Overseas Security Advisory Council
 Official OSAC Logo | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1985 |
| Jurisdiction | Bureau of Diplomatic Security, U.S. Department of State |
| Headquarters | Washington, D.C. |
| Employees | 25+ |
| Agency executives |
|
| Website | https://www.osac.gov |
Founded in 1985, the Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) is a public-private partnership office between the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS) and the U.S. private sector. OSAC provides and facilitates information security information sharing directly from the U.S. government to and from over 5,500 U.S.-based organizations. Any U.S. private-sector organization can join with membership being free.[1]
OSAC has a staff of civil service and government contractor personnel and produces a public annual Country Security Report that rates countries on various security metrics designated by the Department of State's SETL ranking system.[2][3] [4]
Private-sector member organizations serve for two to six-year terms on the OSAC Council. The OSAC Council is chaired by the Director of the Diplomatic Security Service and co-chaired by a selected representative of the private sector. The current private-sector co-chair represents Cargill, Inc.[5]
OSAC was established under authority of the Secretary of State pursuant to 22 U.S.C. § 2656 and in accordance with the FACA, as amended, 5 U.S.C. App., and its regulations, 41 C.F.R. Part 102-3.[6][7][8]
History
In 1985, the Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC), a joint venture between the Department of State and the U.S. private sector, was created by then Secretary of State George P. Shultz under the Federal Advisory Committee Act to interact on overseas security problems of mutual concern. In 1986, OSAC created a threat information unit dedicated to security issues affecting the U.S. private sector overseas. The Bureau of Diplomatic Security supported this recommendation in 1987 by creating a staff of five that has developed into the OSAC Program Office. An electronic database (EDB) was created in 1987 which, in 1997, became a fully functional website. It has since expanded to include cyber threat information, member forums, and specific traveler information. The website is accessible to OSAC members, federal, state, and local U.S. law enforcement and public safety agencies.
Objectives of OSAC are: "to establish a continuing liaison between security officials in both the private and public sector; to provide for regular exchanges of information concerning developments in the overseas security environment; recommend methods for planning and implementation of security programs abroad; and recommend methods to mitigate risks to American private sector interests worldwide." These objectives remain in the current OSAC Charter.[9]
In 1988, OSAC established several “country chapters” in several foreign cities to implement the overseas portion of its sharing mission. These chapters, run with the help of a private sector security representative in country and the respective U.S. Embassy's Regional Security Office, develop working relationships between private sector security managers and government experts to create an exchange of unclassified security information. In addition, the country chapters provide a forum to promote cooperation regarding any other security issues of mutual concern.[10] The private sector, with its thousands of personnel overseas, voluntarily provides information back to OSAC about security and crime incidents affecting their own or other U.S. operations overseas. Information submitted by the U.S. private sector in the past has covered threats and attacks against U.S. personnel and property, thefts, kidnappings, other violent crimes, local unrest and natural disaster.[11]
In 2000, OSAC members became eligible to enroll in the Department of State’s Security Overseas Seminar at the National Foreign Affairs Training Center. This security-training program closely mirrors what is provided to U.S. Government employees embarking on overseas tours.[12]
OSAC "Council"
The OSAC "Council" is comprised of 31 private sector and 3 public sector member organizations that represent specific industries or agencies operating abroad. The member organizations designate representatives to serve on the body to provide direction and guidance to develop programs that most benefit the U.S. private sector overseas.
