Event Information

Date:

Location: Maggiano’s 111 W. Grand Avenue, Chicago

Speaker: G. Michael Verden

Program Title:
Charlie Kirk Assassination: After Action Report

Program Description

On September 10, 2025, Charlie Kirk was assassinated at a rally on the campus of Utah Valley University (UVU). Following that tragedy, UVU hired The Lake Forest Group (TLFG) to conduct a comprehensive, independent review and after-action report of the events at UVU leading up to and immediately following September 10th. The purpose of this project was to:

• Establish a clear and factual account of what occurred.
• Analyze the incident, including contributing factors.
• Evaluate the university’s security and emergency preparation and response actions and protocols.
• Recommend enhancements to current practices informed by the incident.

Learning Objectives

• Learn about the timeline of events surrounding the TPUSA program at UVU. This timeline will document all relevant dates and times and provide concise descriptions of the individuals and agencies involved, the actions they took and key decisions they made, and the resulting outcomes. This chronology clearly identifies the critical decision points and contributing factors that influenced event planning, coordination, and operational execution.
• Review and evaluation of the evaluation of the emergency preparedness posture and the response to the September 10, 2025, incident. Our assessment integrates stakeholder interviews, policy and protocol reviews, operational analysis, and benchmarking against national best practices for higher education, large-scale events, and active assailant response.
• Summary of Final Comprehensive After-Action Report:
• Executive Summary: A concise overview focused on lessons learned. Where performance was effective, where improvements are warranted, and how the institution can strengthen a security environment grounded in collaboration, transparency, and coordinated action.
• Detailed Findings and Observations: A comprehensive analysis of prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery efforts before, during, and after the incident.
• Actionable Recommendations: Prioritized, measurable recommendations directly tied to the issues identified in the findings. Each recommendation is specific, practical, and designed to support implementable improvements rather than theoretical guidance.