Dr. Sean Lawler earned his Doctor of Management Degree within the field of Homeland Security Studies from Colorado Technical University. Dr. Lawler is also a 1992 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, where he studied engineering, political science, and national security studies, and he is a graduate of Strayer University where he earned a Master of Science Degree in Business Administration. Dr. Lawler’s doctoral research and dissertation study focused upon strategies for the disruption of an active shooter event or terrorist attack upon an American school or church.
Dr. Lawler is currently a Supervisory Special Agent with the US Department of Justice/Drug Enforcement Administration. As the chief of the DEA’s Aviation Division Training Department, Special Agent Lawler oversees and directs all of his division’s training events worldwide. Special Agent Lawler also serves as a DEA Tactical Instructor, Firearms Instructor, Active Shooter Instructor, and Standardization Instructor Pilot. Additionally, Special Agent Lawler is a Nationally-Registered Emergency Medical Technician (NREMT) and participates in DEA’s robust tactical medic program.
Prior to joining DEA, Dr. Lawler was a Major in the US Air Force where he served as a Human Intelligence (HUMINT) Case Officer, a KC-10 Aircraft Commander, a Standardization Instructor Pilot in the T-34C, and a Combat Interrogator. Dr. Lawler is currently an Air Force Academy Liaison Officer (ALO) for the Dallas/Fort Worth area where he conducts interviews of prospective candidates during the Academy’s application process.
Dr. Lawler is a school board member of Bethesda Christian School in Fort Worth. Following the attack at Sandy Hook Elementary School, Bethesda Christian School formed a school security advisory committee—an action whichDr. Lawler had recommended taking two years before the attack occurred. Dr. Lawler was a founding member of this security committee and his recommendations have been a large part of Bethesda’s enhanced security posture. Dr. Lawler regularly conducts academic instruction for these teachers, federal employees, and civilian contract employees, as well as realistic scenario-based training exercises designed to deter, disrupt, and defeat any violent attack upon a school, church, or federal facility.
SESSIONS
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THE NEUROSCIENCE OF SURVIVAL: OVERCOMING COGNITIVE DEFICITS DURING LIFE-THREATENING EVENTS
Research indicated that a large percentage of the general population does not and will not respond effectively during a life-threatening event. However, an understanding of the neurological basis of the brain’s “fight or flight” response provides clues on how to avoid the resultant “freezing” behavior. Instead, a “challenge response” must be developed through the use of scenario-based training.
Learning Objectives and Participant OutcomesParticipants will learn the neurological response to life threats and how to overcome cognitive obstacles through scenario-based training.
Learning Objectives- Learn the neurological basis of the physiological fear response
- Understand how perceptual distortions affect cognitive processes during life-threatening events
- Understand the necessity of realistic, scenario-based training
- Learn basic emergency medical techniques to stop massive bleeding and treat for hypoperfusion (shock)
- Eliminate attitudes of denial and instead create an optimum school safety climate and culture
- Explain the neurological basis of the body’s fear response
- Describe the perceptual distortions which are often experienced during periods of extreme stress
- Identify the components of effective staff security training
- Describe tactical medical procedures to stop massive bleeding and treat for hypoperfusion (shock)
- Describe what you can do to foster “buy-in” and eliminate attitudes of denial with regard to safety and security training
SOCIAL MEDIA AND ELECTRONIC SCREEN ADDICTION: THE LATEST RESEARCH WHICH EVERY PARENT NEEDS
Research indicates that social media, video games, and interactive electronic screens have addictive properties. Moreover recent research has linked social media addiction in US adolescent females to anxiety, depressive symptoms, and suicidal outcomes. In children, excessive screen usage is linked to increased aggression, lower standardized test scores, and disruption of brain myelination.Learning Objectives and Participant Outcomes
Participants will gain an understanding of the problematic effects of excessive screen usage and learn strategies to mitigate these effects.
Learning Objectives- Gain awareness of problematic screen usage and links to lower standardized test scores
- Learn casual links between social media usage and anxiety, depressive symptoms, and suicidal outcomes
- Learn the similarities between addiction and other forms of addiction
- Learn how excessive screen usage disrupts delicate brain formation processes in younger children
- Learn strategies for building appropriate screen habits
- Explain how excessive screen usage increases aggression and lowers standardized test scores
- Identify linkages between social media usage and anxiety, depressive symptoms, and suicidal outcomes
- Explain how social media addiction is similar to drug addiction
- Describe how excessive screen use can disrupt the delicate myelination process in the developing brain
- Identify methods for detoxifying the brain from negative screen habits