William Banks, a Syracuse University School of Law professor who has been on the faculty since 1978, has started his tenure as the school's interim dean.

Banks, 66, who took the new post Aug. 1, is a board of advisors distinguished professor of law and founding director of the Institute for National Security and Counterterrorism, which is part of both the law school and Syracuse University's Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.

Banks teaches national security law and counterterrorism law. His current research interests include cybersecurity, the use of drones by the military and emergency and war powers.