12 FAM 060
OVERSEAS SECURITY ADVISORY COUNCIL (OSAC) PROGRAMS
(CT:DS-242; 10-30-2015)
(Office of Origin: DS/TIA/OSAC)
12 FAM 061 COUNTRY COUNCILS
(CT:DS-242; 10-30-2015)
The OSAC Country Council Program assists the U.S. private
sector in establishing and maintaining country councils worldwide. Country
councils should be modeled after the OSAC Council structure with the regional
security officer (RSO) serving as the public sector chair with a member of the
private sector serving as co-chair. Country councils facilitate the sharing of
security information by:
(1) Exchanging unclassified security and threat
information;
(2) Encouraging representatives of U.S. enterprises
abroad to organize themselves to manage and respond to security problems and
threats; and
(3) Promoting cooperation with regard to security
issues of mutual concern.
12 FAM 062 Common interest COUNCILS
(CT:DS-242; 10-30-2015)
OSAC established Common Interest Councils to serve the
needs of smaller, similarly-focused groups within OSACs broader constituency.
They assist in the facilitation of targeted, useful, and actionable
security-related information. The councils report to OSAC and will not provide
advice or recommendations directly to the Department.
12 FAM 062.1 Regional Councils
(CT:DS-242; 10-30-2015)
The OSAC Regional Council Program provides a forum for
U.S. private sector organizations to address security challenges in a
particular geographic region of the world. Regional councils are based in the
U.S and should be chaired by the special agent in charge from a Diplomatic
Security (DS) field office with a member of the private sector serving as co-chair.
Wherever possible, the regional council should also establish a steering
committee and establish a charter to direct their operations. OSAC has
established the following regional councils:
(1) Latin America Regional Council (Miami Field Office
(DS/ICI/MFO));
(2) Pan-Asia Regional Council (San Francisco Field
Office (DS/ICI/SFFO));
(3) Africa Regional Council (Chicago Field Office
(DS/ICI/CFO)); and
(4) Middle East and North Africa Regional Council
(Boston Field Office (DS/ICI/BFO)).
12 FAM 062.2 Sector Specific
Working Groups
(CT:DS-242; 10-30-2015)
OSAC created Sector Specific Working Groups to provide
U.S. private sector organizations a networking platform for discussing security
issues and challenges unique to their individual industry or community.
Working groups are led and organized by the private sector and facilitated by OSAC
personnel. OSAC has established the following sector specific working groups:
(1) Academia Working Group;
(2) Aviation Security Working Group;
(3) Energy Security Working Group;
(4) Faith-Based Organizations Working Group;
(5) Hotel Security Working Group;
(6) International Development Working Group;
(7) Maritime Security Working Group; and
(8) Media and Entertainment Working Group.
12 FAM 063 OSAC WEB SITE
(CT:DS-242; 10-30-2015)
OSAC maintains an website to disseminate timely
information. The website is the focal point for the exchange of unclassified
information between the Department and the U.S. private sector on
security-related incidents and threats abroad. Information accessible from the
website includes Department of State Travel Warnings and Alerts, Security and
Emergency Messages issued by our U.S. Embassies and Consulates abroad, links
to daily security-related news articles, reports on security and crime
incidents abroad, terrorist group profiles, general security information for locations
abroad, contact information for U.S. diplomatic posts, and updates on new or
unusual situations related to crime, terrorism, or political violence. To
supplement the website, OSAC also maintains a mobile application, which offers
users access to key information and contacts via smartphones, using the iOS or
Android operating system.
12 FAM 064 RESEARCH AND INFORMATION
SUPPORT CENTER (RISC)
(CT:DS-242; 10-30-2015)
a. Diplomatic Security (DS) created the Research and
Information Support Center (RISC), which resides in OSAC, in response to a
recommendation from the Council to have dedicated analytical support for
private sector constituents of OSAC. RISC staff has regular interaction with
private sector constituents, maintains the OSAC website, and travels to
diplomatic posts to gain knowledge and expertise on areas of responsibility and
support country councils and private sector constituents.
b. RISC staff provides support to the private sector by
producing analytical reports, handling constituent security questions and
consultations, and giving analytical and/or informational presentations during
country council and common interest council meetings, as well as at various
other functions as requested by private sector constituents or government agencies.
RISC staff works with RSOs to manage country councils and provide program
management expertise in the operation of regional councils.
c. RISC is responsible for managing the notification
of threats against the U.S. private sector abroad. To accomplish this, RISC
provides timely information regarding specific, credible threats that cannot be
countered against named or individual U.S. private sector organizations by
coordinating with the U.S. Intelligence Community, RSOs, and Consular Officers.
d. RISC is comprised of the following individual units:
(1) Global Security;
(2) Outreach and Engagement; and
(3) Research and Analysis.
12 FAM 065 COMMITTEES
(CT:DS-242; 10-30-2015)
OSAC has established a number of sub-committees to address
specific security areas within the private sector. The sub-committees report
to OSAC on information regarding the topics below and will not provide advice
or recommendations directly to the Department. The committees include:
(1) Committee on risk and information sharing;
(2) Committee for fostering innovation and operational
excellence; and
(3) Committee for outreach and engagement.
12 FAM 066 THROUGH 069 UNASSIGNED