Councils

Join A Council!

Council service is open to INSA members in good standing. Simply complete this brief form & our membership team will contact you with next steps. 

Apply to Join! 

Where Expertise Meets Action.

INSA’s policy councils and subcommittees bring together professionals from government, industry, and academia to address the intelligence and national security community’s most pressing challenges. Councils do not just talk about issues; they help shape them.

As a member, councils offer:

  • Opportunities to shape policies that strengthen the IC's effectiveness and efficiency 
  • Thought leadership through white papers, op-eds, podcasts, and panel discussions
  • Collaboration with peers and government partners in trusted, solution-focused forums
  • Access to government and academic leaders who share challenges, priorities, and opportunities for collaboration

Get Involved!

Council service ensures that INSA members play an active part in advancing policy ideas and solutions that support the U.S. intelligence and national security mission.

Thought Leadership

White Papers & Op-Eds

Don Blersch: Authenticity and Objectivity

Jul 23, 2025, 11:37 by Nicole Leung
On this week's episode of the Intelligence Career Conversations podcast, Jim Donnelly welcomes Donald Blersch, Chair of INSA's Security Policy Reform Council and Senior Vice President for Government Innovation at Clearspeed. Tune in as Don reflects on his 35+ year career serving across the intelligence and national security community. The discussion includes his path into the IC, transitioning from technical roles to leadership, and advice for young professionals navigating their careers.

Episode 48

 

On this week's episode of the Intelligence Career Conversations podcast, Jim Donnelly welcomes Donald Blersch, Chair of INSA's Security Policy Reform Council and Senior Vice President for Government Innovation at Clearspeed. Tune in as Don reflects on his 35+ year career serving across the intelligence and national security community. The discussion includes his path into the IC, transitioning from technical roles to leadership, and advice for young professionals navigating their careers.

Thank you to our episode sponsor, Nightwing.

View all the episodes!

Podcasts

Don Blersch: Authenticity and Objectivity

Jul 23, 2025, 11:37 by Nicole Leung
On this week's episode of the Intelligence Career Conversations podcast, Jim Donnelly welcomes Donald Blersch, Chair of INSA's Security Policy Reform Council and Senior Vice President for Government Innovation at Clearspeed. Tune in as Don reflects on his 35+ year career serving across the intelligence and national security community. The discussion includes his path into the IC, transitioning from technical roles to leadership, and advice for young professionals navigating their careers.

Episode 48

 

On this week's episode of the Intelligence Career Conversations podcast, Jim Donnelly welcomes Donald Blersch, Chair of INSA's Security Policy Reform Council and Senior Vice President for Government Innovation at Clearspeed. Tune in as Don reflects on his 35+ year career serving across the intelligence and national security community. The discussion includes his path into the IC, transitioning from technical roles to leadership, and advice for young professionals navigating their careers.

Thank you to our episode sponsor, Nightwing.

View all the episodes!