Hostage Rescue Symposium | Dallas, TX | November 2025

HOSTAGE RESCUE SYMPOSIUM

OVERVIEW

CCI is pleased to present its debut Hostage Rescue Symposium, which will consist of three distinct sessions held November 10-14, 2025 in Dallas, Texas. This is the most advanced and comprehensive training in this subject matter for leaders in faith-based organizations. The Symposium is specifically tailored to the unique needs of:

1. The C-Suite: Executive leaders who make the final decisions on matters related to life-and-death priorities, moral and ethical uncertainties and conflicts, and choices affecting the future viability of the organization.
2. The Crisis Management Team: Leaders assigned to the daily management of the event and who are responsible for developing and executing strategies to secure the safe release of the victim(s) while protecting the organization’s values and objectives.
3. The Negotiator (by invitation only): Those persons your organization assigns to directly oversee, and in some cases conduct negotiations with the captors and perpetrators of these events.

INSTRUCTION CONTENT

This Symposium is uniquely designed to prepare each leadership level to manage and resolve incidents of kidnapping for ransom, hostage taking for ideological causes, and unlawful detentions for political reasons by hostile states. An appropriate response requires a multi-disciplinary approach, and many of these events present time challenges and even deadlines associated with threats. In many cases, third party intermediaries such as governments and families may try to take control and operate in ways that threaten the organization’s core values and even the safety of the victim(s).

There are skill sets that are similar for the roles and responsibilities of leaders in hostage crises, and other skill sets unique to each. Accordingly, this Symposium has three distinct components:

Monday’s 1-day session will address the unique questions and issues that require decisions from executive leadership — the C-Suite — such as whether or not to pay a ransom or make other concessions, whether or not to reduce or stop operations in a certain area, and how to present the organization’s actions in the most favorable manner to the news media.

Tuesday-Thursday will cover the roles and responsibilities of the Crisis Management Team with emphasis on properly assessing the situation, containing the crisis so it does not grow in scope or threat, identifying options and evaluating the risks and benefits of multiple courses of action, and implementing strategies through appropriate action steps. These two sessions are independent and content is not duplicated or repeated as we carefully steward the time
of leaders attending this Symposium.

Friday is devoted to intensive, immersive training for individuals who may be assigned or thrust into roles where they communicate directly with the adversary/perpetrator(s). This session will be limited to a small number of individuals who have a) been vetted by CCI and accepted to attend, b) who complete the Tuesday-Thursday session, and c) have completed pre-Symposium reading requirements.

INSTRUCTORS

All sessions are taught by experienced subject matter experts and veteran trainers. Instruction includes case studies and scenario-based exercises. Guest faculty will include:

• Current or former senior government officials
• Media professionals
• Veteran crisis managers
• Former hostages and their families

Bob Klamser, CCI’s Founder and Director of Hostage Services, will lead the program. With experience in over 140 international hostage, kidnap, and detention cases, Bob is a world recognized hostage negotiator and a pioneer in hostage survival and prevention training. His work includes the world’s first hostage survival course for faith-based workers and the foundation of the HEAT (Hostile Environment Awareness Training) curriculum used globally.

COSTS and DETAILS

• Session 1: C-Suite (Monday): $525
• Session 2: CMT (Tuesday-Thursday): $875
• Session 3: Negotiator (Friday, by invitation only): $350

Available discounts:

• Early registration (with payment by August 1, 2025): $50 OFF
• Multi-session attendance (Sessions 1 and 2 only): $50 OFF
• Missio Nexus or RMN membership: $25 OFF (per membership)

Registration costs include catered on-site lunch. All other expenses are the participant’s responsibility. A list of preferred hotels with conference rates will be provided upon registration.

This Symposium will be held in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area at a major training center (the exact location will be provided upon registration but will not be disclosed publicly for security reasons). DFW is the most appropriate airport destination.

For any questions, please email the CCI training team. 

** Due to sensitive content of the Symposium, participants are asked to pre-enroll using this form. Upon approval, participants will be sent a formal registration and payment link and additional details will be provided. **