Hanscom employee takes OPSEC to national level

  • Published
  • By Sarah Olaciregui
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  Valerie Simpson, a division security manager, was recently elected as vice president of the Operations Security Professionals Society. She is the first female elected to serve the society in its 22-year history.
 
According to Simpson, she is one of only 18 lifetime certified operations security professionals in the Department of Defense and the only one at Hanscom. She says it is a great honor and something she is proud of.

The national OPSEC program began in 1989. One year later OPS formed. Today, the purpose of the organization is to further its mission of operations security, as is stated on the website, www.opsecsociety.org.

"The mission of the Operations Security Professionals Society is to advance the interests of the United States and its allies by: Promoting, within federal, state and municipal government agencies, academe and private industry, as vital to national security interests, the development and nurturing of an Operations Security mindset and the practice of risk management based upon Operations Security principles; Serving as a means of educating and informing the American people with regard to the role of Operations Security in maintaining a strong national defense."

Simpson is ready to take on her new role with support from fellow professionals.

"The OPSEC concept and need for collaborative efforts across the world remain the same for the society since its inception in 1990," said outgoing OPS President Daryl Haegley in a letter announcing the new board of directors. "Your newly elected, capable BoD abounds with energy and talent; they are positioned and focused to forge ahead."

Being involved in anti-terrorism and OPSEC is not something new for Simpson, however. She has 30 years combined experience working in those fields with the Defense, Energy and Justice departments, as well as with all service branches in the DoD.

Her experience is evident, according to her boss, Ken Francois, Battle Control Systems Division chief.

"I'm happy to see Valerie's selection to this organization by her peers," he said. "She really knows how to implement an OPSEC program that people understand. She even started an awards program here, called the Purple Dragon, which recognizes people who are practicing good OPSEC."

In addition, Simpson has racked up numerous awards throughout her career, including second place winner of the National OPSEC Individual Achievement Award in the literature category from the Interagency OPSEC Support Staff, a division of the National Security Agency in 2004, and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Award for Technical Excellence in 1996.

Her words of advice are fitting for someone serving in the OPSEC field.
"If your eyes are closed," she said, "you can't see what you can't see."