2025 Charlie Allen Achievement Awards
February 20, 2025 6:00 PM to 9:30 PM Arlington, VA
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.
_sq.jpg?sfvrsn=b52a363e_1)
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.
Sponsorship Opportunities
-
Premier
Sold!
$15,000
Member Price
$18,000
Non-Member Price
- Twelve gratis registrations
- Opportunity to introduce speaker
- Company logo will appear in Commemorative Program
- On-stage acknowledgement at beginning and end of program
- Opportunity to have one staff member profiled in the #yourIC section of INSA website and spotlighted on social media
- Prominent company logo placement on marketing materials, signage, website, email promotions, and event recap
Current Sponsors
-
Welcome Reception
Sold!
$11,000
Member Price
$13,000
Non-Member Price
- Ten gratis registrations
- Dedicated company branded signage in Welcome Reception
- Company branded cocktail napkins at the reception
- Company logo will appear in Commemorative Program
- On-stage acknowledgement at beginning and end of program
- Opportunity to have one staff member profiled in the #yourIC section of INSA website and spotlighted on social media
- Company logo placement on marketing materials, signage, website, email promotions, and event recap
Current Sponsors
-
Dessert Reception
Sold!
$10,000
Member Price
$12,000
Non-Member Price
- Eight gratis registrations
- Dedicated company branded signage at Dessert Reception
- Dedicated company branded napkins at reception
- Company logo will appear in Commemorative Program
- 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
$9,000
Member Price
$11,000
Non-Member Price
- Seven gratis registrations
- Dedicated company branded florals throughout on tables at the reception
- Company logo will appear in Commemorative Program
- On-stage acknowledgement at beginning and end of program
- Company logo placement on marketing materials, signage, website, email promotions, and event recap
-
Commemorative Photobooth
Sold!
$9,000
Member Price
$11,000
Non-Member Price
- Seven gratis registrations
- Dedicated company branded backdrop at photo staging area
- Short company message included in email accompanying the digital photos to event attendees
- Company logo will appear in Commemorative Program
- 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
- Six gratis registrations
- Company logo placement on registration pages and confirmation messages
- Dedicated company branded signage at registration
- Company logo will appear in Commemorative Program
- On-stage acknowledgement at beginning and end of program
- Company logo placement on marketing materials, signage, website, email promotions, and event recap
Current Sponsors
-
Enduring Memories
Exclusive
$7,500
Member Price
$9,500
Non-Member Price
- Five 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 message with a link.
- Dedicated social media post with select event photos, thanking the company and linking to the Flickr album
- Company logo will appear in Commemorative Program
- On-stage acknowledgement at beginning and end of program
- Company logo placement on marketing materials, signage, website, email promotions, and event recap
-
Video Recording
Exclusive
$7,500
Member Price
$9,500
Non-Member Price
- Five gratis registrations
- Company branding on video recording of event, including the opportunity to insert 60-second company video at intro
- Copy of video for own company use
- Recording hosted on INSA website and YouTube channel
- Company logo will appear in Commemorative Program
- On-stage acknowledgement at beginning and end of program
- Company logo placement on marketing materials, signage, website, email promotions, and event recap
-
Commemorative Program
Exclusive
$7,000
Member Price
$9,000
Non-Member Price
- Four gratis registrations
- Dedicated company branded advertisement in commemorative program (inside front cover)
- Company logo will appear in Commemorative Program
- On-stage acknowledgement at beginning and end of program
- Company logo placement on marketing materials, signage, website, email promotions, and event recap
-
Coat Check - Small Business
Sold!
$3,000
Member Price
Must be an INSA Small Business Member in good standing!- Three gratis registrations
- Dedicated company logo on coat check tickets
- Logo will appear in commemorative program
- Company logo included in slide presentation during dinner service
- On-stage acknowledgement at beginning and end of program
- Company logo placement on marketing materials, signage, website, email promotions, and event recap
Current Sponsors
-
Small Business
Unlimited
$2,500
Member Price
Must be an INSA Small Business Member in good standing!- Three gratis registrations
- Logo will appear in commemorative program
- Company logo included in slide presentation during dinner service
- On-stage acknowledgement at beginning and end of program
- Company logo placement on marketing materials, signage, website, email promotions, and event recap
500ce2d2-56b4-49c0-ae95-0a7999fe82a7.jpg?sfvrsn=521d84d2_1){kind=logo}
