The National Operations Security (OPSEC) Awards Program is a top priority for the Interagency OPSEC Support Staff (IOSS). As the national authority for OPSEC, the IOSS administers the National OPSEC Program and understands the importance of acknowledging exemplary accomplishments made by Government employees within the field. The National OPSEC Awards Program provides non-monetary awards annually to Government organizations and government employees within the national security community who have excelled in the practice of OPSEC during the past fiscal year. Through this awards program, the IOSS hopes to encourage the development of new and exciting OPSEC programs and awareness products and share proven OPSEC expertise with others.

Important Date

Nominations Due: December 15, 2009

Interagency OPSEC Support Staff
ATTN: Awards Program Manager
6411 Ivy Lane, Suite 400
Greenbelt, MD 20770

Award Presentations:

During the National OPSEC Conference, held annually in April or May.
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Eligibility

• Only U.S. Government organizations and employees of the U.S. Government are eligible.
• No non-federal entity or employee of a non-federal entity is eligible.
• U.S. Government organizations, and their employees, whose primary missions are to provide OPSEC support and training and are provided resources specifically for those purposes (e.g., IOSS, Joint Information Operations Warfare Center/Joint Operations Security Center(JIOWC/JOSC), and Service OPSEC Support Elements) are NOT eligible to compete for the Organizational Achievement Award or the Individual Achievement Award.

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• The call for submissions for the National OPSEC Awards Program is made annually in October for accomplishments made during the previous fiscal year (the award period). The call will be posted on the IOSS website and sent electronically to those on the most current IOSS mailing list
• Award submission packages are due at the IOSS no later than 15 December annually . If mailed, submission packages must be postmarked by 15 December. There is no limit on the number of submissions allowed. NOTE: Incomplete packages will not be considered

Each submission package must contain the following:
1. A completed awards submission form
2. A one-page endorsement letter signed by the head of the submitting organization
3. A nomination narrative as required by the award criteria
4. For Multimedia Achievement Award Submissions: Certification that the U.S. Government has an unlimited rights license to any third-party intellectual property (e.g., copyright, trademark) contained with the submission
5. For Multimedia Achievement Award Submissions: The original plus nine copies of the nominated product (e.g., DVD, CD, poster, etc.) must be submitted as required by the award criteria
6. One CD of 30 to 40 digital photographs in JPEG format of the award nominees (individuals or organizations). Photos must be unclassified. “Action shots” are preferred. For winning submissions, these photos will be used in creating the awards video shown during the awards ceremony. CDs will not be returned to the submitter. The submitter shall also include a certification that the U.S. Government has an unlimited rights license to any third-party intellectual property (e.g., copyright, trademark) contained on the CD.

• All written paperwork should be on 8 ½" x 11" paper, bound only with staples or paper clips, and without amplifying pictures, artwork, attachments, or cover pages
• Guidance on the content of the submission narrative is included in the specific criteria for each award. The narrative should address all award selection criteria.
• Unclassified narratives are preferred, however submissions up to the SECRET level will be accepted. Any classified submissions must be appropriately marked and the submitter must ensure that all classification markings are correct. NOTE: Under no circumstances will submissions above the SECRET classification be accepted.
• Responsibility for prepublication review of any submitted materials rests with the submitter
• Materials submitted for nomination will not be returned
• The Awards Board will evaluate the submissions and select the winners. Decisions of the board, whose deliberations are independent and private, shall be final
• All nominees and those who submitted nominations will be notified of the Board's decisions no later than 45 days prior to the annual National OPSEC Conference
  

Members of the Awards Board are selected annually from within the U.S. Government OPSEC community by the Director of the IOSS and do not represent any “constituency.” The Board shall contain no fewer than five members, and include at least one person who is from the U.S. military, at least one woman, and at least one minority. The JIOWC/JOSC and the Service OPSEC Support Elements shall be standing members of the Board and may each appoint a representative to serve. Members shall not serve more than two consecutive years.
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For further information concerning the National OPSEC Awards Program, including eligibility and nomination procedures, please call the Awards Program Manager (Patty) @ (443) 479-4736.

To send inquires via e-mail use ioss@radium.ncsc.mil, or by letter to:

Interagency OPSEC Support Staff (IOSS)
ATTN: Awards Program Manager
6411 Ivy Lane, Suite 400
Greenbelt, MD 20770

Organizational Achievement Award
The National OPSEC Awards Program presents first and second place non-monetary Organizational Achievement Awards in recognition of outstanding U.S. Government organizational accomplishments during the award period (the preceding fiscal year). The criteria considered include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Evidence of organizational ability to identify and solve significant OPSEC problems, threats, or vulnerabilities;
• Creation or development of innovative programs for OPSEC training, education or awareness; and,
• Mission accomplishments and successes at the organizational level resulting from the application of OPSEC and/or development of a robust OPSEC program.

The nomination narrative should be no more than four pages, single-spaced, and should describe the specific accomplishments of the nominated organization, focusing solely on OPSEC achievements.

Individual Achievement Award
The National OPSEC Awards Program presents first and second place non-monetary Individual Achievement Awards in recognition of outstanding U.S. Government employee accomplishments during the award period (the preceding fiscal year). The criteria considered include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Evidence of individual ability to identify and solve significant OPSEC problems, threats, or vulnerabilities;
• Demonstration of outstanding leadership and knowledge in the application of OPSEC; and,
• Innovative and creative use of resources (e.g., personnel, fiscal, networking, or facilities) to successfully accomplish OPSEC-related goals and missions.

The nomination narrative should be no more than four pages, single-spaced, and should describe the specific accomplishments of the nominee, focusing solely on OPSEC achievements (as opposed to other, non-OPSEC security functions).

Multimedia Achievement Awards

The National OPSEC Awards Program presents up to two non-monetary awards in each of two categories in recognition of outstanding multimedia accomplishments by U.S. Government organizations or employees during the award period (the preceding fiscal year). These awards are designed to stimulate the development and distribution of OPSEC-related education and awareness materials.

The two Multimedia Achievement Awards categories are:

• Electronic Media (e.g., DVDs, CDs, websites, etc.); and,
• Print Media (e.g., posters, brochures, etc.).

The criteria considered for both categories include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Be original work created by U.S. Government organizations or employees, or include work created by U.S. Government contractors for which the U.S. Government has at least unlimited rights;
• Possess a valid OPSEC educational, training, or awareness theme or message;
Demonstrate artistic value and visual impact; and,
• Include certification that the product either contains no copyrighted or trademarked material, or includes copyrighted or trademarked material in which the U.S. Government has unlimited rights (see certification form).

The nomination narrative shall be no more than two pages, single-spaced, and describe the product, its use (e.g., training, awareness, etc.), benefits, and impact on the organization. A total of ten copies (original plus 9 copies) of the nominated material (e.g., poster, publication, DVD, CD) shall be included in the submission package.

Poster submissions shall include an original, mounted on foam board or equivalent. The finished size of posters shall be no smaller than 8 ½" x 11" and no larger than 30" x 40". Original submission shall be full-size; copies of posters may be as small as 8 ½" x 11".

An electronic image of the finished poster on CD-ROM in an unflattened, native application format (e.g., Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, etc.) shall be included. If there are questions regarding acceptable formats, please contact the Awards Program Manager.

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