OSAC Quarterly Bulletin, Issue 3

OSAC Quarterly Bulletin

3rd Quarter, 2020 | Issue 3

Your Public-Private Partnership Security Source

A Message from Executive Director Jason Kight

As OSAC marks the celebration of our 35-year history, we are simultaneously launching new branding and governance initiatives to drive the future operations of OSAC. As part of this work, we designed an updated and modernized logo, which I’m happy to share with you today.

This is a culmination of more than a year of assessment and planning to ensure OSAC maintains a modern look and feel, as well as to streamline and standardize our branding, governance, and operations. I’d like to recognize the OSAC team’s hard work in making this a reality and acknowledge the vision of OSAC’s Executive Board, led by Private Sector Chair Claude Nebel (Cargill), DSS Director Carlos Matus, Pete Short (Ball Corporation), Christina Johnson (Chemonics), and Gregory Bujac (Senior Advisor). An added thanks to Kevin Friker (Equinix) for his valuable input. We are grateful for their dedication and leadership to OSAC in pushing this forward.

Our team is also hard at work behind the scenes planning this year’s virtual Annual Briefing, which will take place November 16-20, featuring keynotes, discussion panels, informational webinars, and networking sessions. I encourage you to scroll down to the Spotlight section to learn more about what’s happening and to start planning for #OSACWeek moving ahead.

It goes without saying that these are unprecedented times. Although we’ve been separated by distance, we are committed to meeting your needs and building on the great foundations of our public-private partnership. This quarter we have been engaged in the critical work of revising and improving our Code of Conduct, and I’m grateful for the interest in this important endeavor.

We also had the highest level of productivity we’ve ever recorded in terms of original analyses on our website -- more than 70 new products! Plus, we've hosted 23 virtual Common Interest Committee webinars and meetings for more than 1,500 unique users over the past three months, and convened 30 virtual Country Chapter meetings worldwide hosted by our overseas colleagues. This is record-setting for OSAC, especially in a virtual environment, and we thank you for your interest and participation.

So onward... we’re looking forward to what the fall brings, and I look forward to seeing you at the virtual Annual Briefing in just a few short weeks!

Visit our COVID-19 Resource Hub

OSAC Rebranding Initiative & New Logo

As reported in the last OSAC Quarterly Bulletin, OSAC is undergoing a rebranding initiative that will roll out over the course of the next few months, and we’re excited to unveil our refreshed logo today!

The logo update is the most visible change, but OSAC is also undergoing a number of other shifts that will ensure greater standardization in our branding, program implementation, policies, and communications, including:

Drafting universal governance guidelines by which all membership groups will operate;
Hiring a specialized Communications Manager and Multi-Media Specialist to ensure branding consistency;
Retiring the Research & Information Support Center (RISC) designation and converting the former RISC Chief position to Deputy Executive Director; and
Renaming OSAC’s operational units as
Programs, Partnerships, & Policy, P3 (formerly Outreach & Engagement Unit);
Global Threat Warning, GTW (formerly Global Security Unit); and
Research & Analysis, R&A (formerly Research & Analysis Unit)

Further, as part of this effort, we want to make OSAC’s group membership names more clearly defined and less redundant by avoiding overuse of the word “Council.” Moving forward, we will use the following naming conventions for these key groups:

The OSAC Executive Board (the six-member public-private leadership group with overarching decision-making authority)
The OSAC Council (the 34-member leadership group comprised of the Executive Board and several sub-committees)
Common Interest Committees: Regional Committees & Sector Committees (formerly Common Interest Councils, comprised of Regional Councils and Sector Working Groups)
Country Chapters: e.g. OSAC Colombia, Bogota Chapter formerly Country Councils)

OSAC Country Chapter Accreditation

As part of the OSAC rebrand effort, all Country Chapters will be subject to an accreditation process starting in 2021 to ensure they are maintaining brand consistency and following OSAC standards. OSAC will accredit Country Chapters only when they have met four basic requirements: (1) governed by a private- and a public-sector Co-chair, (2) host at least one meeting annually, either in person or virtual, (3) provide a communications platform for members, and (4) have an official charter signed by the private- and public-sector co-chairs. OSAC will work with Country Chapters not meeting accreditation standards to bring them into compliance.

OSAC has formed a new team to focus specifically on Country Council Accreditation and Standards. This team is currently led by DSS Special Agent John Parrotte, who joined OSAC in August after returning to Washington from U.S. Embassy Baghdad.

Code of Conduct Working Group

The eight-member Code of Conduct Core Working Group met weekly in August and throughout the month of September to review, revise, and improve OSAC’s Code of Conduct.

Recommended updates thus far include an expansion of the Code to include OSAC’s communications platforms, limits on business solicitation, inclusion of Chatham House Rule, and the development of clearer reporting and evaluation processes. A second Working Group will take the reins next, reviewing the efforts of the core group and developing training materials and process documents.

In the Spotlight: The OSAC Annual Briefing

Sadly we won't be meeting in person this year, as this vintage 2009 Annual Briefing (AB) photo depicts. Instead, OSAC will hold its 35th Annual Briefing virtually during the week of November 16.