Executive Board
The Executive Board provides leadership and strategic direction to the OSAC Council and its sub-committees.[13]
| Council Position | Name | Organization | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Sector Chair | Carlos Matus | U.S. Department of State | Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Diplomatic Security Service |
| Private Sector Chair | Claude Nebel | Cargill | Vice President, Chief Security Officer, Global Security |
| Member | Christina Johnson | Chemonics International | Director, Global Security |
| Member | Pete Short | Ball Corporation | Director, Corporate Security |
Council Members
Private-sector organizations serve for two to six-year terms on the OSAC council. Representatives of the member organizations meet quarterly and participate in sub-committees tasked with specific projects, such as the protection of business information and mitigating the effects from technical crime. The council also discusses OSAC's annual goals and strategic plan. The Council is chaired by the Department of State’s Director of the Diplomatic Security Service and co-chaired by a selected representative of the private sector.[14]
Program Office
The OSAC Program Office consists of three units assigned to focus on geographic areas of the world and conduct research and analysis (Research & Analysis); outreach to the private sector and the creation of sustaining security information networks (Policy, Partnerships & Programs); and provide guidance on avoiding and mitigating current and emerging threats to personnel and assets (Global Threat Warning).[15][16] Products written by OSAC have appeared or cited in the New York Times, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, and other major international news outlets.
In 1999, OSAC formed a partnership with the International Security Management Association (ISMA) to host a number of bi-annual regional conferences. In 2011, the International Security Foundation (ISF) was created to support OSAC and its mission. The ISF now funds country chapter meetings, common interest working groups, and special interest forums. It receives funding through direct donations by OSAC members. OSAC also has strategic partnerships with the Domestic Security Alliance Council (DSAC) and ASIS International.[17]
Since 1985, OSAC has hosted an annual conference for OSAC members and private sector security managers called the Annual Briefing. The Annual Briefing takes place over two days in November and is the Department of State's largest in person conference at the agency's Washington, D.C. headquarters.[18]
See Also
- U.S. Department of State
- Bureau of Diplomatic Security
- Diplomatic Security Service
- Domestic Security Alliance Council (DSAC)
- Public-private partnerships in the United States
References
- ↑ "Working Together to Protect U.S. Organizations Overseas". www.osac.gov. Retrieved 2021-03-26.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ↑ Scott, Patrick (2019-05-02). "How to Assess Security Risks While Traveling". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-03-26.
- ↑ "12 FAM 410 POST SECURITY PROGRAMS OVERSIGHT". fam.state.gov. Retrieved 2021-03-25. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ↑ "Working Together to Protect U.S. Organizations Overseas". www.osac.gov. Retrieved 2021-03-25. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ↑ "Working Together to Protect U.S. Organizations Overseas". www.osac.gov. Retrieved 2021-03-25. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ↑ "22 U.S. Code § 2656 - Management of foreign affairs". LII / Legal Information Institute. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
- ↑ "5a U.S. Code Appendix 5a - FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT". LII / Legal Information Institute. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
- ↑ "41 CFR Part 102-3 - FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE MANAGEMENT". LII / Legal Information Institute. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
- ↑ "FACA". www.facadatabase.gov. Retrieved 2021-03-25. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ↑ "Working Together to Protect U.S. Organizations Overseas". www.osac.gov. Retrieved 2021-03-25. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ↑ "Smear Campaign Tries to Link Serbian Journalists to Criminal Network | Voice of America - English". www.voanews.com. Retrieved 2021-03-26.
- ↑ "Private Sector SOS (MQ917)". 2009-2017.state.gov. Retrieved 2021-03-25. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ↑ "Working Together to Protect U.S. Organizations Overseas". www.osac.gov. Retrieved 2021-03-25. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ↑ {{Cite web|title=Working Together to Protect U.S. Organizations Overseas|url=https://www.osac.gov/About/OSACCouncil%7Caccess-date=2021-03-25%7Cwebsite=www.osac.gov%7Clanguage=en} This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.}
- ↑ "Working Together to Protect U.S. Organizations Overseas". www.osac.gov. Retrieved 2021-03-25. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ↑ "Liberia: U.S. Overseas Advisory Council Cautions Government's Reaction Towards Protestors". FrontPageAfrica. 2019-12-30. Retrieved 2021-03-26.
- ↑ osac-annual-briefing.com https://osac-annual-briefing.com/. Retrieved 2021-03-25. Missing or empty
|title=(help) This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ↑ osac-annual-briefing.com https://osac-annual-briefing.com/. Retrieved 2021-03-29. Missing or empty
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