Center for Development 

of Security Excellence

YEAR END 

REPORT
2 Center for Development of Security Excellence

A MESSAGE FROM MR. PAYNE

Daniel E. Payne

Director, Defense Security Service

Sincerely,

The Center for Development of Security Excellence (CDSE) 

continues to adapt to changing policy and technology 

by providing innovative security training, education, and 

certifications across the globe. Since its establishment 

in 2010, CDSE has put its products and services in the 

hands of not only the Department of Defense (DoD) but 

U.S. government entities and industry under the National 

Industrial Security Program (NISP), enhancing their 

capabilities to tackle current and future security threats.

As the security community evolves and changes, so do 

the responsibilities we place on all security personnel. In 

response, CDSE adapts alongside the changing landscape 

and leverages current trends in technology to create 

security courses, products, and certification assessments, 

regardless of location. Security awareness is everyone’s 

responsibility, and CDSE is poised to provide the most upto-date security policy and information to the community 

at large.

Collaborating with those in DoD and across the federal 

government, CDSE continues to help civilians, contractors, 

and beyond to support their security duties with its 

security programs. I am proud of the results we have 

achieved this last year and am excited for what is to come.
www.cdse.edu 3

Kevin J. Jones

Director, CDSE

Sincerely,

CDSE is pleased to present our eighth Year End Report. 

During FY17, we continued to produce and deliver 

products and services for security personnel in the federal 

government and industry under the NISP, ensuring they 

continue to meet the demands of an ever-changing 

security landscape. With new issues and threats emerging 

each day, security responsibilities now rest in the hands of 

not only DoD security professionals but of personnel with 

ancillary security duties and anyone with access to 

current technologies.

CDSE is committed to supporting DoD’s security 

personnel, and constant collaboration with the 

community is integral to this effort. In this year’s edition, 

you will see many examples of accomplishments, 

including hosting a successful DoD Virtual Security 

Conference, working with stakeholders to determine 

training needs, integrating cybersecurity skill standards 

into select certification assessments, facilitating the DSS in 

Transition, and much more.

We hope you will find this report informative and see our 

dedication to providing the security workforce with the 

most current and pertinent products for the constantly 

fluctuating environment.

A MESSAGE FROM THE CDSE FRONT OFFICE

Denise D. Humphrey

Deputy Director, CDSE
Provide the DoD with a security center of 

excellence for the professionalization of the security 

community and be the premier provider of security 

education, training, and certification for the DoD 

and industry under the National Industrial Security 

Program (NISP). The CDSE provides development, 

delivery, and exchange of security knowledge to 

ensure a high-performing workforce capable of 

addressing our Nation’s security challenges.

To be the premier provider and center of excellence 

for security education, training, and certification for 

the DoD and industry under the NISP.

VISION

MISSION Center for Development 

of Security Excellence

Center for Development 

of Security Excellence

4 Center for Development of Security Excellence
www.cdse.edu 5

CONTENTS

A Message from Mr. Payne 2

A Message from the CDSE Front Office 3

Collaboration 6

DoD Virtual Security Conference 6

DSS in Transition 7

Curriculum Review Meetings 8

Security Oversight Workshop 8

New From CDSE 9

Initial Orientation & Refresher Training 9

UD Toolkit 9

Cyber Skills for Security Professionals 9

New Courses and Products 10

Updated Courses and Products 11

Results 12

Student Earns All Education Certificates 12

ACE CREDITTM Recommendations 12

Certification Assessment Feedback Form 13

Course Survey Feedback 13

Technology Capabilities 14

Migration to USA Learning 14

FSO Getting Started Seminar Hybrid 14

Awards 15

Award Winning Counterintelligence Team 15

CDSE Recognized for a Second Year as a Top 

Learning Organization 15

Horizon Interactive Awards 16

OMNI Awards 17

By the Numbers 18
6 Center for Development of Security Excellence

DOD VIRTUAL 

SECURITY CONFERENCE

In July, CDSE hosted its second DoD Virtual Security 

Conference. The theme for the conference was “Trends, 

Changes, and Challenges.” 

