William Oliver Baker Award Dinner

An On-Demand Webcast Feature on Cybersecurity TV
June 14,. 2019

6:00PM - 10:00PM ET

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2019 William Oliver Baker Award Dinner

General Keith B. Alexander (USA, Retired) A retired four-star general, Alexander’s 40-year military career was capped off by an unprecedented 8-1/2-year stint as Director, NSA. While serving as NSA Director, he was confirmed by the Senate to be the first commander of USCYBERCOM, holding this role from 2010-2014. GEN Alexander retired from public service in March 2014. INSA is proud to recognize GEN Alexander for his extraordinary leadership, vision, and years of dedicated service to our country.

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2019 William Oliver Baker Award Dinner

Join us on Friday, June 14 as we present General Keith B. Alexander (USA, Retired), the longest-serving director in the history of the National Security Agency (NSA) and the first commander of the U.S. Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM), with the 35^th Annual William Oliver Baker Award.

Established in 1984, the Baker Award recognizes extraordinary contributions to the intelligence and national security affairs of the United States.

General Keith B. Alexander (USA, Retired)

A retired four-star general, Alexander’s 40-year military career was capped off by an unprecedented 8-1/2-year stint as Director, NSA. While serving as NSA Director, he was confirmed by the Senate to be the first commander of USCYBERCOM, holding this role from 2010-2014. GEN Alexander retired from public service in March 2014. INSA is proud to recognize GEN Alexander for his extraordinary leadership, vision, and years of dedicated service to our country.

One of the Intelligence Community’s premier events, the Baker Award dinner routinely draws more than 700 senior leaders from across government, industry, and academia. Don’t miss this memorable evening of dinner and high-caliber networking with IC leaders past and present, as INSA welcomes GEN Alexander to the distinguished list of Baker Award recipients.

History of the William Oliver Baker Award Dinner

For more than three decades, INSA has promoted excellence in the intelligence and national security activities of the United States government and associated endeavors in the private sector through the William Oliver Baker Award. Dr. William Oliver Baker’s distinguished career is the embodiment of the INSA spirit and mission. By leading the effort to unify the public and private sectors in the name of national security, Dr. Baker effected profound change in national security and intelligence. In 1984, the Board of Directors of the Security Affairs Support Association (INSA's predecessor) renamed the SASA Medal of Achievement Award in Dr. Baker’s honor following his acceptance of the inaugural award. The Baker Award annually recognizes individuals for:

View Past Recipients

2018 Baker Award Recipient Stephanie O'Sullivan (center) with INSA Chairman Tish Long (left) and Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence Sue Gordon (right)

Sustained excellence in their contribution to national security affairs over a considerable period of time or a single achievement of extraordinary merit
Contribution in the scientific and technical disciplines or in other fields essential to the enhancement of national security interest
Technical enhancement of unusual significance, management proficiency of a high order, or development or application of techniques that permit cost savings of substantial magnitude.

The annual William Oliver Baker Award banquet stands as INSA’s premier event with over 600 members and guests enjoying an evening of networking, dinner, and speeches by the Intelligence Community’s best and brightest.

About William Oliver Baker

The four words on the medal honor the defining aspects of Dr. Baker’s life – Scientist, Inventor, Scholar, and Statesman.

Dr. Baker was a prominent scientist, former head of Bell Labs, a trusted advisor to five U.S. Presidents, a director and advisor to multiple philanthropic foundations and educational commissions, and a mentor to scores of renowned scientists. During his nearly 25 years with Bell Labs, Dr. Baker and his team made significant discoveries in telecommunications including the laser, satellite systems, and the UNIX computer operating systems, among many others, which set the foundation for the robust technologies and platforms we use today.

In 1959, at President Eisenhower’s request, he developed a plan for the establishment of the Defense Communications Agency, presently the Defense Information Systems Agency. Baker continued to serve his country on the President’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board (PFIAB) for multiple presidents beginning in 1956. Dr. Baker also served on the National Security Agency’s Scientific Advisory Board for 20 years. In 1982, Dr. Baker was presented with the National Security Medal by President Ronald Reagan to honor his tremendous contributions.