DHS OCPO Receives Industry Engagement Award; TSA OSC Receives Innovation Award

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Washington Homeland Security Roundtable

Dec 08, 2014, 02:00 ET

WASHINGTON, Dec. 8, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Washington Homeland Security Roundtable (WHSR) hosted the annual Holiday Reception on the evening of December 3, 2014. Guests were in attendance from across the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense, U.S. Treasury and a broad representation of Industry partners. At the reception, WHSR presented the 2014 Industry Engagement Award to the DHS Office of the Chief Procurement Officer for ongoing programs over the last two years, including the Department-wide Innovation in Acquisitions Working Group launched this year. The award was accepted by the Undersecretary of Management (Acting) Chip Fulghum and representatives of DHS OCPO. This in-depth, yearlong program is an unprecedented effort to bring together multiple executives from across DHS and Industry to work together on recommendations for Innovation in Acquisitions and Programs. In early 2013, the DHS OCPO and WHSR jointly developed a Strategic Communications program for DHS Contracting Officers, along with WHSR members participating in Debriefing Training Sessions hosted by the OCPO throughout 2013 and 2014.

A new Innovation Award was presented to John Sanders, Assistant Administrator of the TSA Office of Security Capabilities for engaging industry in the OSC Five Year Strategic Plan, from development to implementation through monthly Focus Groups with Mr. Sanders, OSC staff and the Office of Acquisitions. Mr. Sanders and staff worked closely with WHSR, other organizations and Industry Executives over the last 16 months to drive engagement and discussion opportunities. Mr. Sanders is retiring from government service this year.

A special portion of the evening was set aside to honor TSA Administrator John Pistole's ongoing engagement with industry and his upcoming retirement from his distinguished U.S. Government career. Under Mr. Pistole's leadership, TSA signed an MOA with WHSR in 2012 to formalize engagement and dialogue with Industry, both with the Administrator and Senior Leadership Team and the ongoing Focus Groups with components of TSA. During his tenure, Mr. Pistole has driven Risk Based Security and the TSA Pre✓™ program, among many other initiatives.

Previous awardees of the Industry Engagement Award in 2012 were the U.S. Border Patrol, accepted by Chief Michael Fisher; and the TSA under Administrator Pistole's leadership and administered by the Assistant Administrator for Acquisitions in 2012, Karen Shelton Waters. In 2013, the award was presented to the U.S. Coast Guard, for engagement under VADM Peter Neffenger's leadership.

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SOURCE Washington Homeland Security Roundtable