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

Horace Blackman: Building a Mission-Driven Career

Oct 29, 2025, 12:33 by Nicole Leung
In this episode of the Intelligence Career Conversations podcast, Jim Donnelly welcomed Horace Blackman, Senior VP/Business Unit Leader, Defense, Intelligence and Space, CGI Federal. He shares insights from a career spanning government and industry, reflecting on lessons learned from both sides of the mission. He discusses what it means to lead with purpose, why a passion for the mission outweighs any technical skill, and how curiosity fuels long-term growth.

Episode 55

In this episode of the Intelligence Career Conversations podcast, Jim Donnelly welcomed Horace Blackman, Senior VP/Business Unit Leader, Defense, Intelligence and Space, CGI Federal. He shares insights from a career spanning government and industry, reflecting on lessons learned from both sides of the mission. He discusses what it means to lead with purpose, why a passion for the mission outweighs any technical skill, and how curiosity fuels long-term growth.

View all the episodes!

Podcasts

Horace Blackman: Building a Mission-Driven Career

Oct 29, 2025, 12:33 by Nicole Leung
In this episode of the Intelligence Career Conversations podcast, Jim Donnelly welcomed Horace Blackman, Senior VP/Business Unit Leader, Defense, Intelligence and Space, CGI Federal. He shares insights from a career spanning government and industry, reflecting on lessons learned from both sides of the mission. He discusses what it means to lead with purpose, why a passion for the mission outweighs any technical skill, and how curiosity fuels long-term growth.

Episode 55

In this episode of the Intelligence Career Conversations podcast, Jim Donnelly welcomed Horace Blackman, Senior VP/Business Unit Leader, Defense, Intelligence and Space, CGI Federal. He shares insights from a career spanning government and industry, reflecting on lessons learned from both sides of the mission. He discusses what it means to lead with purpose, why a passion for the mission outweighs any technical skill, and how curiosity fuels long-term growth.

View all the episodes!