Senator Fred Thompson to Speak at SIA Government Summit

Security Industry Association (SIA)

Multi-faceted public figure is keynote speaker at annual Public Policy Dinner

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Senator Fred Thompson, known as much for his many other endeavors as for his political career, will be the keynote speaker at the Security Industry Association (SIA) annual Public Policy Dinner on June 19 at The Hamilton Live in Washington, DC. The dinner is a highlight of the SIA Government Summit, which is being held June 19-20 at the Embassy Suites Washington Convention Center Hotel in Washington DC.

Elected to the United States Senate in 1994, Senator Thompson served as Chairman of the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee, and as a member of the Finance Committee and Select Committee on Intelligence. He focused on lowering taxes, strengthening national security, and cutting wasteful government spending. In the tradition of President George Washington, a leader Thompson admired growing up, he walked away from an easy reelection victory in 2002 to seek new challenges.

Prior to his election, Thompson maintained law offices in Nashville and Washington. Earlier in his career, he served as an Assistant United States Attorney in Tennessee. In 1973, he was appointed by Senator Howard Baker to serve as Minority Counsel to the Senate Watergate Committee where Thompson first gained national attention for leading the line of inquiry that revealed the audio-taping system in the White House Oval Office. He detailed his Watergate experience in his Watergate memoir, At That Point in Time. In 1974, after the Watergate hearings concluded, Thompson returned to the practice of law.

Senator Thompson first appeared on screen in the film Marie in 1985, portraying himself in the fact-based story of a high-profile public corruption case he handled in Tennessee. Since then, he has appeared in numerous movies and television programs, including No Way Out, In the Line of Fire, Die Hard II, Days of Thunder and The Hunt for Red October and the television series China Beach,Wiseguy, and Matlock. Recently, he has become known for his portrayal of New York District Attorney Arthur Branch on the Emmy Award-winning NBC drama, Law & Order.

The SIA Government Summit, the premier public policy conference in the security industry, will kick off Monday, June 18 with the Congressional Reception from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the Rayburn Foyer of the Rayburn House Office Building. Opening remarks on the 19th will be followed by panel discussions on post 9-11 procurement; public safety from an end-user perspective; the future of access and ID management; working with foreign governments; a briefing on contracting and procurement within the defense and intelligence communities; and connecting with state and local government.

In addition to the keynote address by Thompson, SIA will present the Statesman of the Year Award during the Public Policy Dinner. The award is presented to an SIA volunteer who makes significant contributions toward the attainment of SIA’s government relations goals.

To register for the SIA Government Summit, and for the semi-formal State Policy Dinner, visit the SIA website at www.securityindustry.org/summit.


About the Security Industry Association (SIA)

The Security Industry Association (SIA) (www.securityindustry.org) is the leading trade association for electronic and physical security solution providers. SIA protects and advances its members’ interests by advocating pro-industry policies and legislation at the federal and state levels; creating open industry standards that enable integration; advancing industry professionalism through education and training; opening global market opportunities, and fostering collaboration with other like-minded organizations. As a proud sponsor of ISC Expos and Conferences, and owner of the Securing New Ground Conference, SIA ensures its members have access to top-level buyers and influencers, as well as unparalleled learning and networking opportunities.