Virginia Tech's counterintelligence work recognized with federal award
The university was among five of more than 12,000 eligible organizations in the United States to receive the 2023 Jack Donnelly Award for Excellence in Counterintelligence.
Federal leaders converged in Blacksburg in November to celebrate Virginia Tech’s prominent role in counterintelligence.
“Virginia Tech personifies a shining example of what it takes to hold steadfast to strong security and insider threat program,” David Cattler, director of the Department of Defense’s Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency, said in presenting the university with agency’s 2023 Jack Donnelly Award for Excellence in Counterintelligence to the university.
“Not only is the Virginia Tech security program great in what it is for Virginia Tech, but also as a model and as a prominent advocate and mentor for others that work in this space,” Cattler said.
First announced in June, the university was among five of more than 12,000 eligible organizations in the United States to receive the honor, this year. The award is given out annually to companies and institutions with the best counterintelligence results and cooperation in preventing foreign entities from stealing national security information.
Cattler was joined by U.S. Sen. Mark Warner in presenting the award to Virginia Tech President Tim Sands. Warner, who shared insights about the current state of national security and the importance of institutions helping prevent potential bad actors.
“Getting our security environment right is extremely important as we face increasingly complex threats from our adversaries,” Warner said. “As chairman of the Intelligence Committee, I’m proud to see Virginia Tech serving as a model for counterintelligence and counter espionage.”
That sentiment was echoed by Sands, who said maintaining strong relations with government agencies was key to the university’s growing global engagement.
“As Virginia Tech grows globally, initiatives like our counterintelligence program help us engage the international community with confidence,” Sands said. “We appreciate our government partners and the exceptional support they’ve provided over the years.”
Sands credited the work of John Talerico, assistant vice president of research security and the university’s chief research security officer, support from the Virgnia Tech Board of Visitors, and a universitywide commitment to service for the milestone achievement.
“Virginia Tech is distinguished by a commitment to our motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve),” Sands said. “Faculty and student talent come here looking for ways to serve, and serving national security is right at the top of the list.”
Virginia Tech previously received this award, then called the Award for Excellence in Counterintelligence, in 2018 and twice earned the Defense Counterintelligence and Security’s other prestigious award - the James S. Cogswell Award for Outstanding Industrial Security – in 2016 and 2020.
“Very few facilities receive these awards at all, and even fewer receive both. Virginia Tech has received both now twice,” Cattler said. “That’s a clear testament to their dedication and results.”
