The Intelligence and National Security Alliance (INSA) is a non-profit

Non-profit organization

Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...

, nonpartisan

Nonpartisan

In political science, nonpartisan denotes an election, event, organization or person in which there is no formally declared association with a political party affiliation....

  501(c)(6) professional organization for members of the United States Intelligence Community

United States Intelligence Community

The United States Intelligence Community is a cooperative federation of 16 separate United States government agencies that work separately and together to conduct intelligence activities considered necessary for the conduct of foreign relations and the protection of the national security of the...

, based in Arlington, Virginia.

History

INSA was established as the Security Affairs Support Association (SASA) in 1979 to bring together professionals in the intelligence field, primarily focused on the National Security Agency, and to help members staying abreast of intelligence and national security community issues. SASA's main office was in Annapolis Junction, Maryland

Annapolis Junction, Maryland

Annapolis Junction is an unincorporated community in Howard County, Maryland, United States.-Demographics:The ZIP Code for Annapolis Junction is 20701. 2000 Census for 20701*Population 40*Median age 31.5 years*Single family homes 6...

.

In November 2005, SASA's Board of Directors voted to change its name to the Intelligence and National Security Alliance (INSA), so as to expand its reach across the intelligence and national security communities and better serve the community in the aftermath of the creation of the office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI).

Mission

INSA is the premier intelligence and national security organization that provides a unique venue for collaboration, networking and examination of policy issues and solutions. Representing an unprecedented alliance among senior leaders from the public, private and academic sectors, INSA members form an unparalleled community of experts that collaborate to develop creative, innovative and timely solutions to the intelligence and national security issues facing the United States.

INSA is a non-profit, non-partisan, public-private organization that works to promote and recognize the highest standards within the national security and intelligence communities. INSA members include current and former high-ranking intelligence, military and government agency leaders, analysts, and experts from industry and academia. Drawing on the experience and expertise of this membership, the Intelligence and National Security Alliance provides the thought leadership that identifies crucial intelligence topics, completes strategic research and promotes innovative solutions.

INSA has over 130 corporate members, as well as several hundred individual members, who are industry leaders within the government, private sector, and academia.

The current President is Ellen McCarthy, who has served as Director of the Human Capital Management Office and Acting Director of Security within the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence

Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence

The Under Secretary for Intelligence or USD is a high-ranking civilian position in the Office of the Secretary of Defense within the U.S. Department of Defense that acts as the principal advisor and deputy to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense on matters relating to intelligence...

 and Director of Intelligence Operations, Strategy and Policy for the United States Coast Guard.

Former Homeland Security Advisor to President George W. Bush, Frances Townsend

Frances Townsend

Frances M. Fragos Townsend is the former Homeland Security Advisor to United States President George W. Bush and TV personality. Townsend was appointed to this position by President Bush on May 28, 2004. Her resignation was announced November 19, 2007...

, serves as chairwoman of INSA's Board of Directors. She follows John O. Brennan

John O. Brennan

John O. Brennan is chief counterterrorism advisor to U.S. President Barack Obama; officially his title is Deputy National Security Advisor for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism, and Assistant to the President...

 who left INSA in 2008 to become Deputy National Security Advisor to President Barack Obama

Barack Obama

Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...

. In 2007, INSA’s Board of Directors elected Brennan to replace Vice-Admiral John Michael McConnell upon his confirmation as the nation's second Director of National Intelligence.

INSA's internal operational structure consists of the main office and its personnel, along with several member-driven, volunteer Councils and Task Forces that examine specific areas of study within the IC.

INSA's Councils and Task Forces

INSA’s Councils and Task Forces reflect INSA’s mission to facilitate collaboration between the public and private sectors for non-partisan, practical solutions to our national security challenges. INSA’s Councils and Task Forces produce white papers, testimony and expert level answers to policy requests from the White House, the National Security Council, the ODNI, the Pentagon and various Executive Branch agencies and Congressional Committees.
As of 2011, INSA Councils and Task Forces included:

• Cyber Security Council
  • Addressing Cyber Security Through Public-Private Partnership: An Analysis of Existing Models A .pdf version of this white paper produce in November 2009
  • Critical Issues for Cyber Assurance Policy Reform: An Industry Assessment A .pdf version of this white paper produced in March 2009
• Homeland Security Intelligence Council
• Council on Technology and Innovativation
  • Intelligence Community Acqusition & Development A .pdf version of this white paper jointly produced with The Intelligence Committee of AFCEA International
    AFCEA
    The Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association established in 1946, is a non-profit membership association serving the military, government, industry, and academia as an ethical forum for advancing professional knowledge and relationships in the fields of communications, information...
    
