Benjamin T Decker Email & Phone Number

Greater Boston Area

Memetica is a digital investigations consultancy providing intelligence and risk advisory services on a variety of strategic issues relating to coordinated harassment, disinformation, and violent extremism. Using a combination of open-source and human intelligence gathering practices, we support strategic partners in the media and technology sectors to address emerging hybrid threats by streamlining intervention approaches to curb imminent harms and reduce long-term structural vulnerabilities.

Cambridge, Massachusetts

I primarily focus on information warfare and the weaponization of information on the Internet. Over the past year, I have conducted research into the network propaganda effect of far-right and extremist ideologies on fringe social media platforms, measuring their impact on mainstream social media conversations about American politics.

Greater New York City Area

Storyful is the first news agency of the social media age. We help newsrooms find the most valuable content on the social web.Since 2010, Storyful has been building and refining the first truly social newsroom. We have perfected our techniques, tools and services in partnership with some of the biggest news brands in the world, including ABC News, Reuters and the New York Times, and social platforms such as YouTube.

The Levantine Group is a Middle East-based geopolitical risk and research consultancy. Through our combination of in-depth strategic risk assessments and near-real-time intelligence monitoring, we provide holistic insight on critical issues to drive informed decision-making. We maintain dedicated relationships with a distinct group of professionals who are unified in their need for a trustworthy, efficient ‘local source,’ focusing on the diplomatic, media, and corporate sectors. ​

Jordan

Established alongside Max Holland, the Skyrocket Light Project seeks to address the sexual violence against Syrian refugees that occurs in the Zataari Refugee Camp in Jordan. For more information, please refer to our website: http://zaatarilights.tumblr.com

Tel Aviv

I authored daily news updates on political and security developments in Israel, Gaza, the West Bank, Turkey, Syria, & Iraq.

Tel Aviv

Middle East and North Africa region Intelligence Analyst for Max Security Solutions, specializing in Iraq and Syria.Max Security Solutions is a global leader in providing comprehensive, client-tailored risk-mitigation solutions. From executive protection and travel security, to facility consulting and intelligence, we strive to enable our client’s business continuity in the world’s most complex operating environments.

Israel

I completed my M.A. in Middle Eastern Studies, with a focus on Arab and Persian social movements and their use of ICT's in the development of civil society. For my Masters thesis, I authored a comparative analysis of civil society development under the Khatami and Ahmadinejad administrations.

Greater New York City Area

Website development, content development, analytics data, social media management, and coordination of fundraising efforts.

Global

RSC is a mashup duo comprised of Ben Decker and Zach Gorman, which was founded in the summer of 2011 after the two began spinning together in Washington DC. The duo have also performed in New York and Pennsylvania and recently launched solo producer careers in Tel Aviv and Washington DC respectively.

Israel

The Tel Aviv-based news-blog was launched during the recent conflict between Gaza and Israel during the time that rocket sirens rung throughout the city. Since then it has become a hub of local news and discussion regarding the weekly political-military goings on in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank, and articles have been syndicated on Enduring America (www.enduringamerica.com) and the Jerusalem Post (www.jpost.com)

Washington D.C. Metro Area

I coordinated the research and development of case studies on nonviolent civic movements, English language online content and web design, bilingual English & Persian social media and advertising strategies, e-learning curriculum development, outreach and fundraising efforts.

As an intern at the Hudson Institute, I had the opportunity to do research within the Center on Islam, Democracy and the Future of the Muslim World and the Center for Future Security Strategies from May to August of 2008 in Washington D.C. I participated in a red-celling exercise analyzing future security scenarios within the Middle East with a primary focus on Shiite state and non-state actors. In addition to the red-celling exercise, I submitted papers on the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. Quds Force and their terror activities as well as providing analysis of Senator McCain and Senator Obama’s foreign policy agendas regarding the Middle East. Within the Center for Future Security Strategies, I researched Post-Soviet defense-policy pertaining to the Middle East and contributed to a monograph entitled “Kazakhstan In Its Neighborhood”.

As an intern at the Truman Institute, I participated in the research group entitled “Iran in Global Perspectives” from September to December of 2007 during my semester abroad in Jerusalem. Contributing as a research intern attached to that project, I researched the Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. and its participation in global terrorism since its creation in the early 1980’s. While uncovering a great deal about terror activity in South America, Europe, the Levant and the Arabian Peninsula, I was primarily focused on the Quds Force’s sponsorship of Iraqi insurgents since the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. Since little was known about the Quds Force prior to 2007, I was also assigned the task of compiling a history of the Quds Force and investigating its operational structure. In addition to my research and the papers that I produced, I had the opportunity to improve my public speaking by presenting my findings at weekly meetings.

B.A. Summa Cum Laude, Middle Eastern And South Asian Studies

Activities and Societies: Alpha Epsilon Pi, Emory College Honors ProgramThrough the Emory College Honors Program, I completed my.

Master'S Degree, Middle Eastern Studies

Activities and Societies: Dayan Center intern, Cloudy With a Chance of Fajr (Outside of the University), Enduring America Contributor.