2025 Charlie Allen Achievement Awards

Join 200+ intelligence, national security, homeland and defense professionals at the INSA/INSF Charlie Allen Achievement Awards taking place Thursday, February 20 from 6:00-9:30 pm at the Army Navy Country Club in Arlington, VA.

This uplifting evening will celebrate six outstanding early and mid-career professionals for their outsized impact on our nation's national security.

Following a welcome reception, the formal program will kick off with keynote remarks from Juliane Gallina, Deputy Director, Directorate of Digital Innovation, CIA. Top agency leaders will be on hand for the award ceremony, followed by a celebratory dessert reception.

Get to Know the 2025 Charlie Allen Achievement Award Recipients!

Khalilah Montgomery-Sobrowski
Deputy Director, Analytic Advancement Division, Office of Intelligence & Analysis, U.S. Dept of Homeland Security 
Joan A. Dempsey Mentorship Award

As Deputy Director of the Analytic Advancement Division in the DHS Office of Intelligence and Analysis, Ms. Montgomery-Sobrowski leads a team of 50 professionals responsible for producing I&A’s finished intelligence analysis. Over the past five years, she has formally mentored 20 individuals and supported over 50 colleagues through informal guidance. By helping mentees identify their strengths and aspirations, she has guided personnel toward promotions, lateral moves, and advanced educational opportunities. Ms. Montgomery-Sobrowski's mentorship has directly influenced retention, with mentees citing her advice and support as key to their career development. She also shaped I&A’s future workforce by serving on hiring panels that selected hundreds of personnel, ensuring high standards of talent acquisition. Ms. Montgomery-Sobrowski’s ability to guide, inspire, and create opportunities for others reflects the very essence of this award.

Kelsey Carilli
R&D, Systems Engineering, Sandia National Laboratories
Sidney D. Drell Science & Technology Award

A trailblazer in extended reality (XR) engineering visualization at Sandia National Laboratories, Ms. Carilli has transformed how teams tackle complex engineering challenges critical to the nation’s nuclear security mission. With vision and determination, she grew XR from a fledgling concept with a $50K budget in 2020 into a critical program commanding over $4M in funding by 2024. Her innovative tools have played a pivotal role in key modernization programs, enabling faster, more informed decision-making and streamlining timelines for critical national defense initiatives. She has also forged strong partnerships with national laboratories, production facilities, and organizations such as NASA. Her unwavering commitment to excellence, her vision for advancing XR innovation, and her genuine care for her colleagues make Ms. Carilli an exceptional leader and an invaluable asset to the broader nuclear security enterprise and the nation.

Kris Sonsteby
Senior Duty Officer, White House Situation Room, Executive Office of the President
Richard J. Kerr Government Award

As one of the youngest Senior Duty Officer in the White House Situation Room, Mr. Sonsteby led an elite team providing critical intelligence and crisis support to the President and National Security Council. His leadership was pivotal during the 2023 Niger coup and the 2024 Lebanese Hizballah attack on Israel. Mr. Sonsteby expertly triaged intelligence, delegated tasks, and prepared briefing materials that enabled swift, informed decisions by senior officials, including the President. His production of 35 President’s Global Highlights products reflected his commitment to delivering high-value intelligence. Mr. Sonsteby is also celebrated for his mentorship and ability to foster collaboration and innovation in demanding environments. His extraordinary accomplishments bring credit to himself and ensure a lasting impact on our nation’s security.

Sarah Daly
Research Staff Member, Institute for Defense Analyses
Edwin H. Land Industry Award

As a Research Associate at the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA), Sarah Daly has played a pivotal role in helping the DoD and DARPA ensure that advanced technologies, including AI and autonomous systems, are developed and used in ways that align with American values and ethics. Over the past five years, Ms. Daly has led efforts to integrate ethical principles into DARPA’s most complex programs. She created a widely used ethics training program and authored a practical handbook to ensure ethical considerations are embedded into technology. At IDA, she has mentored numerous junior researchers, encouraging their participation in interdisciplinary work, and advocated for transparency in pay and promotions, leading to meaningful organizational improvements. Ms. Daly’s unwavering commitment to innovation and her ability to empower others will leave a lasting legacy, both within her organization and across the national security community. 

Technical Sergeant John Coloso, USAF
Section Chief, Commercial Aviation, 70th ISR Wing, NSA
William O. Studeman Military Award

As section chief for the National Security Agency’s (NSA) commercial aviation interdiction mission, TSgt John Coloso consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership and technical acumen. Over the past five years, he managed dozens of personnel, driving intelligence production that directly supports counterproliferation, cybersecurity, and global security operations. Under TSgt Coloso’s guidance, his teams produced hundreds of intelligence reports addressing 150 Priority-1 national intelligence needs. His work uncovered adversary threats to critical U.S. and allied systems, platforms, and personnel. Notably, his detailed analysis of vulnerabilities in specific government systems earned praise from the Department of State and senior military leaders for providing crucial insights into global security threats. Beyond his operational contributions, he distinguished himself as a compassionate and visionary leader. Through his mentorship and commitment to professional development, TSgt Coloso enabled airmen to pursue higher education, complete advanced training, and achieve life-changing career milestones.

Major Javier Alejandro Noboa, USSF
Chief, Space Vehicle Engineering Division Geospatial Intelligence Systems Acquisition Directorate (GEOINT), Proliferated Radar and Optical System Program Office, NRO
John W. Warner Homeland Security Award

Major Javier Noboa has achieved extraordinary success advancing space systems that directly enhance U.S. homeland security. In 2024, he led a team of engineers and contractors in deploying a constellation of over 100 remote sensing and communication satellites. These systems bolstered border surveillance, improved monitoring of transnational threats, and increased operational readiness for critical missions. During the design phase, he discovered a structural payload fault and led an inspection campaign to address similar issues in production, preventing costly delays and improving manufacturing processes. A dedicated mentor, his hands-on approach, including manufacturing floor tours and advanced training sessions, has fostered a skilled workforce capable of tackling future challenges. Major Noboa’s ability to lead, mentor, and inspire at such an early stage in his career reflects the highest ideals of this award.

Speakers

Keynote Speakers

• 
  Juliane Gallina

  Deputy Director, Directorate of Digital Innovation

  CIA

Agenda

Thursday, February 20 | 6:00-9:30 PM

Location:
Army Navy Country Club
1700 Army Navy Dr.
Arlington, VA 22202

Agenda:
6:00-7:00 pm Registration & Welcome Reception
7:00-8:30 pm Formal Program
8:30-9:30 pm Dessert Reception

Dress:
Business or Service Dress/Class A

Parking:
Gratis onsite parking

Media Policy:
This event is open to the press

• 

  Welcome Reception

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  Coat Check - Small Business

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  Commemorative Photobooth

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  Welcome Reception

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  Premier

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  Registration

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  Dessert Reception