Texas A&M System Recognized for National Security Leadership with 2024 Jack Donnelly Excellence in Counterintelligence Award
BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas — The Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) and the Office of Counterintelligence, have named The Texas A&M University System’s Research Security Office (RSO) as a recipient of the prestigious 2024 Jack Donnelly Excellence in Counterintelligence Award.
The A&M System has been honored with this award a record four times (2017, 2019, 2023 & 2024), a feat no other academic institution has accomplished. The award recognizes cleared contractor companies and academic institutions that have demonstrated exceptional commitment to protecting U.S. proprietary, sensitive, and classified information and technology from foreign intelligence threats. The award highlights the A&M System RSO’s proactive measures in identifying and mitigating threats, fostering a culture of security and collaborating closely with U.S. government agencies to deter, detect and disrupt foreign intelligence activities.
“The Texas A&M University System has been on the forefront of defending our national security for a long time now,” said John Sharp, chancellor of The Texas A&M University System. “And when it comes to protecting sensitive research, we at the Texas A&M System take our mission very seriously, and we are grateful for the recognition.”
Overseen by Dr. Kevin Gamache, Chief Research Security Officer for the A&M System, the office has been a leader in the academic security arena since 2012, maintaining a robust research security infrastructure and nationally recognized posture of protecting defense-related innovations. In 2017, the office established the Academic Security and Counter-Exploitation (ASCE) Program. Entering its 10th year, ASCE has become the world’s largest research security training event, with dozens of countries attending each year.
In 2023, the A&M System created the Research and Innovation Security and Competitiveness (RISC) Institute, led by Dr. Gamache as its inaugural director. The RISC Institute serves as the leading resource for securing the research enterprise, protecting the strengths of academic and industrial research communities while promoting forward-thinking, innovative approaches to research security.
“This recognition reflects the A&M System’s unwavering commitment to protecting the integrity of our nation’s research enterprise,” said Dr. Gamache. “Through the RISC Institute and our continued innovation in research security practices, we are proud to lead the way in safeguarding U.S. science and technology from foreign threats. This award affirms the dedication of our team and our role as a national model for academic security.”
The Donnelly Excellence in Counterintelligence award will be formally announced at this year’s National Classified Management Society event, with individual presentations to be coordinated with each recipient at a later date.
To learn more about The Texas A&M University System, please visit https://tamus.edu and to learn more about RISC, please visit: https://risc.tamus.edu/
About The Texas A&M University System
The Texas A&M University System is one of the largest systems of higher education in the nation, with a budget of $7.3 billion. Through a statewide network of 11 universities, a comprehensive health science center, eight state agencies, Texas A&M-Fort Worth and Texas A&M-RELLIS, the Texas A&M System educates more than 165,000 students and makes more than 25.3 million additional educational contacts through service and outreach programs each year. System-wide, research and development expenditures exceed $1.5 billion and help drive the state’s economy.
Contact: Tim Eaton
Acting Vice Chancellor of Marketing and Communications
(979) 458-6018
teaton@tamus.edu