     in Fall 2010
• SMART Change Task Force
• National Security Studies Council
• Security Clearance and Suitability Reform Task Force
  • Improving Security While Managing Risk A .pdf version of this white paper produced in October 2007
• Organizational Conflict of Interest Task Force
  • Organizational Conflicts of Interest and the Intelligence Community: An Analysis of Public and Private Perspectives A .pdf version of this white paper produced in March 2011

White papers produced by earlier Councils and Task Forces include:

• Counterintelligence for the 21st Century A .pdf version of this white paper produced in September 2009
• Critical Issues for Intelligence Acquisition Reform A .pdf version of this white paper produced in October 2008

Community Outreach Efforts

INSA hosts numerous events annually for professionals in the intelligence and national security communities. Foremost among these is the William Oliver Baker Award Dinner, which honors outstanding individuals in the fields of intelligence and domestic security. In December 2010, the INSA Board of Directors established the INSA Achievement Awardspresented the first Annual INSA Achievement Awards, which honor five young members of the intelligence and national security community for their distinguished service to the country and their field. These talented young professionals were selected for their leadership, mission accomplishments, potential for growth and their emerging professional standing and influence. The INSA Board named the Achievement Awards in honor of former William Oliver Baker Award recipients. The Awards are:

• Sidney D. Drell Academic Award
• Richard J. Kerr Government Award
• Edwin H. Land Industry Award
• John W. Warner Homeland Security Award
• William O. Studeman Military Award

In addition to these annual award events, INSA hosts several events with prominent speakers from across the Intelligence Community on a regular basis, including the Distinguished Speakers Series, Mentoring Events, Leadership Dinners, and the speaker series "An Evening with Charlie Allen

Charles E. Allen

Charles E. Allen is an American public servant, notable for his roles at the United States Department of Homeland Security's Office of Intelligence and Analysis and, before that, the Central Intelligence Agency.-Department of Homeland Security:...

." Nearly all INSA events are in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area.

INSA's individual members includes former government officials from the National Security Council

United States National Security Council

The White House National Security Council in the United States is the principal forum used by the President of the United States for considering national security and foreign policy matters with his senior national security advisors and Cabinet officials and is part of the Executive Office of the...

, National Intelligence Council

National Intelligence Council

The National Intelligence Council is the center for midterm and long-term strategic thinking within the United States Intelligence Community . It was formed in 1979...

, Office of the Director of Central Intelligence

Director of Central Intelligence

The Office of United States Director of Central Intelligence was the head of the United States Central Intelligence Agency, the principal intelligence advisor to the President and the National Security Council, and the coordinator of intelligence activities among and between the various United...

, Department of State

United States Department of State

The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...

, Department of Defense

United States Department of Defense

The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...

, Central Intelligence Agency, Department of Homeland Security

United States Department of Homeland Security

The United States Department of Homeland Security is a cabinet department of the United States federal government, created in response to the September 11 attacks, and with the primary responsibilities of protecting the territory of the United States and protectorates from and responding to...

, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the WMD Commission

WMD Commission

WMD Commission usually refers to either:* The Commission on the Prevention of WMD proliferation and terrorism* The Weapons of Mass Destruction Commission...

.

William Oliver Baker Award

The William Oliver Baker Award was originally established by SASA in 1984 in honor of the first award recipient, William O. Baker

William O. Baker

William Oliver Baker was a former President of Bell Labs who had advised five Presidents on scientific matters. He received his degree from Washington College and went on to get a doctorate from Princeton University, studying under Charles Phelps Smyth...

, to promote excellence in the intelligence and national security activities of the United States government and associated endeavors in the private sector. The Award annually recognizes individuals for exceptional achievements and sustained contributions or single achievements of extraordinary merit. Past and current recipients by year include:

