The Society of Industrial Security Professionals

Strategic Plan

This strategic plan will be used as a guide for NCMS to take targeted and measurable action toward accomplishing its vision and mission. The plan outlines objectives that provide clear guidance for priorities and a basis for evaluation. It also calls for focus by our committees to maximize results and ensures NCMS is effective and accountable. Finally, it creates a framework for building on past accomplishments to help move NCMS forward and enables the NCMS Board to establish measurable goals annually.

September 2022

Fellow NCMS Members,

John F. Kennedy said, “Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction.” A number of years ago, the NCMS Board of Directors recognized that, for all the excellent programs, valuable resources, and national-level involvement and advocacy that NCMS provided, it was doing so without a documented strategy. At that time, and for over fifty-six years, while NCMS’s vision and mission remained at the forefront of each succeeding Board’s management and control of the Society, that execution was without a forward-looking, comprehensive strategy.

Therefore, with NCMS’ rich history, laudatory accomplishments, vision, and mission in mind, the Board set about the task of creating and documenting a forward-looking, five-year strategy. Underpinned with the realization that for NCMS, Inc., the Society of Industrial Security Professionals to maintain its key and unique role in assisting and equipping security professionals; it must take deliberate and strategic steps to ensure the long-term health of the Society and the furtherance of its vision and mission.

The resulting Plan has truly been the guidebook for the Society and the document against which goals, objectives, and plans at the national and chapter levels have been evaluated. Winston Churchill wisely said, “However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results.”; and so, this Plan is reviewed and, as necessary, updated on an annual basis. It truly is a living document that provides immense and crucial value to NCMS and its membership and guides the Board in a direction that ensures we focus on our strengths.

The following sentence precedes the Strategic Goals section of this Plan: “Inspired by the passion and commitment of members who contribute countless hours to ensure the success of the Society at all levels, the Board has committed to the successful completion of the goals and objectives outlined in this strategic plan.” During my time on the NCMS Board, I can assure all NCMS members that I have witnessed the passion of now seven boards as this Plan is reviewed and updated each year. I’ve seen the care and concern expressed by Board members for NCMS’ vision and mission as well as its members when considering the strategic plans and direction for the Society. I am proud to have contributed to the execution and continual development of this Plan and, like my fellow board members, strive to ensure it and the relevant and vital goals and objectives contained in it keep us moving forward.

On behalf of the 59th Board of Directors,
Lynn Burns, ISP®
NCMS President

Introduction

NCMS is a non-profit, professional security society offering unparalleled opportunities for learning, networking, and professional development at the local and national levels. For nearly 60 years, NCMS has provided building blocks in the development of security professionals through in-depth training, mentoring, and certification; as well as offering industry a voice at the national security policy level. In fact, no other professional association matches NCMS’ specific offerings or the return on investment for member benefits in the national security arena.

NCMS was founded as a non-profit organization in 1964 by a group of government and industry security classification managers and administrators who recognized the importance of establishing a society, national in scope, to advance the practice of Classification Management as a profession.

In March 2005, the 41st Board of Directors voted to change the name of the National Classification Management Society to NCMS, Inc., the Society of Industrial Security Professionals. The name was changed to better reflect the current state of the security profession and the broader scope of our mission.

Today, the Society has over 7,000 members in the United States and overseas. Members come from the Defense Industrial Base serving virtually every Federal agency involved in national security. As the Society has grown over the years, its focus has also expanded. NCMS now provides professional development for its members in the many fields of industrial security, cybersecurity and classification management.

NCMS Vision

NCMS, through innovation and effective relationships, will provide its members the tools and core skills that will enable them to meet their most challenging endeavors as contractor and government security professionals.

NCMS Mission

To be recognized throughout industry and the government as the premier organization for the development and implementation of quality training programs in all facets of security management and security leadership; to assist our members in achieving the highest degree of professional excellence; to encourage the exchange of ideas and best practices between our members; to participate in national level working groups and committees to affect national security policies; and to help our members meet the most challenging goals in national security.

Society Leadership

The property, business, and affairs of the Society are managed and controlled by a volunteer Board of Directors elected by the membership. The Board employs a professional management company to assist in carrying out the business of the Society.

NCMS Committees

  • Awards
  • Community Development
  • CUI
  • Education and Training
  • Ethics
  • Executive
  • Government and Industry
  • Industrial Security Professional (ISP®) Certification
  • ISP® Accreditation
  • Marketing & Communications
  • Mentoring
  • National Seminar
  • Nominations
  • Donald B. Woodbridge Award for Excellence

Society Accomplishments

Since its inception, NCMS has achieved many successes due to the hard work and dedication of its members. The following is a list of significant accomplishments.

