The New IC

On Wednesday, June 25, nearly 250 intelligence and national security professionals gathered in Arlington, VA, for 8th annual The New IC symposium. The half-day event included a career fair, fireside chat, panel discussion, ignite rounds, and a lively networking reception. View Event Photos!

Opening Fireside Chat: Letitia A. Long

INSA Chairwoman Letitia A. Long sat down with INSA President Suzanne Wilson Heckenberg for an engaging conversation about career growth and opportunities across the intelligence and national security community. Ms. Long shared highlights from her own remarkable journey, from starting out as a Navy engineer to holding senior leadership roles at DIA, and ultimately becoming the first woman to lead a major intelligence agency when she became Director of NGA in 2010. Tish spoke about the importance of staying true to your values and nurturing strong professional networks to lean on during times of change. She encouraged attendees to advocate for themselves, reminding them, “Sometimes you have to raise your hand and put yourself out there, even when you’re not sure you’re ready.” Tish also underscored the power of resilience and curiosity, and the value of lifelong learning. Her reflections set an inspiring tone for the afternoon program, which was dedicated to building skills, embracing change, and supporting one another.

Panel: The Keys to Career Success: Resilience, Agility, and Purpose

Speakers:

• Elise Yanker, Collaborative Consulting (moderator)
• Ed Mornston, Deputy Director of Intelligence, U.S. Space Force
• Cliff Purkey, Deputy Director, Office of Human Resources, DIA
• Dr. Nandita Balakrishnan, Director of Intelligence, SCSP
• Andrew Hallman, VP and Strategic Account Executive for the IC, Leidos
• Chris Gibson, Senior Advisor, NBIS, OUSD(I&S)
  

Panelists shared insights on three pillars of career growth: resilience, agility, and purpose. They stressed that success isn’t just about technical skills but also about how you recover from setbacks, skills that are vital for building a meaningful career in the intelligence and national security field. Speakers noted that career paths are rarely linear and urged attendees to stay curious and seek out people who can help them navigate new issues and unfamiliar territory. Microcredentials, like SCSP’s AI and National Security program, were highlighted as practical ways to build tech fluency. Closing out, the panel encouraged attendees to trust their experience, take bold steps, and stay true to their values, reminding everyone that adaptability and continuous learning are now essential career skills.

Ignite Rounds: Off Script: Lessons From the Unexpected

Five speakers took the stage to share inspiring lessons from their professional journeys in a series of brief but deeply moving speeches.

Erringer Helbling, CEO, Demati, described how her journey from working in the public sector to her first position in the private sector reshaped her view of trust as a strategic asset. She emphasized that in today's mission space, building open, values-based relationships is essential for true partnership and progress. 

Mark Jarema, IC Leader, shared how overcoming personal and professional storms taught him that mindset, attitude, and surrounding yourself with "only quality people" are critical to resilience. He reminded the audience that doing the ordinary extraordinarily well can transform even the hardest setbacks into future success. 

Mary Quinn, Executive Director for Intelligence, TSA, shared how honesty and transparency have shaped her career. She described how building a reputation for doing the right thing earned her trust across teams, so when an assignment didn't go as planned, her integrity ensured colleagues still had confidence in her. Her story highlighted that consistency in honesty and candor can sustain you through unexpected turns.

Tammy Thorp, Former Director of Public Affairs, CIA, discussed how taking calculated risks shaped her career. She shared how saying yes to unexpected opportunities helped her grow beyond her comfort zone, emphasizing that pushing past self-doubt and stepping into new roles can open doors you didn't know existed. 

Cortney Weinbaum, Senior National Security Researcher, RAND Corp., explored the meaning of integrity and how it shapes leadership in the IC. She described three variations of what integrity is, what we do when no one is watching, the distance between what we say and what we do, and what we choose to do when everyone is watching. She urged the audience to consider which hills are worth standing on, and reminded them that true integrity requires courage, clarity, and accountability even under the brightest spotlight.

Speakers

Keynote Speakers

• 
  Letitia Long

  Chairwoman,

  INSA Board of Directors

All Speakers

• 
  Dr. Nandita Balakrishnan

  Director of Intelligence

  SCSP

• 
  Christopher Gibson

  Senior Advisor, National Background Investigative Services

  OUSD(I&S)

• 
  Andrew Hallman

  VP and Strategic Account Executive for the IC

  Leidos

• 
  Erringer Helbling

  CEO

  Demati

• 
  Mr. Mark Jarema

  IC Leader

• 
  Ed Mornston

  Deputy Director of Intelligence

  U.S. Space Force HQ

• 
  Cliff Purkey

  Deputy Director, Office of Human Resources

  DIA

• 
  Mary Quinn

  Executive Director for Intelligence

  Transportation Security Administration

• 
  Tammy Thorp

  Former Director of Public Affairs

  CIA

• 
  Cortney Weinbaum

  Senior National Security Researcher

  RAND Corporation

Moderator

• 
  Elise Yanker

  CEO and Owner

  Collaborative Consulting Inc.

• 

  Patriot

• 

  Small Business

• 

  Small Business

• 

  Notebook

• 

  Registration

• 

  Platinum

• 

  Platinum