The 2020 Achievement Awards: A Night of Good Stories and Great People

More than 200 leaders from across the intelligence, national security, homeland, and academic communities attended INSA's 10th Achievement Awards on Thursday, February 20 at the U.S. Institute of Peace. The festive evening kicked off with a lively networking reception, where guests enjoyed catching up with colleagues and friends over heavy hors d'oeuvres and spectacular views of the Lincoln Memorial. At 7 pm, the formal program kicked off with the Hon. Ellen McCarthy, Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research, who captured everyone's attention with her keynote focused on "celebrating the most amazing people I know, the people who at their very core, make our intelligence and national security communities the best in the world."

Each award was then presented to the respective recipients along with a description of their accomplishments and testaments to their character that made them stand out throughout the award selection process. What was even more inspiring, however, was the way in which each recipient humbly accepted their award, sharing with the audience defining moments in their career, their motivation to serve, and their gratitude to all of their mentors and supporters. After much laughter and some tears, no audience member was left untouched by the stories told. View photos from this inspiring event on our Flickr page

Congratulations to our 2020 Achievement Award recipients:

• Anita Brown, Counterintelligence Coordination Officer, Bureau of Intelligence & Research, U.S. State Department—Richard J. Kerr Government Award
• TSgt William N. Haskell, USAF, NCO in Charge, Global Outreach, Mission Integration Directorate, NRO—William O. Studeman Military Award
• Megan Jaffer, Founding Member, Amazing Women of the IC—Joan A. Dempsey Mentorship Award
• Franklin Mosca, Intelligence Analyst, FBI San Antonio Field Office—John W. Warner Homeland Security Award
• LTC David P. Oakley, PhD, Assistant Professor, College of International Security Affairs, National Defense University—Sidney D. Drell Academic Award 
• Abe Usher, Technology Leader, Black Cape—Edwin H. Land Industry Award