Here's some information on what's in store:

How will the AB be structured this year?

OSAC is planning a full week of live and pre-recorded content to include webinars and networking sessions sessions. Live content, including keynotes and panels, as well as small group networking and engagement sessions will be available Tuesday through Thursday (November 17-19). Prerecorded content, to include Sector Committee and analytical regional presentations, will be available for viewing on Monday (November 16) and throughout the entire week.

When and where can I register?

A registration link will be available via OSAC.gov in the coming days. Once the link is available, we will send out a website announcement and will also include it in OSAC’s daily newsletters. In addition, we will share the link with our membership via Google Groups.

Who can attend the AB?

The OSAC Annual Briefing is open to registered OSAC members. Eligibility details will be included in the registration link. We strongly encourage our RSOs to participate as time zones allow! Other U.S. Government users with an OSAC account may participate on a limited basis and more information will be forthcoming. Please look for more announcements in the coming weeks.

When will the agenda be available?

OSAC will publish the agenda and speakers as details are confirmed. We will provide updates as this develops. In general, sessions will be featured from 11:00am to 4:00pm EST, Tuesday through Thursday (November 17-19). All sessions will be available for on-demand viewing after their designated times. Presentations by the OSAC Analysts will be available on Monday (November 16) for viewing at any time.

Will sessions include audience participation and questions?

Yes, live sessions will feature Q&A. Some sessions will be conducted in a simu-live format, meaning that content may be prerecorded, but the panelist(s) will be available for questions or discussion in real time. For some pre-recorded sessions, the analysts, speakers, and panelists will be available for follow-up live Q&A and discussion during our networking sessions.

How will OSAC facilitate networking opportunities given the virtual space?

OSAC will host facilitated small-group networking and membership engagement sessions from 3:00 to 4:00pm EST on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday to allow for more personalized connections on a variety of topics of shared interest.

Will live content be available after broadcast?

Yes, all live sessions will be recorded and available after broadcast for general viewing for OSAC members on the event platform, and later on OSAC.gov once the AB is over.

Will the ISF host its annual event and awards presentation?

Yes, the ISF is hosting the ISF Virtual Reception Celebrating 35 Years of OSAC on Wednesday, November 18 at 5:00pm EST. This online event will have a global viewing audience with speakers, OSAC Awards, a video celebration of OSAC’s 35 years, and more. The keynote speaker is Secretary of State Michael Pompeo, with remarks by Judge William Webster, Chairman of the Homeland Security Advisory Council and former director of the CIA and FBI. Rich Davis, ISF President, will emcee the event.

This event is free and open to all OSAC members, non-OSAC members of the greater global security community, and event sponsor personnel and guests. Registration goes live on October 5 at isf4osac.org. This is a separate event registration from the OSAC Annual Briefing.

Given the worldwide audience, there are new sponsorship benefits. If you would like to sponsor the ISF Virtual Reception (sponsorship includes recognition during the OSAC Annual Briefing webinars), contact Peggy O’Neill, ISF Executive Director, or visit isf4osac.org/sponsor.

Will the Women in Security (WiS) event still take place this year?

Yes. As in previous years, WiS will host its annual event on the eve of the Annual Briefing. This year, it will take place on the afternoon of Monday, November 16. The WiS event registration will be part of the AB registration process. There will not be a separate invitation or registration process.

How is OSAC managing cybersecurity in the virtual environment?

OSAC is working with our virtual event vendor to ensure the safety and security of all virtual AB participants. OSAC will vet all registrants for eligibility and will carefully monitor sessions for any suspicious activity. We will also ensure all participants agree to adhere to a Code of Conduct and are able to report concerns to OSAC leadership.

What about social media?

You are encouraged to show your support for OSAC by using #OSACWeek leading up to and during the AB. We appreciate the love!

Other News and Updates

OSAC Annual Achievement Awards

‘Tis the season for OSAC Achievement Awards, and we’re looking forward to announcing our winners next quarter. OSAC put out a call for nominations from September 8-25 for its 2020 Achievement Awards and received a total of 49 submissions, which the OSAC Executive Board is now reviewing. This year’s awardees will be announced at the ISF Virtual Reception and at the Virtual Annual Briefing, as well as in our next Quarterly Bulletin. The award categories are:

Distinguished Achievement Award, which honors a U.S. Department of State representative or group, or a private-sector representative or group, for significant contributions to enhancing the ability of U.S. organizations to protect their personnel and assets, and intellectual property;

Common Interest Committee (CIC) Achievement Award, which recognizes a CIC for significant contribution to its members and the greater OSAC constituency; and

Country Chapter Achievement Award, which recognizes one Country Chapter for excellent OSAC partnership excellence in the areas of Leadership, Innovative Networking, Crisis or Incident Response, and Standards, Service, & Quality.

