YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - It's not every day you get advice from someone who is considered one of the best in your field, and Tuesday evening YSU cadets were given a private lecture from the former commissioner of the New York City Police Department.

Many of the questions asked to Kelly were on terrorism, and what local law enforcement can go to help prevent it.  "I think the best thing you can do is stay alert”, Kelly said. “Look at your world through the prism of what's going on in other parts of the world, San Bernardino, Paris, you have to be alert."

Kelly served as New York City's Police Commissioner twice, and now serves as a vice chair for a corporate investigative firm.

Kelly was the first police commissioner to develop a homeland security division within a local police department. He's worked to help fight terrorism on the federal level, but says the United States is doing about all we can to help fight terrorism. 

"The U.S. is doing pretty much everything that it can without committing American troops, and I don't think the public is ready for that,” Kelly said.

Commissioner Kelly outlined what the federal government and what local governments can do to combat terrorism, but what can the everyday citizen do to help fight terrorism in their communities? 

"If you see something suspicious, you should call the authorities and that will help us keep the entire country safe. No guarantees, we live in a dangerous world, but more citizen awareness and being alert is what the average person can do," Kelly said.