Javed Ali

Core faculty

Javed Ali

Associate Professor of Practice

Ali is a former senior director for counterterrorism at the National Security Council, with over 20 years of professional experience in national security and intelligence issues in Washington, D.C. He served in the Defense Intelligence Agency, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, where he also held senior positions on joint duty assignments at the National Intelligence Council, the National Counterterrorism Center, and the National Security Council.

Podcasts

From A.I. to zero emissions Ford School faculty host and are featured in a variety of podcasts, covering policy topics from artificial intelligence, everyday economics, national security, and more. My job has always been to demonstrate to...

In the Media

Oath Keepers' leader sentencing may send a deterrent message - Ali

May 26, 2023 The Messenger

Javed Ali, The Messenger: While there are other sentencing rulings for other Proud Boys and Oath Keeper associates that have also yet to be handed down on the same seditious conspiracy charge, the one for Rhodes raises the bar. It may also serve as...

In the Media

Leaked documents were "highest-level" intelligence - Ali

May 5, 2023 The Christian Science Monitor

Javed Ali, The Christian Science Monitor: The documents Mr. Teixeira posted on Discord were J2 briefing slides, the highest-level intelligence product America’s intelligence community creates every day, says former Defense Intelligence Agency and...

In the Media

Ali discusses the state of intelligence spying today

May 3, 2023 CNN Audio

Ali, CNN Audio: "The volume of that information is staggering. And this is to me, one of the big challenges for not only our intelligence community, but pretty much any other country is there's so much information in this social media/Internet...

In the Media

Ali on intelligence leak: reevaluate clearances and procedures

May 2, 2023 Federal Newswire

Javed Ali, Federal Newswire: It's a pretty remarkable story when you think about it, and it's so brazen. But what I thought about when I was in government, and now that I've been out for the last few years, [is that the] system is pretty fragile....

In the Media

Cartels should be seen as terrorist orgs - Ali

Apr 27, 2023 The Why

Javed Ali, The Why: This is not a separate authorization to use military force. And I think that's getting lost in the debate about this. But certainly when it comes to just giving folks in that counterterrorism in law enforcement world, more tools...

In the Media

Ali examines the details and consequences of the leaked Pentagon documents

Apr 27, 2023 CHML

Javed Ali, CHML: "I am less concerned about what Jack Teixeira revealed and more concerned about how he revealed these...

In the Media

Ali details possible charges for Pentagon leaks suspect

Apr 14, 2023 ABC Australia

Javed Ali, ABC Australia: "The formal charges haven't been released by the Department of Justice, but I would have to imagine there are several potential charges that would be pursued. Amongst those, the most serious would be violations of the...

In the Media

Ali discusses implications of Pentagon leaks

Apr 14, 2023 TRT World

Javed Ali, TRT World: "Part of the challenge that this incident has revealed is that there are thousands if not tens of thousands within this very vast and very broad intelligence enterprise and community that have access to these types of materials...

In the Media

Ali calls for reforms to protect U.S. secrets

Apr 14, 2023 The Cipher Brief

Javed Ali, The Cipher Brief: "As information emerges as to the possible origins and extent of the leak of highly sensitive intelligence materials produced within the Pentagon, significant effort must now be directed at the national level to close...

In the Media

Ali discusses Pentagon security leak with CBC

Apr 13, 2023 CBC

Javed Ali, CBC: "The good news is that the U.S. intelligence community every day tries to develop a really robust picture of what the world looks like through the lens of our unique capabilities here in the United States. And what are the threats...

News

Ali provides insight into leaked Pentagon documents

Apr 12, 2023

Documents leaked from the Pentagon created a media firestorm, leaving many questions in the minds of Americans. With over 20 years of experience in intelligence, Javed Ali, associate professor of practice, provided analysis on some of the biggest...

In the Media

FBI warning about public USB charging ports shows sophistication - Ali

Apr 11, 2023 ABC News

Javed Ali, ABC News: "The tweet's message that public USB ports have been used by 'bad actors' as points of origin to load malware or spyware on electronic devices connected to those public charging stations suggests a fairly high level of technical...

In the Media

Ali discusses possible designation of Mexican cartels as terrorist organizations

Apr 1, 2023 CBS News

Javed Ali, CBS News: "This level of activity is absolutely having an impact on our national security, more from the flow of drugs in the U.S. than the targeting of Americans in Mexico. But it still gives you another tool. Why not use it when the...