Year	Awardee
2011	Former Director of National Intelligence United States Director of National Intelligence The Director of National Intelligence , is the United States government official subject to the authority, direction and control of the President, who is responsible under the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 for:...  John Michael "Mike" McConnell
2010	Secretary of Defense United States Secretary of Defense The Secretary of Defense is the head and chief executive officer of the Department of Defense of the United States of America. This position corresponds to what is generally known as a Defense Minister in other countries...  Robert Gates Robert Gates Dr. Robert Michael Gates is a retired civil servant and university president who served as the 22nd United States Secretary of Defense from 2006 to 2011. Prior to this, Gates served for 26 years in the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Council, and under President George H. W....
2009	Former Senator United States Senate The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...  John Warner John Warner John William Warner, KBE is an American Republican politician who served as Secretary of the Navy from 1972 to 1974 and as a five-term United States Senator from Virginia from January 2, 1979, to January 3, 2009...  (R-Va.)
2008	Mr. Richard J. Kerr
2007	Admiral William Oliver Studeman, USN
2006	Lt Gen James R. Clapper, Jr. James R. Clapper James R. Clapper, Jr. is a retired lieutenant general in the United States Air Force and is currently the Director of National Intelligence. He was previously dual-hatted as the first Director of Defense Intelligence within the Office of the Director of National Intelligence alongside the position... , USAF
2005	Lt Gen Brent Scowcroft Brent Scowcroft Brent Scowcroft, KBE was the United States National Security Advisor under Presidents Gerald Ford and George H. W. Bush and a Lieutenant General in the United States Air Force. He also served as Military Assistant to President Richard Nixon and as Deputy Assistant to the President for National... , USAF (Ret.)
2004	The Honorable Joan A. Dempsey
2003	The Honorable George J. Tenet
2002	Mr. Charles E. Allen Charles E. Allen Charles E. Allen is an American public servant, notable for his roles at the United States Department of Homeland Security's Office of Intelligence and Analysis and, before that, the Central Intelligence Agency.-Department of Homeland Security:...
2001	Dr. Sidney D. Drell
2000	The Honorable William J. Perry
1999	Miss Ann Caracristi
1998	Dr. Jack E. Thomas
1997	Judge William H. Webster
1996	Lt Gen Samuel V. Wilson Samuel V. Wilson Lieutenant General Samuel Vaughan Wilson , aka "General Sam", completed his active military career in the fall of 1977, having divided his service almost equally between special operations and intelligence assignments... , USA (Ret.)
1995	The Honorable John N. McMahon John N. McMahon John N. McMahon is a former senior U.S. official of the Central Intelligence Agency. He joined the CIA in 1951, and served as Deputy Director for Operations from 1978-81 and later as Deputy Director of Central Intelligence from 1982 to 1986....
1994	The Honorable Robert J. Hermann
1993	Dr. Albert D. Wheelon
1992	Dr. Louis W. Tordella Louis W. Tordella Louis W. Tordella was the longest serving deputy director of the NSA.Tordella was born in Garrett, Indiana, on May 1, 1911 and grew up in the Chicago environs. He displayed an early affinity for mathematics, and obtained bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees in the 1930s...
1991	The Honorable James R. Schlesinger James R. Schlesinger Dr. James Rodney Schlesinger is an American politician. He is best known for serving as Secretary of Defense from 1973 to 1975 under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford...
1990	Dr. Lew Allen Lew Allen Lew Allen, Jr. was a United States Air Force four-star General who served as the tenth Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force...
1989	Admiral Admiral Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...  Bobby Inman, USN
1988	Dr. Edwin H. Land Edwin H. Land Edwin Herbert Land was an American scientist and inventor, best known as the co-founder of the Polaroid Corporation. Among other things, he invented inexpensive filters for polarizing light, a practical system of in-camera instant photography, and his retinex theory of color vision...
1987	Ambassador Ambassador An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....  Richard Helms Richard Helms Richard McGarrah Helms was the Director of Central Intelligence from 1966 to 1973. He was the only director to have been convicted of lying to the United States Congress over Central Intelligence Agency undercover activities. In 1977, he was sentenced to the maximum fine and received a suspended...
1986	Ambassador Vernon A. Walters Vernon A. Walters Vernon A. Walters was a United States Army officer and a diplomat. Most notably, he served from 1972 to 1976 as Deputy Director of Central Intelligence, from 1985 to 1989 as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations and from 1989 to 1991 as Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany...
1985	Senator United States Senate The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...  Barry Goldwater Barry Goldwater Barry Morris Goldwater was a five-term United States Senator from Arizona and the Republican Party's nominee for President in the 1964 election. An articulate and charismatic figure during the first half of the 1960s, he was known as "Mr...  (R-Az.)
1984	Dr. William O. Baker William O. Baker William Oliver Baker was a former President of Bell Labs who had advised five Presidents on scientific matters. He received his degree from Washington College and went on to get a doctorate from Princeton University, studying under Charles Phelps Smyth...

External links

• INSA website
• INSA White Papers - Resource Center For .pdf versions of white papers produced by INSA's Task Forces and Councils
• "Spies' group gets new boss", United Press International, April 5, 2007
• Shane Harris, Intelligence File: ADVICE+DISSENT: Gimme an S-P-Y", Government Executive magazine, May 15, 2007