A LOOK BACK AT CDSE IN 2023

CDSE has been the premier provider of security training, education, and certification for the Department of Defense (DOD), and across the Federal Government for over 12 years. During Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23), CDSE continued to provide the most up to date and relevant security products and services for its customers. Many in the community returned to work in person during FY23 while others continued to telework, so CDSE adapted its technology to ensure our products reach everyone in this hybrid work environment.

As the security community continues to adapt to the hybrid work environment, not only was there an increase of in-person training, but of in-person meetings and events overall. During FY23, we saw an increase of in-person stakeholder meetings to include the National Industrial Security Program Policy Advisory Committee (NISSPAC), Customer Advisory Board meetings, NCMS Chapter meetings, and more. Though most meetings also had a virtual component, there was an increased level of collaboration and overall networking that couldn’t be achieved in a purely virtual event.

The same was true for the CDSE outreach opportunities. Since the start of the pandemic, the Outreach and Engagement team focused more on the virtual events and digital publications. During FY23, the CDSE Exhibit Booth went back on the road and attended many different events to include the NCMS Annual Seminar in New Orleans, LA; National Security Institute (NSI) Impact Conference in Sterling, VA; and the Foreign Control or Influence (FOCI) Conference in Tysons, VA.

During FY23, CDSE continued to grow the products and services provided to the DOD, industry, and beyond. This ability to grow stemmed from collaboration with Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA), DOD, and cleared industry. This collaboration was achieved through steering committees for conferences, co-hosting webinars and other virtual events, participating in countless working groups through the Federal Government and industry, and keeping abreast of stakeholder needs.

CDSE also had another record year of course completions throughout the offerings of eLearning, Virtual Instructor-led (VILTs), and Instructor-led Training (ILTs). While the virtual offerings remain popular, there was a need in the community to increase the offering of the ILTs, including expanding our mobile trainings to select locations. During FY23, there were 19 ILTs delivered, including the Getting Started Seminar delivered in New Orleans, LA and the Introduction to Special Access Programs classes delivered in Colorado and Florida.?