Our History
2013
First ISF-funded OSAC Event
October 10, 2013: First ISF-funded OSAC event for Nairobi Country Chapter following the Westgate Mall attack in Nairobi by Islamic extremists. RSO Marion Cotter convened a Nairobi Country Chapter meeting to provide a briefing and address the post-attack rumors and misinformation.
First ISF Annual Dinner
Held on November 19, 2013, at the Willard InterContinental Hotel, the first ISF Annual Dinner to celebrate OSAC included 200 guests. This annual event that culminates OSAC Annual Briefing week has become a not-to-be-missed celebration of the security community. Pictured: John McClurg, Blackberry’s Senior Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer, served as the first President of the ISF Board of Directors.
2014
Africa Regional Committee Launched
With ISF funding, OSAC launched the Africa Regional Committee in March 2014.
(pictured: Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs)
Middle East and North Africa Regional Committee Launched
OSAC established the Middle East and North Africa Regional Committee in October 2014 with ISF support.
2015
Energy Sector Committee Launched
Energy Sector Committee launched with ISF funding to extend OSAC sector-specific programming across all regions.
2016
First ISF-funded International Travel Safety & Security Forum
Held at the George C. Marshall Conference Center, U.S. Department of State, Washington, D.C. in February 2016, the ISF-funded International Travel Safety & Security Forum continued OSAC’s excellent networking and information-sharing programming.
First ISF-funded Crisis Management Forum
2017
Europe Regional Committee launched with ISF funding
Committee launched in April 2017 at Bloomberg’s New York City offices.
Women in Security Program launched with ISF funding
In November 2017, OSAC inaugurated its popular Women in Security program to promote diversity and to advocate for women’s promotion and leadership through all sectors of the security industry.
2018
ISF-funded Multiple All-Country Chapter events
With ISF funding, OSAC held multiple All-Country Chapter events, beginning with All-China (pictured) and All-Vietnam Country Chapter events in March 2018, followed by an All-Australia Country Chapter event in August 2018.
Rich Davis becomes ISF President
2019
First-ever, ISF-funded joint Security Seminar for Energy Sector Committee and Aviation Sector Committee.
ISF surpasses $1 million in fundraising, establishes endowment.
In 2019, the ISF’s fundraising efforts surpassed $1 million for the first time, and the ISF Dinner had 900-plus attendees, the largest attendance to date for an in-person ISF dinner.
(pictured: Target team at 2019 ISF Dinner)
2020
Hostage US receives the first non-OSAC grant through the new ISF Grants Program for U.S. security nonprofits.
2023
In February 2023, the ISF merged with the nonprofit Domestic Security Partnership (DSP) and began to support the Domestic Security Alliance Council’s (DSAC) programs.
