Honoring Our Rising Stars!

Now in its 16th year, the Charlie Allen Achievement Awards will take place Wednesday, February 18, from 6:00-9:00 pm, at the Army Navy Country Club in Arlington, VA. This uplifting evening will celebrate five outstanding early and mid-career professionals, as well as one senior leader dedicated to mentorship and workforce development.

The event will begin with a welcome reception, followed by the formal program featuring keynote remarks from Christine Bordine, Deputy Director, DIA. Senior leaders from across the community will be on hand for the award ceremony, followed by a celebratory dessert reception.

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Get to Know Our 2026 Charlie Allen Achievement Awards Recipients!

Nicole Griffin
Threat Analysis Division Director (Acting), TSA/I&A
Joan A. Dempsey Mentorship Award

Ms. Nicole Griffin serves as Acting Director of the Threat Analysis Division within TSA’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis, leading a geographically dispersed workforce responsible for real-time threat identification, incident management, and intelligence-driven analysis protecting global transportation systems. Assuming the division chief role unexpectedly in 2025, she quickly strengthened analytic quality and workforce morale while building hands-on onboarding and mentorship programs that transition Transportation Security Officers and other operational personnel into intelligence analysts, with multiple mentees advancing into senior analytic and leadership roles.

Through sustained coaching, candid career guidance, and advocacy for employee well-being, Ms. Griffin has strengthened analytic tradecraft and delivered lasting impact across TSA, the Department of Homeland Security, and the national security mission.

Special Agent (SA) Brent Howlett, an NCIS Task Force Officer with the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, serves as a vital link between the Navy and the FBI. He is recognized for his pivotal role in mitigating a biological ricin threat against the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and for his leadership in complex domestic terrorism investigations.

Beyond his operational success protecting high-profile events like the NATO Summit, SA Howlett is a respected mentor and standard-setter known for his composure under pressure and tireless support of his colleagues.

Robert Robancho, a Deloitte contractor serving as Lead Cyber Intelligence Analyst for Mission Delta 6, has fundamentally transformed how the U.S. Space Force detects and responds to cyber threats. He spearheaded a “hub and spoke” intelligence model that resulted in a 400 percent increase in actionable reporting and now anchors the service's 24/7 persistent defense posture.

Additionally, Mr. Robancho modernized analytic practices to accelerate decision-making and secured advanced training to expand his team’s capabilities. His ability to turn innovation into mission-critical impact perfectly embodies the spirit of the Edwin H. Land Award.

Sarah Adams, Program Manager for Alternative Computing Paradigms at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, leads a pioneering portfolio in quantum science and trustworthy computing. She is recognized for her leadership of the DARPA-supported POSTURES project, which achieved the first fully aerosol-jet-printed optical waveguides, a breakthrough that redefines how photonic systems are deployed for national security.

Ms. Adams is also a dedicated mentor and collaborative leader who invests in the development of early-career scientists and fosters the interdisciplinary partnerships necessary to solve the nation's most complex defense challenges.

Alexander Bramsen, an Intelligence Analyst with the FBI Directorate of Intelligence, revolutionized the Bureau’s enterprise-wide collection analysis. By replacing complex methodologies with visually driven, scalable products, he achieved a three-fold increase in analytical productivity—an innovation that proved vital for senior leadership during the presidential transition.

A trusted "player-coach," IA Bramsen leads a 600-member FBI Community of Interest and represents the Bureau on high-level Intelligence Community task forces. His commitment to professional integrity and developing others has fundamentally elevated analytic tradecraft across the FBI’s intelligence enterprise.

Major Alan Friedlander, USAF, a key leader within the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), is recognized for delivering assured global communications for strategic government operations. During Operations ALLIES REFUGE and ALLIES WELCOME, he synchronized interagency intelligence to enable the historic airlift of 124,000 civilians from Afghanistan. As J7 Director of Force Development, Maj. Friedlander modernized his organization’s Training Academy—achieving a 98 percent certification pass rate—and revitalized recruitment to increase applications by 200 percent.

Through this rare combination of operational leadership and a tireless commitment to developing the next generation of intelligence professionals, Maj. Friedlander truly embodies the leadership and institutional legacy of the William O. Studeman Award.