Security Executive Blog

You might already be aware that I run two podcasts : DoDSecure and Running and Obstacle Race Training . I recently interviewed Ray D*I*C*E Man Semko on my podcast DoDSecure. I hope you are able to get to the podcast as there are many topics covered from security clearances to protecting classified information . What struck me most was his drive and focus leading him to his branding of D*I*C*E which stands for Defensive Information Countering Everything. This is what he calls the “anchor point” and so much is built around it. He wanted a way for folks to focus on what is important concerning national security. DICE provides more than just a bumper sticker or slogan, but rather a movement that has created more reporting opportunities and has actually led to the capture of a spy. The DICE concept took a while to develop and catch on. Initially, Ray was scheduled to provide a security awareness briefing and he realized he had to have an anchor or something to build the focus around. A...

We spoke with former Counter-Spy and Author John W. David about his experiences with cold war espionage and applying it to counter the insider threat . John has written two books, Rainy Street Stories and Around the Corner . Both are essays of his experiences with the cold war, terrorism, and espionage. John offers several anecdotes and shares past experience of how he has recognized spies and those who would recruit insiders. He weaves relevant stories in the podcasts that are still applicable to a successful insider threat program. Listen to the podcast to hear two of many major points on running Insider Threat Programs. Here are two points to get started: 1. Develop a culture of security by walking around. Security managers should get away from their desks and meet the employees that can work as risk management and security force multipliers. The employees should be comfortable with the office staff and understand what expectations are. One of the primary results o...

Pentagon analyst Gregg William Bergersen, was recently sentenced to 57 months in prison for providing information classified at the SECRET level to the People's Republic of China. The information was classified SECRET, thus having the potential to cause serious damage to national security. The complicated espionage operation involved not only native born U.S. Citizens, but foreign born as well. Though this ring involved several people both U.S. and Non-U.S. citizens, let us spend our focus on the the cleared U.S. Citizen Mr. Bergersen. The foreign operative received the largest sentence, however, let us not waste time tracking them, they are paid to spy and we have agencies dedicated to catching spies. We as security managers entrusted with safeguarding classified information, have to clean up our own back yards. Proactive security specialists are constantly on the look out for indicators of employee espionage. We cannot prevent employees from being corrupted with recruitment, bu...

Prior to travel, a cleared employee should have a good understanding of their responsibilities to protect national security. A Defensive Security Briefing is for those who travel overseas and may be vulnerable to foreign entity recruiting methods. They should be constructed to make the cleared traveler aware of their responsibilities to protect employees, product, customers and those with which they do business. Topics of the defense security briefing should include threat recognition, how to assess and how to respond when approached for recruitment Prior to travel, the employee should notify their security office of all foreign travel plans. This includes plans for Canada, Mexico and Caribbean Countries. The security department can then construct a plan for the specific area after researching the area to be travelled. The state department has a great website can fill security and the traveler in on all necessary travel documentation and what to expect while abroad. Traveling e...

The Washington Post ran an article called, Man, 84, Is Charged With Spying for Israel in 1980s . Ben-Ami Kadish had worked for the Army as an engineer. For some years in the 1980’s until 1985, he passed documents to his contact, named as Yosef Yagur. Yosef was an experienced agent who had also handled Pollard, another spy convicted and sentenced to life in prison. Elicitation is a recruiting method using subtleness to gain information. It is not an overt or threatening type of interrogation, but one of building relationships and creating consent for further communication and finally dedication or commitment to providing information. In the case of Kadish, his handler paved the way by asking Kadish to provide documents to help Israel maintain her security. Kadish never accepted payment other than small gifts. Thiers was a relationship of socializing. According to the article, Kadish removed documents from his office and provided them to his handler. You may recall a more recent ...