More than 1,400 security professionals from over 40 

different agencies and services across 15 countries 

participated. Rather than travelling to a central location, 

the collaborative online platform enabled attendees and 

speakers to participate from their homes and offices. The 

conference addressed the immediate needs of the DoD 

security community while bringing civilian and military 

security professionals together from around the world.

CDSE worked with the DoD Security Training Council 

(DSTC) to establish a working group to select session 

topics that represented the community’s needs. Specific 

conference sessions included:

• New adjudication guideline implementation

• Critical Unclassified Information (CUI) policy 

implementation and CUI markings

• New DD Form 254 process

• Changes to information security policy

• Personnel security policy updates, tiered 

investigations, and the way ahead

• Physical security focused on wireless and personal 

electronic device impacts

Using virtual delivery provided a venue to address 

the DoD security communities while also avoiding 

lodging, travel, and administrative costs. This format 

allowed civilian and 

military security 

professionals 

from all over the 

world a unique 

opportunity to 

hear about and 

discuss updated 

policy and guidance.

COLLABORATION

4

4

1,355

70

295

66

264 242

4

44

44

6

7

13

WORLDWIDE PARTICIPATION IN THE 2017 DoD VIRTUAL SECURITY CONFERENCE

“This was my first time attending 

and virtual events [sometimes are] 

boring. Not this one. The keynote 

speaker was amazing and all topics 

were relevant and on point.”
www.cdse.edu 7

COLLABORATION

DSS IN TRANSITION 

During the fiscal year, DSS continued to see changes. 

Where the agency once concentrated on scheduledriven National Industrial Security Program Operating 

Manual (NISPOM) compliance, DSS is now moving to 

an intelligence-led, asset-focused, and threat-driven 

approach to industrial 

security oversight. 

To achieve this 

approach, DSS is 

engaging the entire 

enterprise through a 

multi-year initiative 

called, DSS in Transition 

(DiT). As part of this 

initiative, CDSE has 

played a key role in 

the establishment 

of the DSS Change 

Management Office 

(CMO) by providing 

people, resources, and 

support. The CMO 

reports to Mr. James 

Kren, DSS Deputy 

Director, through Mr. 

Kevin Jones, DiT Change 

Management Officer/

Director, CDSE, and has 

oversight of enterprisewide change activities.

Over the past fiscal year, the CMO has achieved a 

number of accomplishments, including orchestrating 

the development of a new DSS methodology that is 

based on knowing the assets at each facility, establishing 

tailored security programs, and applying appropriate 

countermeasures against threats. As a result, in August 

2017, a single, unified, and aligned Concept of Operations 

(CONOPs) was created that will be tested in the field early 

next fiscal year. 

In addition, to 

implement the new 

DSS methodology, CMO 

developed a multiphase communications 

strategy to unify and 

align messages from 

senior leadership, 

explain why DSS is 

changing, and outline 

what the change means 

for cleared industry. 

CMO also coordinated 

with the National 

Industrial Security 

Program Policy Advisory 

Committee (NISPPAC) 

and assembled a core 

group of volunteers from 

industry to regularly 

provide input on the 

development of the new 

DSS methodology. 

The accomplishments 

of the CMO have had a profound impact on the Agency 

this fiscal year. DSS is now shifting its focus from strictly 

NISPOM compliance to helping cleared industry ensure 

contracted capabilities, technologies, and services are 

delivered uncompromised.
SECURITY OVERSIGHT WORKSHOP

This summer, DSS hosted a Security Oversight 

Workshop, bringing together Special Access Program 

(SAP) and Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) 

government stakeholders to learn about how DSS carries 

out the security oversight mission and foster open 

communications. DSS aimed to strengthen national 

security partnerships by establishing collaborative 

networks to share information and bolster capabilities to 

mitigate risk. 

DSS Deputy Director, Mr. James Kren, provided insight 

on the DSS in Transition, and representatives from 

the DSS directorates shared information on security 

oversight baselines, including the facility clearance 

process, the security vulnerability assessment process, 

counterintelligence threat briefings for industry, and 

classified information system processes. 

