HAPPY NEW YEAR!

3. January 2008 by Revelator.

I know, I know…I only used one exclamation point.  This isn’t to imply that I don’t wish y’all a great year - I just think that a single exclamation point should convey the point.  I’m getting tired of extra punctuation.  Would extra exclamation points make you feel like I wished you a better year than one does?  Would two or three question marks after that question make it more of a question?  But I digress…

As an OPSECer I am constantly on the look out for indicators of things to come - of actions that are likely to happen based on what has already happened - and one thing I can tell you based on my observations is that 2008 is going to be a great year to be a member of OSPA!  (See?  One works just fine.)   It truly is hard for me to fathom how far the OSPA has come from it’s very humble roots less that one year ago.  I sincerely hope that at this time next year I am humbled by what has transpired in 2008. 

So just what is coming for 2008?  First up on the calendar I see the IOSS/OSPA co-sponsored Western OPSEC Forum in February.  I know many OSPA members have already registered and I look forward to meeting y’all there.  Nothing is firm yet but I know that many of the OSPA Board of Directors will be in attendance and that we plan on having an informal OSPA member get together some time during the three-day event.  Check out www.IOSS.gov for more information.

Right along those same lines the National OPSEC Conference in April is fast approaching and I just can’t wait.  I’ve seen the agenda and can tell you that the IOSS has put together a damn fine list of presenters for this year (including yours truly and many of your OSPA Board).  I’m told this agenda will be on our OSPA site some time today so check it out when you get a minute.  On top of this, we are planning a monster OSPA coming-out party on Tuesday evening of the National Conference!  For your meet and greet enjoyment we have hooked up personal appearances by many OPSEC-world celebrities and dignitaries.  Anchoring the event will be Wayne Morris (OSPA, Exec VP) and I sharing hosting duties as we present the “Wayne and Layne Super-Fun-Time-Happy-Hour Hot Tub Celebrity-Ho-Down Monster Truck Rally.”   No one - including Wayne and myself - has a full understanding what that means but I can tell you that it will be interactive, entertaining, and most of all - fun. 

 THE OSPA OPSEC ACADEMY.  Yeah, I put that in caps on purpose.  It deserves it.  While still on the drawing board it is my humble opinion that the Academy as the most significant contribution OSPA will make to the OPSEC community.  As our motto states we are a member-driven association and while your needs are many this is what you, the member, has told us you need them most.  Input has been received from you and we are currently working on completing the module listing.  Many more very exciting things are in the works but at this time I will leave any further comment to our Academy President, Mr. Tom Mauriello who has promised to update y’all right here in this very blog in the near future.

Also during two double-ought eight we will establish our new logo.  No, we’re not going to have a five-hour Board meeting and decide this for you.  As fun as that sounds, we need your input.   Our founder and Prez Chris Cox will very soon send you the guidelines for the logo contest.  Enter early and enter often.  I can’t wait to see what you come up with!

While I think we’ve done a pretty fine job with the OSPA web site we will be constantly looking for more OPSEC related content to share with our members during 2008.  To that end please send us anything you think others in the OPSEC community might be able to use.  Personally, I like the comics, jokes and video’s you’ve sent us so far but keep it ALL coming.  The more we share the more we grow as a community.  While OPSEC is concerned with protecting all our sensitive information the OSPA is concerned with sharing all the non-sensitive information we can get our hands on with you, the member.  There’s no I in OSPA people!  Wow; that was trite, hackneyed and just plain worn out - I’ll try to avoid this in the future…

Speaking of the future… So many more exciting things are happening in OSPA that I want to just keep on telling you all about it but I think I’ll stop for now.  If you have any questions please feel free to contact any one of the OSPA Board members at any time.

I’ll leave you now with a quote that will make no sense to you now but will be explained at the National Conference:  “Yet, when we can entreat an hour to serve, we would spend it in some words upon that business, and ask thee is Jenn the titter?”  And with that I bid you fare-thee-well…

Keep the Faith!

Revelator

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