12 FAM 060
OVERSEAS SECURITY ADVISORY COUNCIL (OSAC) PROGRAMS
(CT:DS-350; 02-25-2021)
(Office of Origin: DS/DSS/OSAC)
12 FAM 061 COUNTRY chapters
(CT:DS-350; 02-25-2021)
The OSAC Country Chapter program assists the U.S. private sector in establishing and maintaining “Country Chapters” worldwide. Country Chapters 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 Chapters 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 Committees
(CT:DS-350; 02-25-2021)
OSAC established Common Interest Committees to serve the needs of smaller, similarly focused groups within OSAC’s broader membership. They assist in the facilitation of targeted, useful, and actionable security-related information. The committees report to OSAC and will not provide advice or recommendations directly to the Department.
12 FAM 062.1 Regional Committees
(CT:DS-350; 02-25-2021)
The OSAC Regional Committee Program provides a forum for U.S. private sector organizations to address security challenges in a particular geographic region of the world. Regional Committees are based in the United States 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 Committee should also establish a Steering Committee and establish a charter to direct their operations. OSAC has established the following Regional Committees:
(1) Latin America Regional Committee (Miami Field Office (DS/FLD/MFO));
(2) Pan-Asia Regional Committee (San Francisco Field Office (DS/FLD/SFFO));
(3) Africa Regional Committee (Chicago Field Office (DS/FLD/CFO));
(4) Middle East and North Africa Regional Committee (Boston Field Office (DS/FLD/BFO)).
(5) Europe Regional Committee (New York Field Office (DS/FLD/NYFO)).
12 FAM 062.2 Sector Committees
(CT:DS-350; 02-25-2021)
OSAC created Sector Committees to provide U.S. private sector organizations a networking platform for discussing security issues and challenges unique to their individual industry or community. These committees are led and organized by the private sector and facilitated by OSAC personnel. OSAC has established the following Sector Committees:
(1) Academia Sector Committee;
(2) Aviation Sector Committee;
(3) Energy Sector Committee;
(4) Faith Based Sector Committee;
(5) Hotel and Lodging Sector Committee;
(6) International Development Sector Committee; and
(7) Media and Entertainment Sector Committee.
12 FAM 063 OSAC WEBSITE
(CT:DS-350; 02-25-2021)
OSAC maintains a 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 security alerts issued by 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 OSAC Program Office
(CT:DS-350; 02-25-2021)
a. DS created the OSAC Program Office in response to a recommendation from the Council to have dedicated analytical support for private sector members of OSAC. Program Office staff has regular interaction with private sector members, maintains the OSAC website, and travels to diplomatic posts to gain knowledge and expertise on areas of responsibility and support Country Chapters and private sector members.
b. Program Office staff provide support to the private sector by producing analytical reports, handling member security questions and consultations, and giving analytical and/or informational presentations during Country Chapter and Common Interest Committee meetings, as well as at various other functions as requested by private sector members or government agencies. Program Office staff work with RSOs to manage Country Chapters and provide program management expertise in the operation of Regional Committees.
c. The OSAC Program Office is responsible for managing the notification of threats against the U.S. private sector abroad. To accomplish this, the Program Office 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. The OSAC Program Office is comprised of the following individual units:
(1) Global threat warning;
(2) Programs, partnerships, and policy; and
(3) Research and Analysis.
12 FAM 065 SUB-COMMITTEES
(CT:DS-350; 02-25-2021)
The OSAC , a Federal Advisory Committee, has established a number of sub-committees to address specific improvements to OSAC Programs. The sub-committees report to the Advisory Committee on information regarding the topics below and will not provide advice or recommendations directly to the Department. The sub-committees include:
(1)Council member recruitment and engagement;
(2) Strategic partnerships and growth;
(3) Governance and standards;
(4) Operations and excellence;
(5) Content review and development; and
(6) Education and awards.
12 FAM 066 THROUGH 069 UNASSIGNED