The workshop was a great success due to the active 

participation of the attendees, with many questions for 

DSS as well as discussion of mutual responsibilities and 

common concerns. These discussions opened the door 

into what DSS can do for the attendees and provided 

for an explanation of the DSS resources currently 

available to them. Workshop attendees discussed 

plans for coordinating follow-on meetings and future 

collaborations.

CURRICULUM REVIEW MEETINGS

In FY17, CDSE organized sessions in which Curriculum 

Managers (CMs) directly communicated with stakeholders 

regarding current training offerings at CDSE. Similar 

meetings were conducted in previous years; however, 

to successfully gather the appropriate stakeholders and 

elicit better quality feedback, the CDSE Training Division 

opted for a new approach where each CM held his or her 

meeting independent of the others. CMs offered a virtual 

alternative if preferred or required, but ideally participants 

were encouraged to meet at CDSE.

The curriculum reviews validated that CDSE’s training 

curriculum is up-to-date, accurate, and relevant. The 

review fostered discussion on security training needs and 

provided a forum eliciting recommendations for additions, 

deletions, and/or modifications in order to develop 

security professionals better able to meet the changing 

threat landscape.

COLLABORATION

8 Center for Development of Security Excellence
www.cdse.edu 9

NEW FROM CDSE

CYBER SKILLS FOR 

SECURITY PROFESSIONALS

The enhanced Cyber Skill Standards were successfully 

integrated into the Security Fundamentals Professional 

Certification (SFPC) and Security Asset Protection 

Professional Certification (SAPPC) in order to match 

the DoD Security Skill Standards (DS3). The Candidate 

Handbook and Competency Preparatory Tools (CPTs) 

were updated and released to the security community 

55 days prior to integration, which included the change 

of “information assurance” terminology to “cyber” and is 

intended for security professionals to become proficient in 

required cyber skills. 

Changes were made at the knowledge and application 

level to ensure a security professional will identify 

fundamental cyber concepts and examine their role in 

protecting DoD information systems and technologies, 

respectively. This implementation was a huge success and 

showed the value of the communications the community 

has with the DoD Security Training Council (DSTC) in 

adding and updating the security skill standards as the 

DoD and federal security landscape evolves.

INITIAL ORIENTATION & 

REFRESHER TRAINING

Based on the “Security Assistant” training needs analysis, 

and stakeholder requests, CDSE was tasked with designing 

and developing courseware to provide DoD employees 

the necessary knowledge, and information to instill and 

maintain continuous awareness of security requirements. 

As a result, CDSE created two security awareness courses 

(Initial Orientation and Awareness Training IF140.06; and 

the DoD Security Refresher Training IF142.06) to provide 

students with a basic understanding of security policies 

and principles and their responsibilities to ensure the 

proper protection of classified and Controlled Unclassified 

Information (CUI) and the protection of the DoD assets.

UD TOOLKIT 

During the fiscal year, CDSE created the new 

Unauthorized Disclosure toolkit. It helps cleared 

individuals understand their duties and obligations, learn 

the difference between unauthorized disclosure and 

legitimate whistleblowing, and determine where and how 

to report both unauthorized disclosure and questionable 

government behavior and activities. The toolkit offers a 

curated selection of Unauthorized Disclosure resources 

on Training, Policy Guidance, Reporting of Unauthorized 

Disclosure Activity, Reporting of Questionable 

Government Activity, Awareness materials, Pre-publication 

review, and Incident Response.

QUOTES FROM TOOLKIT USERS: 

“...user friendly and put out a 

decent amount of information...” 

National Geospatial-Intelligence 

Agency (NGA) Insider Threat Program 

Management Office (PMO)

“...great that it is a living document” 

DoD Unauthorized Disclosure PMO
10 Center for Development of Security Excellence

NEW FROM CDSE 

NEW COURSES AND PRODUCTS 

CDSE continued providing courses and products to keep up to date with changing policies and security environments. 

