Dr. Frank Shanty is a researcher, writer and published author. He holds a doctorate in international affairs and is the author of The Nexus: International Terrorism and Drug Trafficking from Afghanistan (Praeger 2011). He co-authored two published works on terrorism (DIANE Publishing, 2000, 2004) and served as general editor and contributing author for Encyclopedia of World Terrorism, Vol. 4 (M.E. Sharpe 2003), Organized Crime: From Trafficking to Terrorism (ABC-CLIO 2008) and Counterterrorism: From the Cold War to the War on Terror (Praeger 2012). Dr. Shanty also served as chief consultant and contributing author for Mafia (Millennium House 2009) and was a contributing author for The 9/11 Encyclopedia, 2nd edition (ABC-CLIO 2011). Melanie L. Shanty CRPC(R) is a financial planner and investment advisor who owns and manages a third-generation practice (40-plus years) in Towson, Maryland. She currently serves as a volunteer on the Board of Directors of the Harford-Belair Community Mental Health Association in Baltimore. She has been a board member and served in many other organizational capacities in this association for over 13 years including past president. Melanie is also a current CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) volunteer near her home in Harford County, Maryland. The CASA program helps connect court-appointed advocates to children currently in the foster care system due to abuse or neglect. She has been a volunteer in this capacity since 2007. She became involved with mental health issues in 1998 when she became primary care provider for her sister Susan, who required emotional and financial assistance throughout most of her life. Upon her mother's death in 1998, Melanie began serving as primary care provider and co-trustee of a discretionary trust for Susan, who passed away on October 6, 2011.