INSA’s annual William Oliver Baker Award dinner, previously set for June, has been rescheduled to Aug. 8.
The dinner will honor Sue Gordon, formerly the nation’s second highest intelligence official, with the 36th annual William Oliver Baker Award. The award is given to someone who has made extraordinary contributions to the intelligence and national security affairs of the United States.
Gordon served more than 30 years in the public sector, most recently as principal deputy director of national intelligence from 2017-2019. During her tenure, she led the effort to better integrate the intelligence community, expand outreach and public-private partnerships, drive innovation and advance diversity and inclusion.
“Throughout her career, Sue Gordon challenged the status quo,” INSA Chairman Tish Long said. “Sue’s desire to push beyond current boundaries and imagine the possible embody both the spirit and character of Dr. Baker, and she is richly deserving of this award.”
Gordon previously served as the deputy director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and also worked for 27 years at the CIA where she was involved in, among other operations, the raid on Osama bin Laden’s compound. And in 1998, she designed and spearheaded the formation of private, nonprofit Q-Tel, which serves national security agencies. At Duke University, she earned an undergraduate degree in zoology and was captain of the women’s basketball team.
“I am humbled to receive this award and to join the distinguished ranks of those who I have long admired and upon whose shoulders I stand,” Gordon said. “I am grateful for having had the opportunity to work alongside so many outstanding professionals, who gave so selflessly in service to our country. I see this honor as a reflection of all our community has accomplished together.”
With more than 700 senior intelligence community and national security professionals expected to attend, organizers are touting the event as “the same extraordinary INSA evening” they were expecting before the pandemic prompted the shift in schedule. This year, there is the newly added option to purchase a commemorative program message to write Gordon a congratulatory message.
The dinner will be from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C. Register here.