In FY17, CDSE released:

Applying Assessment and Authorization in 

the NISP DSS Oversight of AA&E Facilities Developing a Multidisciplinary Capability Insider Threat Program

Protected Distribution Systems DoD Initial Orientation and Awareness Training Insider Threat Mitigation Responses

Cybersecurity for Security Personnel DoD Security Awareness Refresher Training Preserving Investigative & Operational Viability in 

Insider Threat Response

Introduction to the NISP RMF A&A Process Insider Threat Indicators in Records Checks SAP Security Awareness Refresher

Cybersecurity Attacks – The Insider Threat Mergers, Acquisitions, Reorganizations, and 

Spin-off/Splits (MARS) Completing the SF 702 Form

Cybersecurity: Incident Response Completing the SF 701 Form Introduction to the Risk Management Framework 

(RMF) for Special Access Program

Unauthorized Disclosure

Security Chat with Brenda Worthington on OSD 

Functional Community Management Cloud Computing Conducting Initial and Refresher Briefings

Counterintelligence Awareness for 

Freight Forwarding Common Scams and Fraud DD Form 254

DSS 2016 Targeting U.S. Technologies – 

A Trend Analysis Greater Security in 7 Days Understanding your e-FCL Submissions

Security Chat with DSS Counterintelligence Director 

William Stephens Preventing and Recovering from Ransomware Security Chat with Dr. Robert Gallagher on the Behavioral Analysis in Insider Threat Programs

Assessment and Remediation using the 

SCAP Tool Conducting Effective Self-Inspections User Activity Monitoring in Insider Threat Program

12 COURSES

6 SECURITY SHORTS

1 TOOLKIT

15 WEBINARS
www.cdse.edu 11

UPDATED COURSES AND PRODUCTS 

In addition to new products on the previous page, CDSE is constantly updating and maintaining existing products. 

This can be for technological enhancements or policy changes. In fact, many CDSE courses and products are mentioned 

in policy in and outside of DoD. A handful of these products satisfy mandatory training for those in the security 

community. In FY17, CDSE updated the following:

NEW FROM CDSE

Insider Threat Curriculum for Program 

Operations Personnel NISP Reporting Requirements Introduction to National Security Adjudications

Counterintelligence Awareness and Reporting 

for DoD Employees Security Classification Guidance Exterior Security Lighting

Intelligence Oversight Awareness Derivative Classification Introduction to Physical Security

Foreign Disclosure Training for DoD Insider Threat Awareness DoD Personnel Security Adjudications

Introduction to Industrial Security Introduction to Personnel Security

Visits and Meetings in the NISP Introduction to DoD Personnel 

Security Adjudications

You’re a New FSO: Now What? Adverse Information Reporting Special Access Program Nomination Process

The 13 Adjudicative Guidelines (updated all 

13 shorts) SAP Nomination

16 COURSES

17 SECURITY SHORTS
12 Center for Development of Security Excellence

ACE CREDITTM RECOMMENDATIONS 

During FY17, CDSE continued to 

maintain its affiliation with the 

American Council on Education’s 

(ACETM) College Credit Recommendation Service 

(CREDIT). ACE CREDITTM helps CDSE students gain access 

to academic credit for successfully completed, tuitionfree CDSE Education Division and Training Division 

courses or curricula. CDSE offers 17 education courses 

and 12 training courses and curricula with ACE CREDITTM 

recommendations. 

Every three years, ACE CREDITTM professionals re-review 

courses for credit recommendations. In FY17, CDSE 

hosted one virtual and one onsite ACE review of CDSE 

courses. CDSE was pleased to retain ACE CREDITTM 

recommendations for all re-reviewed Education and 

Training Division courses. The Applying Industrial Security 

Concepts training course was reviewed for the first time 

and was recommended for three graduate division 

semester hours in strategic security studies. 

CDSE continues to collaborate with the Office of the 

Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence (OUSD(I)) 

Human Capital Management Office, the Security Policy & 

Oversight Division, and the U.S. Department of Education 

to explore obtaining degree-granting authority.

The ACE CREDITTM logo is a federally registered trademark of 

the American Council on Education and cannot be used or 

reproduced without the express written permission of the 

American Council on Education.

STUDENT EARNS ALL 

EDUCATION CERTIFICATES

Mr. Curtis Cook, a DSS information systems security 

professional (ISSP) team lead in the Huntsville Field 

Office, Alabama, is the first to earn all five CDSE Education 

Certificates offered by the Education Program. In 2014, he 

earned his first Education Certificate and other certificates 

soon followed. He earned the last one, the Certificate in 

Security Management, in April 2017.

