START 20 Years in Review

For 20 years, START has advanced research and education on the human causes and consequences of terrorism. Explore the key milestones that shaped our journey.

2005
Official launch of START’s offices at the University of Maryland

2006
START and CETIS receive funding to extend the original Global Terrorism Database (GTD)

2007
University of Maryland offers undergraduate minor in Terrorism Studies
Global Terrorism Database available online

2008
START receives $12 million renewal of its DHS Center of Excellence award

2009
START releases first Research Review
GTD data made available for download

2010
Graduate Certificate in Terrorism Studies offered through University of Maryland’s Graduate School

2011
DHS renews START’s status as a Center of Excellence for five years, with an initial round of $3.6 million in funding.

2012
START awarded nearly $1 million to improve effectiveness of emergency alert text messaging

2013
START researchers provided briefings at Capitol Hill to the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on methods to combat violent extremism and understand radicalization in the U.S.

GTD becomes U.S. Department of State’s source for terrorist incident data, featured its “Country Reports on Terrorism 2012”

2014
START launches new website.

START Executive Director testifies before Congress on state of al-Qaida

START launches a First-Year Innovation & Research Experience (FIRE) program in Risk Communication and Resilience

2015
START participates in White House Summit on Countering Violent Extremism

START hosts visiting students from Macquarie University in Australia for a 10-day workshop titled, “U.S. Perspectives on Contemporary Security Issues & U.S. – Australia Cooperation.”

2016
University of Maryland’s ICONS Project joins START

START researchers presented on Capitol Hill regarding evidence-based strategies for preventing homegrown radicalization.

2017
Profiles of Individual Radicalization in the United States (PIRUS) published on START’s website.

2018
START launches Terrorism 360 podcast featuring interviews with leading experts on terrorism.

START launches partnership with the International Islamic University Malaysia with funding from the U.S. Embassy in Kuala Lumpur.

2019
The Department of Defense (DoD) Combating Terrorism Technical Support Office (CTTSO) awards START nearly $3 million to START to enhance critical terrorism datasets.

New database the Profiles of Incidents involving CBRN and Non-State Actors (POICN) is published

2020
National Institute of Justice awards $1.5 Million to START for two new projects examining violent extremists’ radicalization, mobilization and reintegration.

START formally joins the RESOLVE Network, a global network of organizations and individuals focusing on issues related to violent extremism and community resilience.

2021
START launches fully online Master of Professional Studies (MPS) degree in Security and Terrorism Studies

START begins work on a multi-year, multi-million award with UMD’s Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security (ARLIS) for the study of asymmetric threats.

2022
START Director testifies before House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs

START, alongside We the Veterans, awarded the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention (TVTP) Grant

2023
START’s Unconventional Weapons and Technology (UWT) launches CBRN Data Suite and Portal.

2024
START’s team wins National Security Innovation Network (NSIN) Cyber Innovators Challenge, organized in partnership with the Department of Defense (DoD).

START awarded $3.5 million to collect data on terrorism and targeted violence in the United States.

2025
START turns 20!