Intelligence and National Security Foundation

INSF Scholarship Program

"Investing in the Future IC Workforce" Scholarships support talented, mission-driven undergraduate and graduate students pursuing studies related to a career in the United States intelligence and national security communities.

Congratulations to our 2021 Scholarship Winners!

The INSA Foundation has announced the recipients of its Investing in the Future of the IC Workforce undergraduate and graduate scholarships. Four outstanding students pursuing careers in intelligence and national security have been awarded a total of $20,000 in scholarships.

"It is a privilege to support these exceptional students," said INSA/INSF President Suzanne Wilson Heckenberg. "They demonstrated leadership and character in their submissions, as well as a common desire to make a difference. On behalf of the INSA Foundation Board of Trustees, we are honored to help these students on their journey to rewarding and challenging careers in the intelligence and national security community." Read the Story.

Make a Donation!

Donations to support INSF's scholarships can be made via check, PayPal, or Venmo. Mail-In Checks: Intelligence and National Security Foundation 4301 Wilson Blvd., Ste. 910, Arlington, VA 22203 Please note that the check is for the scholarship fund PayPal & Venmo: @INSFScholarship

Thank you to our Supporters!

 Champion ($25,000+)

Advocate ($10,000+)

Avantus Federal
ClearanceJobs.com

Ally ($5,000+)

Letitia A. Long
Vimesh and Nancy Patel
Adam and Jennifer Rudo

Supporter ($1,000+)

Tony Frazier
Sue Gordon
Jake Jacoby

Friend ($500+)

Megan Jaffer

Future of the IC Workforce White Paper and Video Series

INSF White Paper Finds Remote Work Outliving the Pandemic

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic presented significant challenges to the U.S. intelligence and national security community (IC).  As months passed and agencies pivoted their operations, the shift to remote work prompted deeper discussions about risks and benefits, impact on recruitment and retention efforts, and appropriate use of emerging technologies to facilitate secure remote work environments.

Underwritten by Avantus Federal, the INSF white paper, The Future of the IC Workforce: The Promise and Limits of Remote Work Technology summarized key points made in the Foundation's recent three part videocast series. The paper  analyzes the IC shift to remote work in 2020, specifically what worked, what challenges remain, and what opportunities lay ahead.

Supporting Partner:           Underwritten By:

Learn more about the Three-Part Future of the IC Workforce Videocast Series:

Episode 1 | Risks and Benefits of Remote Work 

Episode 2 | Adapting the IC Workforce: Recruiting, Retaining, Training, and Re-Skilling

Episode 3 | Enabling the Secure Hybrid Work Environment 

INSA365: Discover Career Opportunities in the IC

Access the Video  

This TV news-styled broadcast, titled INSA365, provides an inside look into how intelligence and national security professionals got their start in supporting the private sector. At the end, stick around for an interview focused on turning an internship into a full-time job offer. Even kickstart your own career—the video’s landing page offers you the opportunity to submit your information directly to the recruiting team at General Dynamics Information Technology.

Watch the Trailer

Presenting Sponsor: 

Get to Know #yourIC!

The diversity of the people who make up the U.S. Intelligence Community (IC) is inspiring and the career paths within it are endless. Learn more about them on our #yourIC page.

Diversity with Inclusion

A diverse, skilled workforce, one with varied perspectives, backgrounds and cognitive styles, is a vital national security interest. INSF puts a high priority on ensuring development and advancement opportunities exist for all professionals committed to the mission. From podcasts to programming, INSF seeks to build a talent pipeline that brings a rich array of perspectives to our community, ensuring we meet today's—and tomorrow’s—challenges. 

Diversity & Inclusion Podcast Series with ClearanceJobs.com 

• Brains, Bias, and Why the Best Teams are Diverse
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the National Security Workforce
• First Female African American Pilot Talks About Getting Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable

Diversity in National Security: Critical to Securing Our Mission at Home and Abroad

In celebration of Black History Month, INSF and Cornerstone hosted a conversation on the importance of diversity and inclusion within the national security arena. On Friday, February 26 some of our nation's top national security officials and proponents of equity joined together for a panel discussion. The program began with keynote remarks from Chairman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), followed by a roundtable discussion with 

• Rita Sampson, Chief of Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity, ODNI
• Wyndee Parker, National Security Advisor for Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi 
• George MacArthur, Vice President and Portfolio Manager, ManTech
• Lodriguez Murry, Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Government Affairs, United Negro College Fund
• Charles Carithers, Government Affairs Principal, Cornerstone (moderator)

Strengthening the Public's Understanding of the IC

INSF has partnered with the Ridge College of Intelligence Studies and Applied Sciences at Mercyhurst University, to help create the first Intelligence Community Hall of Fame, which will be housed on the university's campus in Erie, PA. This institution will bring to life the stories of intelligence trailblazers whose leadership, selfless service, and love of country ensured the protection of our nation and the liberties we all enjoy. In addition, it will illustrate to our future IC workforce—such as the students in Mercyhurst’s intelligence programs—the multitude of career opportunities available across the community; the importance of service to a cause bigger than one’s self; and the value of a life of integrity and purpose.

Media Coverage

Advancing Research and Discussion of top National Security Issues

New in 2021! 8(a) National Security Showcase

Planned to take place in June 2021, this first-time INSA event offers the opportunity for 8(a) businesses to market technology and service innovations with national security applications to procurement representatives, venture capitalists, S&T leaders, and small business specialists from across 17 IC agencies and prime contractors. Learn more >>>

Innovators' Showcase

From 2010-2020, the Innovators’ Showcase provided the opportunity to academia and the private sector to present independent research and development initiatives with national security applications to key S&T and procurement officials from across DOD and the IC. Held in partnership with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), the Showcase fosters dialogue between government and outside organizations regarding technical challenges and solutions.

2020 Innovators Showcase Honorees

Board of Trustees

Letitia A. Long
Chairman

Suzanne Wilson Heckenberg
President

Chuck Alsup 
Senior Advisor

Robert Griffin
Managing Partner, DVI Equity Partners

Jose Jimenez
President/CEO, The Carib Group

Michael Johnson
Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), F2 (Facebook Financial) at Facebook

Kathy Pherson
CEO, Pherson

Matt Scott
Co-founder & President, MissionTech Solutions,
an Avantus Federal company

Peter Seegers
Principal
Ernst & Young, LLP

What we do

The Foundation supports programs and resources that:

• Educate the public on the value of the Intelligence Community;
• Advance key intelligence and national security research; and
• Support a diverse, skilled, passionate pipeline of talent into the community