“It’s hard to find a program that matches the CDSE’s 

since it’s geared for the DoD security professional.

The courses do a deep dive into DoD regulations and 

national standards; and its great engaging students 

from DoD components or other federal agencies.”

-Curtis Cook

Mr. Cook believes the courses provide a sound security 

foundation and would benefit all elements of security 

professionals. “Supervisors or aspiring supervisors would 

benefit from the Certificate in Security Management,” 

he said. “ISSPs and those in the information technology 

management job series would do well with the Certificate 

for Systems and Operations, and the Certificate in Security 

(Generalist) is a good certificate to obtain for a general 

look at what security administrators are doing for DoD.”

RESULTS

CDSE Acting Education Division Chief John (Scott) Hill (left) presents Curtis Cook, Huntsville Field Office, with the Certificate in Security Management.
CERTIFICATION ASSESSMENT 

FEEDBACK FORM 

In March, beginning with the SFPC, CDSE updated the 

standardized score report provided to candidates after 

taking a SPēD Certification exam. The new scaled score 

report gives candidates a more depictive and informative 

understanding of how they scored in each area of 

expertise on the given assessment. In addition, the scaled 

score report provides candidates with a visual comparison 

to others who took the assessment. It also provides a 

better visual reference to the candidate as they determine 

what areas they need to study in preparing for a retake. 

The report took four months to design, develop, publish, 

and pilot and is now in five of the seven certification 

assessments. The usability of the report is vastly improved. 

Failing candidates now have a clear understanding of the 

areas in which they need improvement when preparing 

for their next assessment opportunity.

RESULTS

Example of a Scaled Score Report

www.cdse.edu 13

COURSE SURVEY FEEDBACK

Since launching the new course surveys this fiscal 

year, CDSE has received some great feedback. Overall 

the amount of feedback received on each course has 

surpassed previous feedback rates within CDSE as well 

as similar organizations within DoD. This is due to the 

ease of access for the students to provide feedback as 

well as guided questions for each survey. This feedback 

has provided insight into how to improve some of 

our courses, as well as how CDSE courses have helped 

improve students’ skillsets on the job.
FSO GETTING STARTED 

SEMINAR HYBRID 

In June, CDSE hosted the first live, virtual session of the 

popular “Getting Started Seminar for New Facility Security 

Officers (FSOs).” This is the first of its kind streamed live, 

while the in-person seminar took place at the Linthicum, 

MD, facility. It was a success with 38 virtual attendees as 

well as 33 in-person attendees. 

The use of the concurrent virtual classroom to the actual 

classroom allowed CDSE to offer this training to virtual 

students who attended with little or no cost to their 

company. These students joined us from over 15 different 

states, including states as far as Arizona and Colorado. 

Students provided positive feedback. Most felt the 

addition of an online virtual presence enhanced their 

overall training experience since it was an opportunity to 

learn from the experiences shared by the virtual students. 

Many also said it expanded their network of 

security personnel. 

This was first time the boundaries of an instructor-led 

course were expanded to include a virtual audience. CDSE 

has paved the way to not only reach students who would 

not have otherwise been able to attend but to also save 

travel and training funds at the same time.

MIGRATION TO USA LEARNING 

In June, CDSE completed the transition of the CDSE 

Security Awareness Hub to the Office of Personnel 

Management (OPM) USA Learning (USAL) hosted 

environment. The Security Awareness Hub delivers 

over one million completions annually from a catalog 

of 17 courses used by personnel from across DoD, 

U.S. Government, and Industry. The hub is the first 

CDSE capability established in the OPM USAL cloud 

environment. Working together, the CDSE Multimedia and 

OPM USAL teams successfully migrated this high volume 

learning delivery capability in less than 30 days with no 

breaks in service.

