The New IC
June 25, 2025 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM
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.
Sponsorship Opportunities
-
Patriot
Sold!
$20,000
Member Price
$22,500
Non-Member Price
- Eight gratis registrations
- Opportunity to introduce the opening keynote
- On-stage acknowledgement at beginning and end of program
- Company logo placement on marketing materials, signage, website, email promotions, and event recap
- Opportunity to have one staff member profiled in the #yourIC section of INSA website and spotlighted on social media
Current Sponsors
-
Platinum
Sold!
$14,000
Member Price
$17,500
Non-Member Price
- Five gratis registrations
- Opportunity to introduce the panel or ignite round moderator
- On-stage acknowledgement at beginning and end of program
- Company logo placement on marketing materials, signage, website, email promotions, and event recap
Current Sponsors
-
Networking Reception
Exclusive
$11,000
Member Price
$13,500
Non-Member Price
- Five gratis registrations
- Dedicated company branded signage at reception closing the program
- On-stage acknowledgement at beginning and end of program
- Company logo placement on marketing materials, signage, website, email promotions, and event recap
-
Digital Playback
Exclusive
$10,000
Member Price
$12,000
Non-Member Price
- Five gratis registrations
- Company branding on video recording of event, including the opportunity to insert 60-second company video at start of event recording
- Recording hosted on INSA website and YouTube channel
- Ability to post/link to video recording on company social media channels as thought leader in intelligence and national security
- Social media posts on all INSA channels promoting the event recording and recognizing event sponsor
- On-stage acknowledgement at beginning and end of program
- Company logo placement on marketing materials, signage, website, email promotions, and event recap
-
Notebook
Sold!
$8,000
Member Price
$10,000
Non-Member Price
- Four gratis registrations
- Dedicated company branded notebooks with pen
- On-stage acknowledgement at beginning and end of program
- Company logo placement on marketing materials, signage, website, email promotions, and event recap
Current Sponsors
-
Registration
Sold!
$8,000
Member Price
$10,000
Non-Member Price
- Four gratis registrations
- Company logo placement on registration pages and confirmation messages
- Company branded lanyards provided to all attendees at Registration
- Dedicated company branded signage at registration
- On-stage acknowledgement at beginning and end of program
- Company logo placement on marketing materials, signage, website, email promotions, and event recap
Current Sponsors
-
Floral
Exclusive
$6,500
Member Price
$8,500
Non-Member Price
- Three gratis registrations
- Dedicated company branded florals throughout on tables
- On-stage acknowledgement at beginning and end of program
- Company logo placement on marketing materials, signage, website, email promotions, and event recap
-
Connections & Conversations
Exclusive!
$6,000
Member Price
$8,000
Non-Member Price
- Three gratis registrants
- Dedicated company branded signage at the "Connections & Conversations' pre-event social
- On-stage acknowledgment at beginning and end of program
- Company logo placement on marketing materials, signage, website, email promotions, and event recap
-
Headshot Studio
Exclusive
$6,000
Member Price
$8,000
Non-Member Price
- Three gratis registrations
- Dedicated signage near the headshot studio
- Opportunity to include a brief message (15-20 words) in the email sent to each participant with their headshot
- On-stage acknowledgement at beginning and end of program
- Company logo placement on marketing materials, signage, website, email promotions, and event recap
-
Enduring Memories
Exclusive
$5,000
Member Price
$7,000
Non-Member Price
- Three gratis registrations
- Company mentioned as sponsor on official Flickr photo album with all post event photos
- Company logo on post event recap including 30 word call to action
- Dedicated social media posts with select event photos, thanking the company and linking to the Flickr album
- On-stage acknowledgement at beginning and end of program
- Company logo placement on marketing materials, signage, website, email promotions, and event recap
-
Refreshment Break
Exclusive
$4,000
Member Price
$5,500
Non-Member Price
- Three gratis registrations
- Dedicated company branded signage at afternoon refreshment break
- Dedicated company branded cocktail napkins at afternoon refreshment break
- On-stage acknowledgement at beginning and end of program
- Company logo placement on marketing materials, signage, website, email promotions, and event recap
-
Community Champion
Unlimited
$3,500
Member Price
$5,500
Non-Member Price
- Three gratis registrations
- On-stage acknowledgement at beginning and end of program
- Company logo placement on marketing materials, signage, website, email promotions, and event recap
-
Small Business
Unlimited
$1,500
Member Price
Must be an INSA Small Business member in good standing- Three gratis registrations
- On-stage acknowledgement at beginning and end of program
- Company logo placement on marketing materials, signage, website, email promotions, and event recap
Current Sponsors
