Institutional History
2012 — 2015
Origins and Structural Identity
The concept of HEMEIS originated in Europe in 2012 as an analytical framework focused on security architectures, soft target protection, and the governance of complex systems. The name HEMEIS (from the ancient Greek meaning “WE”) reflects the integrated and collegial nature of its founding nucleus, establishing a collective operational identity rather than an individual paradigm.
In 2015, following a formal request for analytical support regarding the Sousse terrorist attack, HEMEIS established its operational base in Tunisia to conduct the required systemic assessment and to anchor subsequent capacity‑building frameworks in the region.
2015 — 2018
Institutional Architecture and Regional Standardization (ASIS International)
Between 2015 and 2017, HEMEIS provided structural security analysis and strategic advisory to Western corporations and organizations operating within North African markets.
Given the reliance of these entities on ASIS International standards, HEMEIS identified a critical institutional deficit in the Maghreb concerning non‑military, professional security benchmarks.
To address this gap, HEMEIS conceptualized and facilitated the establishment of the ASIS International Maghreb Chapter, hosting its structural activities. In February 2017, the ASIS International Board unanimously ratified the nomination of Anna Corsaro as Chairman of the newly formed Maghreb Chapter.
This structure constituted the first multi‑national jurisdiction in the history of ASIS International, integrating four sovereign states — Algeria, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia — under a unified leadership framework.Its establishment required consensus across prospective regional members, reflecting broad structural confidence in the proposed leadership.
In 2018, ASIS International formally recognized this institutional development by awarding Anna Corsaro the Meritorious Service Award at GSX Las Vegas.
ASIS MIDDLE EAST 2017 — SOFT TARGET PROTECTION PANEL
Within this institutional framework, Anna Corsaro chaired the Soft Target Protection Panel, coordinating contributions from sector authorities including Fahad Bin Mubarak Al Guthami (CEO, AMNCO), Paul Moxness (VP Corporate Safety & Security, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group), and Wilfried Covent (Senior Security Expert, Brussels Airport Company).
2017 – 2021
Strategic Validation (NATO – George Mason University)
In 2017, Anna Corsaro and Daniel Djouder were selected by George Mason University and NATO to contribute to the Science for Peace and Security Series – E: Human and Societal Dynamics (Volume 151). The institutional evaluation, peer‑review, and pre‑publication defense in Washington spanned a three‑year cycle, culminating in the official publication in 2021.
Drawing from the analytical models developed during the 2015 Sousse assessment — a baseline incident involving significant Western vulnerabilities — their chapter, “Sousse Attacks: A New Perspective on Soft Target Defense and Modern-Day Terrorism Threat”, formalized a structured diagnostic tool for soft target defense in the Mediterranean context.
This joint selection by NATO and a leading U.S. counterterrorism research institution represents the formal institutional validation of the analytical methodology developed within HEMEIS.
EVOLUTION
Epistemic Consolidation
The trajectory of HEMEIS is defined by the progressive conversion of field‑driven diagnostics into formal internal structures.
The initial SASDU framework operated as the primary matrix for isolating variables, stabilizing research discipline, and refining systemic interpretation across volatile domains such as counterterrorism and geopolitical dynamics.
This methodological evolution drove the formation of the organization’s current integrated architecture: the HSSG & SASDU Division.
Today, this consolidated structure governs the design of high‑density system models, the interpretation of complex environments, and the development of structured analytical frameworks under conditions of maximum uncertainty.