    • Director of CP3, DHS (April 2023 – March 2025): Led DHS efforts to prevent targeted violence and terrorism through a public health-informed approach, managing a multidisciplinary team that included law enforcement, public health officials, social workers, and mental health professionals. He oversaw the $18 million Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention (TVTP) grant program.
    • Executive Director, National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START), University of Maryland (2012 – 2023): Served as executive director (2012–2018) and director (2018–2023), leading research and education on terrorism and counterterrorism. He was also a professor of the practice at the university.
    • West Point’s Combating Terrorism Center (CTC): Served as director of practitioner education, overseeing the largest counterterrorism education program for government audiences, and as an instructor in the Department of Social Sciences.
    • Foreign Affairs Specialist, National Nuclear Security Agency: Worked on international security issues following his military service.
    • Executive Director, Polarization & Extremism Research and Innovation Lab (PERIL), American University (March 2025 – Present): Currently leads PERIL, focusing on evidence-based tools to prevent radicalization and violent extremism. He is also a research assistant professor in the Department of Justice, Law, and Criminology.
  • Key Contributions and Activities:
    • Frequently lectured for counterterrorism audiences, including the FBI, Joint Special Operations University, National Defense University, and other federal agencies.
    • Testified before Congress five times on topics related to terrorism, counterterrorism, and global jihadism.
    • Spoke at high-profile events, including the White House Summit on Countering Violent Extremism (2015) and the United We Stand Summit (2022).
    • Served on advisory boards, including the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism-The Hague, RESOLVE Network, and Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism.
    • Founding board member of We the Veterans, an organization focused on strengthening American democracy.
    • Recipient of the 2024 Homeland Security Today National Award for Excellence in Outreach – Public Health for CP3’s efforts.
  • Resignation from CP3: Braniff resigned from CP3 in March 2025, citing the Trump administration’s termination of eight probationary employees as a key factor. He emphasized the critical importance of CP3’s mission to prevent terrorism, noting the high demand for its services from state governments, law enforcement, schools, and workplaces.
Braniff’s extensive experience in terrorism studies, counterterrorism education, and prevention strategies, combined with his military background and academic credentials, made him a highly qualified leader in national security before transitioning to his current role at PERIL
Click to expand...
In the current administration none of this matters, and what does is how much fealty is paid, yet some of the MAGA parrots talk about "meritocracy" when whinging about "DEI hires" who all likely had better CVs for their roles than Fugate has for this one. It's a joke.
 
bongsaway said:
If nothing else, the folks on the right have turned it into a clerical job. It never ceases to amaze me the shit the right comes up with to protect their own. Trump appointed him, it must be ok.
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The folks on the left condemn the selection, neither knowing nor saying anything about him except that he's young. All that proves is that the left spends it's time and energy on personal attacks, both on the individual and on Trump, instead of issues that just might contribute to the well-being of the country. And they wonder why only 27% of voters think they might have their shit together.
 
Napoleon said:
She’s a graduate in Communications and Political Science and worked in the White House Office of Presidential Correspondence.
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Jean-Pierre has a masters in public affairs.
 
RetiredAtLast said:
The folks on the left condemn the selection, neither knowing nor saying anything about him except that he's young. All that proves is that the left spends it's time and energy on personal attacks, both on the individual and on Trump, instead of issues that just might contribute to the well-being of the country. And they wonder why only 27% of voters think they might have their shit together.
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Incorrect. Much of the commentary has been his lack of experience, which is reflected by the removal of his CV from LinkedIn which is where people sourced his non job related roles to date.
 
Questerr said:
I’m asking the conservatives who claim she wasn’t qualified.
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" "Other than Sean Spicer ... she was the worst press secretary in American history," a third House Democrat told Axios of Jean-Pierre."

""There were rumors that the Biden folks were trying to get rid of her because she's so terrible," the lawmaker said"

"I don't know who wrote her book. We know she couldn't give a press conference without reading every word from her briefing,"

Jean-Pierre has also been lit up by her former Biden White House colleagues, with one former official telling Axios' Alex Thompson she was "one of the most ineffectual and unprepared people I've ever worked with."

Said another: "The amount of time that was spent coddling [Jean-Pierre] and appeasing her was astronomical compared to our attention on actual matters of substance."

Had enough?
 
RetiredAtLast said:
" "Other than Sean Spicer ... she was the worst press secretary in American history," a third House Democrat told Axios of Jean-Pierre."

""There were rumors that the Biden folks were trying to get rid of her because she's so terrible," the lawmaker said"

"I don't know who wrote her book. We know she couldn't give a press conference without reading every word from her briefing,"

Jean-Pierre has also been lit up by her former Biden White House colleagues, with one former official telling Axios' Alex Thompson she was "one of the most ineffectual and unprepared people I've ever worked with."

Said another: "The amount of time that was spent coddling [Jean-Pierre] and appeasing her was astronomical compared to our attention on actual matters of substance."

Had enough?
Click to expand...
She lasted longer than Scaramucci though.
:)
 
RetiredAtLast said:
" "Other than Sean Spicer ... she was the worst press secretary in American history," a third House Democrat told Axios of Jean-Pierre."

""There were rumors that the Biden folks were trying to get rid of her because she's so terrible," the lawmaker said"

"I don't know who wrote her book. We know she couldn't give a press conference without reading every word from her briefing,"

Jean-Pierre has also been lit up by her former Biden White House colleagues, with one former official telling Axios' Alex Thompson she was "one of the most ineffectual and unprepared people I've ever worked with."

Said another: "The amount of time that was spent coddling [Jean-Pierre] and appeasing her was astronomical compared to our attention on actual matters of substance."

Had enough?
Click to expand...

Being bad doesn’t mean you are unqualified.
 
Napoleon said:
That’s like asking why it’s a bad idea to hire a rent-a-cop for Doritos to lead the Secret Service.
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Being a rent a cop and Secret Service agent have the same qualifications?
 
CaughtInThe said:
Good job MAGA voters



Thomas Fugate




"The inexperienced 22-year-old reportedly tasked by Donald Trump with tackling U.S. extremism was working as a neighborhood gardener just five years ago and in a grocery store as recently as August 2023, the Daily Beast can reveal.

Thomas Fugate, who graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio just 12 months ago, is currently heading up the Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships at the DHS, as first reported by ProPublica Tuesday.

...

But according to the youngster’s LinkedIn page, Fugate has almost no experience in this field—and in 2020 was working as a self-employed ‘Landscape Business Owner.’

...

Fugate set up a political Instagram account last year, where his profile contains the motto, “Men used to do great things. I believe they still can."







Thomas Fugate at the Republican National Convention
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And his parents donated how much to the Trump campaign?
 
ElChupacabra said:
Incorrect. Much of the commentary has been his lack of experience,
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My point exactly. Other than a couple of college jobs, the left knows or says nothing about him. I don't know any more than you do, but I don't condemn him simply because of his age or who hired him.
 
Questerr said:
Being bad doesn’t mean you are unqualified.
Click to expand...
When it comes to the public face of the Administration, I think it does. You're free, of course, to make any excuses for her that you like.
 
Napoleon said:
You don’t need 87 PhDs and a gazillion years of experience to fundraise and fill out grant paperwork. This is entry-level work with a fancy title.
Click to expand...

👆 worst defense of this "appointment" so far.
 
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