General John F. Kelly, U.S. Marine Corps (RET) gave the general session keynote address and expressed his appreciation for all first responders and security professionals. Military, law enforcement, and first responders were offered free admission to the conference on the September 11th, including the show floor, education sessions, and General Kelly’s speech. The face of security changed around the globe on September 11, 2001, and ASIS International has declared itself as proud to honour all those who work to keep our world safe and resilient.

In his remarks, General Kelly provided his distinct perspective on today’s complex political landscape. Regarding China, General Kelly shared his view that their long-term view of planning and objectives is a great advantage, adding, “China doesn’t want or expect to be in an armed conflict with the United States, but they are prepared.” In comments on Russia, he suggested that everyone should read the Mueller report and stated “the fact is that the Russians attempted to influence our election” in 2016.

General Kelly also touched on changes in Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agency structures and policies since 9/11, and described how the dramatically increased collaboration across the intelligence and enforcement agencies in recent years has made the country much safer. Terrorism is not just an American problem, he cautioned—it is a global trend, and “it’s not going away.”