TECHNOLOGY CAPABILITIES
www.cdse.edu 15

AWARD WINNING 

COUNTERINTELLIGENCE TEAM

CDSE Counterintelligence training developed an 

abundance of training products during FY17, which 

continued to be some of the most viewed CDSE 

training products. These products and services earned 

the team the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) DoD 

Counterintelligence and HUMINT Awards’ “CI Team of 

the Year.” 

In addition, the CI Curriculum Manager was named 

the National Counterintelligence and Security Center 

Counterintelligence Educator of the Year for the second 

year running.

AWARDS

CDSE RECOGNIZED FOR A 

SECOND YEAR AS A TOP 

LEARNING ORGANIZATION

CDSE was named a 2017 Learning! 100 Award Winner. The 

Learning! 100 Awards recognizes the top 60 private and 

top 40 public organizations for their best-in-class learning 

and development programs. Private sector organizations 

included Amazon Web Services, IBM, and Facebook. CDSE 

was ranked #15 out of 40 public sector organizations for 

launching an Enterprise-Wide Distance Learning Strategy.

CDSE received public recognition at the conference 

and through publication of results in Elearning! and 

Government Elearning! Magazines’ Learning! 100 awards 

issues. CDSE’s participation in the conference allows for 

knowledge sharing among other high performing public 

sector organizations.
AWARDS

PRODUCT AWARD LEVEL AWARD TYPE

Special Access Program (SAP) Security Incident Videos Bronze Instructional

Counterintelligence (CI) Awareness Video Lesson Silver Promotional

Defense Security Service (DSS) Annual Security Awareness Training Bronze Training/eLearning

Introduction to the Risk Management Framework (RMF) Course Bronze Training/eLearning

Information Security Management Course SF 700 Practical Exercise Bronze Training/eLearning

Special Access Program (SAP) Security Incident Virtual Exercise Bronze Training/eLearning

The Horizon Interactive Awards is a prestigious, international competition recognizing 

outstanding achievements among interactive media producers. The competition recognizes 

and awards the best websites, videos, online advertising, print media, and mobile applications.

16 Center for Development of Security Excellence

HORIZON INTERACTIVE AWARDS 

CDSE won 6 Horizon Interactive Awards in the Instructional, Promotional, and Training/E-Learning categories:
www.cdse.edu 17

PRODUCT AWARD LEVEL AWARD TYPE

Information Security Management Course SF 700 Practical Exercise Silver Government

Information Security Management Course SF 700 Practical Exercise Silver Education

Defense Security Service (DSS) Annual Security Awareness Training Silver Education

Defense Security Service (DSS) Annual Security Awareness Training Silver Government

Counterintelligence (CI) Awareness Video Bronze Education

Counterintelligence (CI) Awareness Video Bronze Government

Special Access Program (SAP) Security Incident Virtual Exercise Silver Education

Special Access Program (SAP) Security Incident Virtual Exercise Silver Government

Special Access Program (SAP) Security Incident Videos Bronze Government

Special Access Program (SAP) Security Incident Videos Bronze Education

The Omni Awards recognize outstanding media productions that engage, empower, and enlighten. 

Awards are given in the fields of Film & Video, Animation & Effects, and Website Design.

AWARDS

OMNI AWARDS 

CDSE won 10 Omni awards for several courses and products:
4 CERTIFICATIONS WITH

NATIONAL-LEVEL 

ACCREDITATION

92,179 JOB AID 

VIEWS

94,295

VISITS TO SECURITY SHORTS

EDUCATION 

COURSE 33 158 COMPLETIONS

1,396

2,774

COURSES WITH 

ACE CREDITTM RECOMMENDATIONS

TOTAL SPēD CONFERRALS

TOTAL TESTED

214,679 

1,351,543 

4,799,527

PDUs 

EARNED

OVERALL 

WEBSITE VIEWS

VISITS TO TOOLKITS

539,063 

COURSE COMPLETIONS

BY THE NUMBERS 

18 Center for Development of Security Excellence
The editorial content of this publication was prepared, edited, and approved by the Director, Center for 

Development of Security Excellence. The views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the 

Department of Defense. To comment, contact CDSE Communication Branch at dss.cdseenterprisemgmt@mail.mil.
Center 

for Development 

www.cdse.edu of 

Security Excellence