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...

The Opportunity If employed by a defense contractor, chances are that you perform work on goods and services for research and development of a weapon system or other new capabilities. That being the case the DEFAULT focus as a Facility Security Officer (FSO) or security specialist is on technical data. The problem is: while there is abundant guidance on protection of classified information (proscriptive regulation aka NISPOM) bridging the GAP between classified and sensitive, protecting unclassified is of utmost concern. Here is where FSOs can really provide value to the enterprise. The Problem Take a look at this paraphrase from Allen Dulles' book The Craft of Intelligence: In the 1950's the US Congress was concerned that there was just too much technical information available on government programs.  From that concern, they commissioned researchers to assemble as much information from public domain about a particular program as they could. The group scour...

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...

As we have addressed over the course of this blog space, industrial security specialists and FSO’s play a vital role in protecting our Nation’s secrets. Aside from guidance in the NISPOM, there is another critical piece of information necessary to practicing good classification management; enter the DD Form 254. The Contract Security Classification Specification (DD Form 254) is a basic agreement between the Contractor/Subcontractor and the User Agency. It conveys the security classification specifications and guidelines for classification, regrading, and downgrading of documents used in the performance of a classified contract. This agreement authorizes access to classified information in performance of a contract. The DD Form 254 will be provided to both the supplier and cognizant security offices when work is subcontracted to a supplier/vendor requiring access to or generation of classified material. So why is this important to you? First of all it provides author...