WASHINGTON — Sayres and Associates announced today the appointment of Charles Phalen to its board of directors. Phalen will bring decades of federal experience to the position, providing invaluable insight into the fields of counterintelligence, security, and defense technology.
Prior to his current position as the principal independent consultant of C S Phalen & Associates, LLC, Phalen served as the Acting Director of the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) of the U.S. Department of Defense from June 2019 through March 2020. During his time at the DCSA, Phalen worked to successfully merge the Office of Personnel Management (OPM)’s background investigation program with the Department of Defense’s Defense Security Service. This merged agency serves to execute government-wide personnel vetting and technology protection programs, employing approximately 12,000 federal and contract personnel.
Phalen also served as the Director of the National Background Investigations Bureau, an organizational element of the OPM, from October 2016 to September 2019. Here he led a government-wide organization providing investigations for national security, suitability, and credentialing determinations for more than 100 federal agencies.
“Charlie has dedicated his entire life to ensuring that the Intelligence Community and Department of Defense have the cleared workforce and industry partners need to execute their missions. There’s no one more knowledgeable of the industrial security and secure workforce challenges our government faces,” said Joel Willett, CEO of Sayres. “We’re incredibly privileged to have his wisdom and guidance as we help our customers navigate a complex and evolving threat environment to the U.S. defense industrial base.”
Phalen’s thirty-plus years in federal service include other roles such as Vice President of Corporate Security for Northrop Grumman Corporation; Director of Security for the Central Intelligence Agency; Assistant Director of the Security Division for the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Chief of Protective Programs Group at the CIA Office of Security; Executive Officer of the CIA Office of Security; Center Chief of the CIA Office of Facilities and Security Services; and Chief of Facilities and Information Security Division at the National Reconnaissance Office.
Phalen holds a bachelor’s degree in law enforcement and criminology from the University of Maryland. He is active in a number of external security organizations and forums.