  • Created the Industrial Security Professional (ISP®) Certification
  • Awarded and maintained Accreditation of the ISP® Certification through the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB)
  • Conducted highly-successful and well-attended annual training seminars
  • Served as a founding and current member of the National Industrial Security Program Policy Advisory Committee (NISPPAC) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Group
  • Served as an active strategic partner with the Defense Counterintelligence & Security Agency (DCSA)
  • Created Donald B. Woodbridge Award for Excellence, Lonnie R. Buckels Presidential Award, Lenita Roberts Chapter Award, and the James N. Hickok Industrial Security Professional (ISP®) Award
  • Founded the NCMSLive Virtual Training Series and a national committee dedicated to virtual training
  • Introduced the NCMS website, electronic voting, electronic registration, WebEx, social media campaigns, seminar event app, and electronic surveys
  • Developed the NCMS Bulletin, NCMS’ bi-monthly periodical
  • Developed the eNEWS electronic periodical
  • Became host of DCSA’s James S. Cogswell Outstanding Industrial Security Achievement Award ceremony
  • Established Steven Garfinkel Scholarship
  • Established the NCMS Hub, an online community platform enabling members to collaborate in real time networking and information sharing
  • Created NCMS Mentoring Program
  • Created Community Outreach Seminar Subcommittee to support veterans and our communities
  • Established the NCMS Annual Virtual Fall Conference
  • Deployed a dynamic salary survey

Development of a Strategic Plan

This strategic plan is used as a guide for NCMS to take targeted and measurable action toward accomplishing its vision and mission. The plan outlines objectives that provide clear guidance for priorities and a basis for evaluation. It also calls for focus by our committees to maximize results and ensures NCMS is effective and accountable. Finally, it creates a framework for building on accomplishments to help move NCMS forward and enables the NCMS Board to establish measurable goals annually.

Strategic Goals

Inspired by the passion and commitment of members who contribute countless hours to ensure the success of the Society at all levels,the Board has committed to the successful completion of the goals and objectives outlined in this strategic plan.

Strategic Goal #1: Provide leadership for the security profession.

Objectives:

  1. Partner and collaborate with national organizations such as the Information
    Security Oversight Office (ISOO) and the National Industrial Security Policy
    Program Advisory Committee (NISPPAC).
  2. Provide effective liaison, to include policy input, between industrial security
    professionals and their government customers.
  3. Partner and collaborate with security and academic organizations (e.g.,
    Community Association for Information System Security Working Group
    (CAISSWG), Industrial Security Working Group (ISWG), Contractor SAP
    Security Working Group (CSSWG), Federal Publications Seminars (FPS),
    Excelsior College, and ClearanceJobs.com.
  4. Use NCMS national-level committees and communities to solve issues in
    technical and specialty areas.
  5. Provide an avenue for recognition of distinction in security through innovation
    and contributions to the field through both the NCMS Awards Program and in
    partnership with DCSA through the James S. Cogswell Award for Industrial
    Security Excellence.
  6. Participate in and contribute to charitable organizations (e.g., America’s VetDogs,
    blood drives, local charities, etc.).

Strategic Goal #2: Provide professional development opportunities and guidance for security professionals.

Objectives:

  1. Maintain and enhance the ISP ® Certification Program and its accreditation.
  2. Maintain, enhance and grow the Mentoring Program and the NCMS Hub.
  3. Conduct periodic salary surveys and share results with the members.
  4. Maintain, grow and promote the scholarship program.
  5. Offer and encourage forums that will facilitate professional development and
    networking opportunities through NCMS platforms, tools, and events.

Strategic Goal #3: Provide training for security professionals.

Objectives:

  1. Conduct the Annual Virtual Fall Conference and the Annual Training Seminar.
  2. Develop and conduct chapter- and national-level training, both virtually and in
    person (e.g., NCMSLive, seminars, meetings, etc.).
  3. Provide training for specific security fields (e.g., Facility Security Officer (FSO),
    Contractor Program Security Officer (CPSO), Contractor Special Security Officer
    (CSSO), Cybersecurity, Risk Management Framework (RMF), Insider Threat,
    and International).

Strategic Goal #4: Expand NCMS membership and outreach to all security professionals.

Objectives:

  1. Develop, enhance and refine technologies and other Society tools to attract new members.
  2. Continue to market the Society’s offerings through social media and outreach events.
  3. Increase awareness of NCMS with non-traditional professionals who are focused on CUI and CMMC.

Strategic Goal #5: Maintain effective and ethical operations of the Society.

Objectives:

  1. Maintain proactive oversight for all aspects of the Society’s financial processes to ensure financial solvency and fiscal responsibility.
  2. Ensure the financial success of the Annual Training Seminar while maintaining the lowest available fees to attendees.
  3. Retain legal counsel for risk mitigation and consultation as necessary.