Of all people – DoD Insider Threat Management and Analysis Center (DITMAC) Deputy Director Henry Nelson – knows that countering insider threats is a team sport. 

It’s still nice to be reminded, especially if it comes in the form of a prestigious intelligence community award.  

A Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) team from DITMAC and the Center for Development of Security Excellence (CDSE) were also reminded while honored at the National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC) headquarters on June 18. 

The DITMAC-CDSE team received the 2025 Intelligence Community NCSC Professional Training and Education Award for outstanding service between January and December 2024. 

"This award is a powerful reminder that it’s a team sport,” said Nelson after the ceremony. “No single person or program can counter insider threats alone – it takes collaboration across disciplines to protect what matters most and that’s what makes DCSA so vital.” 

NCSC awards recognize individuals and teams for exceptional contributions to counterintelligence and security while highlighting their achievements in various areas from counterintelligence operations and investigations to analysis and technical security. 

“As a multidisciplinary agency – spanning Counterintelligence and Insider Threat, Personnel Vetting, Industrial Security, and Security Training – we bring a full-spectrum approach to national security,” said Nelson. “This recognition reflects what’s possible when we work as one team, across DCSA and with our IC and DOD partners. I’m proud of the award but even more proud of the people and partnerships that made it possible." 

Specifically, the NCSC Professional Training and Education Award recognized the team for providing the intelligence community with innovative and high-quality training programs for security professionals, resulting in a more knowledgeable, professional and well-trained workforce. The DITMAC-CDSE team delivered the learning programs through insightful webinars, original research, detailed information bulletins and major conferences, including the DCSA Insider Threat Analyst Forum and National Insider Threat Awareness Month Conference. 

"This award means a lot because it reflects the strength of our team and the mission we carry out every day to protect national security. I’ve seen firsthand how every role matters – whether leading from the front or supporting behind the scenes,” said Cashmere He, CDSE Outreach and Engagement Branch chief. “Our continued collaboration is what drives teamwork, dedication and a shared commitment that define DCSA – we turn vision into impact. I'm inspired by the people I work with and proud to be part of a mission that really makes a difference, but what made this moment unforgettable for me was having my children in attendance to witness it."  

The award nomination described how DCSA’s training and education efforts throughout 2024 made a profound impact on the intelligence community and insider threat communities.  

“I believe that doing my part in accomplishing our goals to advance training opportunities and helping with the mission is rewarding enough,” said Richard Fields, CDSE education technician. “This award lets everyone on the team know that their efforts are not unnoticed and that we are all a valuable piece of the puzzle.”    

The DITMAC-CDSE team members employed creative and innovative approaches to education and training to make unforgettable products and experiences, surpassing the highest expectations, according to the nomination. 

“They brought to life the critical importance of insider threat issues and the pressing challenges DOD faces in a way that inspires both experienced professionals and young analysts,” the nomination stated. “They made a concerted effort to ‘meet people where they are' by enabling online accessibility, making products that can be distributed far and wide and adapted to diverse audiences, and spearheading novel research into emerging challenges so that they will be able to continue their efforts long into the future.” 

DITMAC team members recognized during the award ceremony were Nina Askvig, Mark Burns, Jordan Hersch, Brandi Hutchings, Douglas Keeling, Henry Nelson, Brannon Niesent, James Shappell, Melissa Tignor, Robin White and Allison Wolff. Team members recognized from CDSE were Caleb Armstrong, Richard Fields, Thomas Gentle, Cashmere He, Amber Jackson, Edwin Kobeski, Alicia Lewis, Stephen Lynn, Nancy McKeown, Rebecca Morgan, David Palmer, Marc Pulliam, Nailah Turner and Aeri Wittenbourgh. 

The NCSC mission is to lead and support the U.S. government’s counterintelligence and security activities critical to protecting our nation; provide counterintelligence outreach to U.S. private sector entities at risk of foreign intelligence penetration; and issue public warnings regarding intelligence threats to the United States. 

DITMAC’s mission is to provide the DOD enterprise with a capability to identify, assess, and mitigate risk from insiders, to oversee and manage unauthorized disclosures, and to integrate, manage, mature and professionalize insider threat capabilities. 

CDSE is the premier provider of security training, education, and certification for DOD, federal government, and cleared contractors under the National Industrial Security Program. The CDSE provides development, delivery, and exchange of security knowledge to ensure a high-performing workforce capable of addressing our nation's security challenges. 

The DCSA mission is to secure the trustworthiness of the United States government's workforce, the integrity of its cleared contractor support, and the uncompromised nature of its technologies, services, and supply chains through vetting, industry engagement, education, counterintelligence and insider threat support. The DCSA vision as America’s Gatekeeper is to safeguard the nation as the premier provider of integrated security services – national security is our mission, people are our greatest asset.