alarming warnings issued by top federal security official regarding escalating dangers at Alexandria conference
The Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA), headquartered at Marine Corps Base Quantico, has taken on the role of "America's Gatekeeper," protecting classified information across the defense industrial base. In a recent conference held at the Patent and Trademark Office at 600 Dulany St., security professionals from the military, government, industry, and academia gathered to discuss insider threat challenges.
David Cattler, the director of the DCSA, emphasized the strategic value of Northern Virginia's intellectual property and defense workforce, highlighting a potential threat that was issued on August 18, 2021, targeting defense contractors and classified government work in the region.
The DCSA, which was formed in 2019 by consolidating functions previously handled by the Defense Investigative Service and Defense Security Service, oversees 13,000 facilities and 5,500 classified information technology systems. Rapid technological advancement, according to Cattler, is outpacing policy development, creating additional vulnerabilities.
Cattler also mentioned that adversaries no longer separate economic competition from national security. This is evident in the increasing number of cyberattacks from countries such as China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. Two notable Chinese cyber campaigns, "Volt Typhoon" and "Salt Typhoon," have targeted U.S. infrastructure and telecommunications companies.
In 2023, an Air National Guard analyst leaked classified information on Discord, while in 2025, a Defense Intelligence Agency analyst allegedly sought to sell information in exchange for foreign citizenship. These incidents underscore the seriousness of the insider threat.
One Fortune 100 defense contractor reported dealing with 65,000 phishing attempts monthly, demonstrating the scale of the cyber threat. To combat this, the DCSA has begun deploying insider threat representatives into military commands and installations nationwide.
Last year, the DCSA conducted 5.4 million course completions in its extensive security training programs and trains over 100 new polygraph examiners annually. The agency also conducts approximately 2.7 million background investigations annually and oversees over 10,000 cleared defense companies nationwide.
The expanding threat environment is expected to result in more work for the DCSA, including issuing more facility clearances, engaging in more personnel vetting, and conducting more training. The DCSA director reiterated that the National Industrial Security Program overseen by his agency is "central to defending our national power."
As the DCSA continues to safeguard classified information, it remains vigilant against the growing insider threat and cyberattacks, ensuring the protection of our nation's security.