State Department Return to Work Status

As a result of COVID-19, the State Department continues to operate under a phased return-to-work plan worldwide, defined as Phase 0 (maximum telework), Phase I (telework, with up to 40% on-site work), Phase II (telework, with between 40-80% on-site work to meet mission needs), and Phase III (telework, with between 80-100% on-site). DOS leadership has also formed the Reimagine Task Force, which is closely looking at the agency’s policies and resources as we navigate the future of our work places. At the current time, the majority of OSAC staff continue to work from home on a regular basis. The status of the Department at large is as follows:

Domestic Status – As of September 25, 18% of our domestic facilities remain in Phase 0, 21% are in Phase I, 60% are in Phase II, and almost 1% is in Phase III.

Overseas Status – As of September 25, 5% of our posts are in Phase 0, 33% are in Phase I, 59% are in Phase II, and close to 3% are in Phase III.

OSAC Webinars

Top Webinar Picks

OSAC hosted a series of diverse, engaging, and informative webinars this summer. Here are a few you can view once logged into OSAC.gov:

Women in Security (WiS) Community Conversation Webinar: State of Affairs in LatAm (July 10)
Dublin Country Chapter Meeting: Travel & Security Considerations During COVID (July 14)
Pan-Asia Regional Committee (PARC) Webinar: Geopolitical Considerations in the Time of COVID-19 (July 21)
United Kingdom Country Chapter Meeting: A Structured Look at COVID-19 Related Risk @ Return to Office (July 30)
Middle East & North Africa Regional Committee (MENA RC) Webinar: Air Travel in a Pandemic: Past, Present, and Future in the MENA Region (August 4)
International Development Sector Committee (IDSC) Webinar: Insurance Considerations for Security Professionals (August 20)
Energy Sector Committee (ESC) Webinar: Security Considerations Beyond the New Normal: InfoSec (September 22)

Access all webinars on OSAC.gov by hovering over Content and selecting Media from the dropdown menu.

Click here to see more!

Move to Zoom for Government

OSAC will transition from a Zoom enterprise license to a Zoom for Government (ZfG) FEDRAMP-certified license on October 23, under a Department of State contract with the Office of Public Affairs and Public Diplomacy. ZfG offers increased security features compared to the commercial versions of Zoom and is approved for DOS unclassified use on open networks.

ZfG has added security features, to include: 256-bit AES encryption; data routed through and stored in data centers located in the United States only; a platform operated and controlled by U.S. staff, and a separate Software Development Life Cycle that is implemented and controlled by U.S. personnel only.

Research & Analysis Reporting and Products

OSAC Research & Analysis continues to produce an array of relevant products with vetted information that OSAC members can trust. Reports of particular interest from the past quarter (OSAC website log-in required) include:

COVID Reports:

Non-COVID Reports:

OSAC Leadership and Staffing Updates

OSAC Executive Board and Council

No updates this quarter.

Common Interest Committee Chairs and Vice Chairs

Welcome new CIC leadership:

Keith Byrne (Special Agent in Charge/SAC NYC), Europe Regional Committee Public Sector Co-Chair (ERC)
John Davison (SAC Boston), Middle East & North Africa Public Sector Co-Chair (MENA RC)
Inge Huijbrechts (Radisson), Hotels & Lodging Sector Committee Acting Chair (HLSC)
Jennifer Huebner (ConocoPhillips), Energy Sector Committee Vice Chair (ESC)
Brandon Padilla (Sempra Energy), Energy Sector Committee Chair (ESC)
Evan Poss (Samaritan’s Purse), Faith-Based Sector Committee Acting Vice Chair (FBSC)

Thank you and farewell to the following CIC leaders:

Tim Dumas (former SAC NYC), Europe Regional Committee Public Sector Co-Chair (ERC)
Bill Gannon (former SAC Boston), Middle East & North Africa Public Sector Co-Chair (currently MENA RC advisor)
James Gooding (formerly IHG), Hotels & Lodging Sector Committee Chair (HLSC)
Justin Lamb (formerly Shell), Energy Sector Committee Chair (ESC)
Sam Lau (formerly World Vision International), Faith-Based Sector Committee Vice Chair (FBSC)

OSAC Staff

Welcome to our newest staff members:

Michael Ferguson, Mexico Analyst
John Parrotte, Country Chapter Accreditation Coordinator
Elizabeth Winter, Communications Manager (starts Oct 9)

Commemorating 35 Years of Partnership. Thank You.

“I think the ability to work together between the government and private industry as shown by this Council, is one of the things that is good about our country and good about this effort.”

- Former Secretary of State George Shultz

-------------------------------------------

Help us reflect on the past 35 years by sharing your OSAC story, whether it be relying on regional groups for benchmarking, calling OSAC staff for critical assistance, or using our analysis to adjust your organizational response.

***Just use the subject line "OSAC Thanks" in your email.***

Any questions or feedback on this publication's content? Have an idea for next quarter's news bulletin? Please contact Kit Bartels, Team Lead for Programs, Partnerships, & Policy at BartelsKV2@state.gov.

Thank you to Jerry Marshall (U.S. Chamber of Commerce), OSAC Council, who serves as our

Quarterly Bulletin Private Sector Advisor and Editor.