On Friday, May 21, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates was presented with INSA’s 26th annual William Oliver Baker Award for his excellence in the intelligence and national security activities of the United States.  The Secretary was recognized for his noteworthy record of distinguished service and extraordinary contributions to defense, academia and the Intelligence Community. 

The black tie award dinner was attended by over 500 representatives from across the intelligence community, including government, academia and industry and was a great evening for the entire intelligence community.   The Secretary remarked that the Baker Award was special amongst the honors he has received in his career due to the close-knit and respected community of intelligence professionals that are affiliated with it and with INSA. 

Secretary Gates was honored for his impressive and tireless work on behalf of the United States’ national defense and intelligence community throughout over forty years of service in government, academia and industry. During his remarkable career, Gates has achieved two “firsts”: He is the only Secretary of Defense in U.S. history to be asked to remain in that office by a newly elected President, and he is the only career officer in CIA's history to rise from an entry-level position to Director. 

From his earliest days as an intelligence professional through his time on the National Security Council and his tenure as Deputy Director of Central Intelligence, to Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor to Director of Central Intelligence, his unwavering commitment to intelligence, national defense and national security has been an inspiration to those who have worked for and with him.  A distinguished leader, he has served eight presidents from both parties.  

In his acceptance remarks, the Secretary thanked INSA “for their many achievements and contributions to the intelligence community over the years.” Gates struck a positive note stating that the growing collaboration among intelligence agencies and between intelligence and battlefield operations has been “one of the most important and encouraging developments for the intelligence community in recent years.”  He lauded the efforts of warfighters and intelligence professionals working together, stating that “Fusion has become the watchword of intelligence operations in the post-9/11 world and represents, in my opinion, one of our greatest accomplishments.”  Gates specifically cited the increased use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and their rapid acceptance by the military community and the incredible support they afford the men and women on the ground. 

Secretary Gates painted an overall picture of a growing, adapting and largely successful Intelligence Community and paid tribute to the intelligence and national security professionals whose work “is sometimes thankless, always dangerous and utterly vital to our national security” and whom he called “the very best that our nation has to offer.” 

INSA President Ellen McCarthy said, “Dr. William Oliver Baker was in many ways the embodiment of the INSA mission – achieving success through collaboration between the government and private sector.  Secretary of Defense Gates is a model public servant and true statesman. Being the nation’s former top intelligence officer and now an intelligence officer leading the defense of our nation, the Secretary demonstrates the important role intelligence plays in our national security. INSA could not have selected a more appropriate recipient for this year’s Baker Award.”

· To read the full text of the Secretary's speech click here
· To read INSA President's Ellen McCarthy's speech click here
· To see pictures from the event click here
· To view the Baker Award Citation click here