Gary LaFree is Distinguished University Professor Emeritus of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Maryland. He formerly served as the Director of the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START). Professor LaFree's remarkable career includes serving as President of the American Society of Criminology and receiving numerous accolades, such as the Stockholm Prize and the Sutherland Award. His research focuses on the causes and consequences of illegal violence, he also authored over 140 articles and book chapters, and eight books, making significant contributions to the fields of criminology and terrorism studies.