2026 virtual DCSA security conference spotlights ‘protect our potential’ through partnership, modernization and mission readiness

QUANTICO, Va. — The Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency closed a five-day virtual security conference on Sept. 18 that brought together cleared industry, Department of War security stakeholders and foreign ownership, control or influence practitioners under the theme “Protect Our Potential.”

The 2026 Virtual DCSA Security Conference, held Sept. 14–18, merged four of the agency’s annual gatherings—the National Insider Threat Awareness Month Conference, Security Conference for Industry, Security Conference for DoW, and FOCI Conference—into a single program intended to streamline information sharing, deepen collaboration and orient participants to DCSA’s Strategic Execution Plan.

“Government and industry must work together at the speed of operations to secure our vital national interests,” said DCSA Chief of Staff Jeffrey Sgarlata as the event opened with industry-focused sessions. “If industry cannot move at pace, the warfighter loses.”

Speakers and panels covered National Industrial Security Program operations; cleared-entity vetting and adjudications; workforce development; Trusted Workforce 2.0; insider-threat assessment and threat management; the weaponization of artificial intelligence; and updates to the National Industrial Security System–Increment II (NI2). More than 60 presenters delivered technical updates and fielded questions from attendees.

“Government and industry need each other to meet evolving security challenges,” said Ike Rivers, NISPPAC Industry spokesperson. “DCSA brings the oversight perspective, while industry brings the implementation perspective. Sustained communication, clarity and collaboration are essential to turn security requirements into effective practices that protect the nation’s most critical capabilities.”

Participation topped 3,000 virtual attendees daily, according to the agency. “The DCSA Security Conference strengthened relationships across DCSA security disciplines and with our cleared industry partners, fostering the information sharing and collaboration essential to our shared mission,” said David Scott, DCSA associate director for Industrial Security. “I really appreciated the outstanding participation from our speakers and the more than 3,000 virtual participants who joined us each day. This level of engagement demonstrates the enduring value of the government-industry partnership.”

Beginning Sept. 16, the program shifted to Department of War-focused content, outlining DCSA capabilities, tools and partnerships that support readiness across components. Sessions examined adjudications, National Industrial Security Program compliance and system changes, the application of artificial intelligence and machine learning to insider-threat work, contracting awareness, personnel vetting, security considerations related to mental health, customer success, and integrating operations security with other stakeholders. Participants also discussed security policy and vetting implications for mission readiness and shared feedback on National Background Investigation Services adoption and training needs across the security workforce.

In closing remarks, DCSA leadership underscored a push to accelerate secure decision-making. “We are mission enablers, and that is how we see ourselves,” said DCSA Chief Operating Officer Blake Moore. “The question is no longer whether we can say ‘yes,’ but how fast we can say ‘yes’ securely. Our standard moving forward is speed, transparency, accountability and results – delivering capability at the speed the warfighter needs.”

Agency officials said the conference priorities reflect DCSA’s plan to deliver NBIS, deploy NI2, modernize trusted‑workforce determinations, rebuild the workforce compact, drive customer‑centric operations, and pursue audit‑ready integration and efficiencies through artificial intelligence. DCSA pointed to leadership principles—empowered ownership, urgency, accountability, customer focus and candid communication—as the framework guiding those efforts.

The event concluded after five days of briefings and discussions aimed at addressing emerging security risks, sharing mission-relevant information and reinforcing the government–industry partnerships underpinning national defense.