Publication

Ali calls for designation of K-12 schools as 'critical infrastructure'

Mar 29, 2023

As school shootings continue to be a problem facing America, policymakers can't seem to make progress when it comes to a response, whether that be improved mental health resources or gun control. Frustrated with the lackluster response, Javed Ali,...

In the Media

Ali calls for school safety improvements

Mar 29, 2023 USA Today

Javed Ali, USA Today: "Every shooter seems to be driven by different factors. We need to raise the bar in terms of security to either deter people from thinking about conducting attacks or minimize the impacts of attacks when one does indeed occur....

In the Media

Ali analyzes congressional hearing on threat of TikTok

Mar 23, 2023 ABC News

Javed Ali, ABC News: "There definitely is a lot of skepticism right now on the Hill, despite the claims from the TikTok CEO about these steps or actions the company has taken to minimize the risk. But I have been listening to the voices of my former...

In the Media

Ali analyzes benefits of designating drug cartels as terrorists

Mar 20, 2023 Federal Newswire

Javed Ali, Federal Newswire: "One of the biggest developments would be bringing material support to terrorism charges against Mexican cartels if so designated by the State Department [and approved by Congress]. These charges have been effective post...

In the Media

Ali calls for early warning system for white power activity

Mar 17, 2023 Capital News Service

Javed Ali, Capital News Service: "There needs to be a better effort or early warning system to have conversations with folks about what we need to do and what can we do legally and pulling in law enforcement early as well. Not to make an arrest...

In the Media

Ali discusses Russian aircraft incident over Black Sea

Mar 14, 2023 Newsweek

Javed Ali, Newsweek: "[The downing of the drone] serves as a stark reminder of the potential for small-scale incidents like this to further heighten tensions between both sides and possibly trigger unintended escalation in response. The Biden...

In the Media

Ali on designating drug cartels as terrorist organizations

Mar 10, 2023 Texas Public Radio

Javed Ali, Texas Public Radio: "It's a complicated process for any organization to be designated by the United States as a foreign terrorist organization. The State Department and our government take the lead for that. If a designation were to...

In the Media

'Cop City' protests weren't peaceful - Ali

Mar 10, 2023 Christian Science Monitor

Javed Ali, Christian Science Monitor: "More and more, state prosecutors are using domestic terrorism statutes for different crimes being committed, whether they’re extremist-related or school shootings. (The incident in Atlanta) wasn’t just a...

News

Declaring Mexican cartels as terrorists could help combat threats to US national security

Mar 9, 2023

Republican attorneys general from 21 states are calling on President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken to declare Mexican drug cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations. They argue that the cartels pose a threat to U.S. national...

In the Media

Ali: No authority to use military force to fight drug cartels

Mar 7, 2023 AFP

Javed Ali, AFP: "Unless this resolution or any similar one becomes law, there is currently no explicit legal authority that the president has that directly approves military operations against drug cartels in Mexico. (If there was an attack on US...

In the Media

Ali weighs in on threat to Michigan's Jewish officials

Mar 2, 2023 ABC News

Javed Ali, ABC News: "As the ADL and other organizations have recently noted, there remains a high level of threats from individuals with white supremacist and neo-Nazi views against Jewish communities across the United States. Twitter and other...

In the Media

Ali discusses China-Russia relationship

Feb 25, 2023 Newsweek

Javed Ali, Newsweek: "Xi has to make a decision about how to manage that relationship with Russia, and what's most important about that in the fight against Ukraine versus China's biggest strategic ambitions. If the intelligence case was that China...

News

Russia-Ukraine, one year later: Ford School experts can discuss

Feb 23, 2023

University of Michigan Ford School of Public Policy experts can discuss Russia's full-scale attack on Ukraine and the ensuing war as the one-year anniversary approaches. Javed Ali, associate professor of practice at the Ford School, is a former...

A map of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, February 24, 2022

In the Media

Ali analyzes unique Chinese spy balloon incident

Feb 17, 2023 ABC Australia

Javed Ali, ABC Australia: "Over the past week, I would say this is a pretty unusual set of developments from a U.S. national security perspective. And now that I've had a little bit of time to think about it and see how the story is evolving, it's a...

News

Ali analyzes Chinese spy balloons with NPR Marketplace

Feb 14, 2023

In the last week, the U.S. has shot down four different objects in U.S. and Canadian airspace. One of those has been confirmed as a Chinese surveillance balloon. Javed Ali, associate professor of practice, provided his expertise to NPR Marketplace,...