Intelligence and National Security Alliance

The Intelligence and National Security Alliance (INSA) is a non-profit 501(c)(6), non-partisan professional organization for members of the U.S. intelligence community, based in Arlington, Virginia.

History

Established in 2005, the INSA has its beginnings in the Security Affairs Support Association (SASA), itself established in 1979 to bring together professionals in the intelligence field—primarily focused on the National Security Agency—by helping members stay abreast of intelligence and national security community issues. SASA's main office was in Annapolis Junction, Maryland.

In November 2005, SASA’s Board of Directors voted to change its name to expand its reach across the intelligence and national security communities and expand the organization’s mission to include advocacy, research and analysis and national security and intelligence education support to its mission.

Mission

INSA counts individuals from intelligence agencies, universities and private firms among its members. The current President is Timothy R. Sample, a former CIA non-proliferation expert and former Staff Director for the House of Representatives Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

The mission of INSA is to be the premier professional association for the Intelligence and National Security Communities supporting government and industry at all levels. Its Board of Directors consists of 30 individuals—60% who are retired or work in the private sector and 40% who are government officials.INSA has stated that it has four goals: Providing research and analysis to find practical solutions for issues facing the U.S. national security and intelligence communities, providing thought-leadership for the direction of the intelligence community, supporting intelligence and national security education in colleges and universities (currently supporting programs at University of Maryland, Georgetown, and the National Defense Intelligence College), and advocating a robust intelligence community in the wake of the lessons learned since 9/11 and the Iraq WMD intelligence failures.

INSA's internal operational structure consists of the main office and its personnel, along with four active groups: the Forum, which consists of a select group of individuals representing government, the private sector and academia; the Council on Security; the Council on Domestic Intelligence; and the Council on Innovative Technologies. These four working councils look at issues facing the intelligence community and will produce white papers, discussion panels and analysis for use in government.

In 2007, the National Correlation Working Group joined INSA as a council to focus on the delivery of intelligence to the combat user.

Advocacy and outreach efforts

INSA hosts numerous events annually for professionals in the intelligence and national security communities. Foremost among these is the Baker Award Dinner, which honors outstanding individuals in the fields of intelligence and domestic security.

In 2007, INSA’s Board of Directors elected a new Chairman to replace Vice-Admiral John Michael McConnell upon his confirmation as the Director of National Intelligence. John O. Brennan former Deputy Executive Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, Director of the [http://www.fas.org/irp/agency/ttic/ Terrorist Threat Integration Center] , and Acting Director of the National Counterterrorism Center is the new Chairman. Mr. Brennan remains President and CEO of [http://www.theanalysiscorp.com/ The Analysis Corporation] .

As part of continuing efforts to reach out to academia, INSA established the Professor in Practice of Intelligence at Georgetown University’s Center for Peace and Security Studies. Retired Lt Gen James R. Clapper held the position until his appointment as Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence in April 2007.

To enhance its outreach efforts, the National Defense Intelligence College Foundation, publisher of the National Defense Intelligence Journal, joined INSA in 2007 as a member of the alliance.

INSA’s membership includes former government officials from the National Security Council, National Intelligence Council, Office of the Director of Central Intelligence, Department of State, Department of Defense, Central Intelligence Agency, Department of Homeland Security, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and the WMD Commission, among others.

William Oliver Baker Award

The William Oliver Baker Award was originally established by SASA 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 recipients by year include:

External links

* [http://www.insaonline.org INSA website]
*Alec Klein, [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/01/AR2007040100686.html "Trade Group Does Who Knows What: Secretive INSA Includes Intelligence Contractors, Academics, Spies"] , "Washington Post", April 2, 2007
* [http://www.upi.com/Security_Terrorism/Briefing/2007/04/25/spies_group_gets_new_boss/ "Spies' group gets new boss"] , "United Press International", April 5, 2007
* Shane Harris, [http://www.govexec.com/features/0507-15/0507-15adif.htm Intelligence File: ADVICE+DISSENT: Gimme an S-P-Y"] , "Government Executive" magazine, May 15, 2007