On May 5, 2015, the Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC), Bulgaria Country Council, held a workshop on Security Leadership for Non-Security Professionals at the Hilton Hotel, Sofia. Two-and-a-half years after Ambassador Ries launched OSAC in Sofia, the Council met for its 13th event, which was followed by a farewell cocktail for one of its founding members, Regional Security Officer (RSO) Seth Green.
More than 30 participants from 25 companies, faith-based organizations, NGOs and academic institutions were briefed on the fundamentals of the emergency planning process by experienced security officers. The workshop included presentations and case studies on how to manage a company during a crisis, hotel stay and travel security, transportation security, site physical security, and how the security risk is expected to change in the future. The Council expressed its gratitude to RSO Seth Green for his dedication to OSAC Bulgaria, his readiness and availability to assist its members when needed and, last but not least, his leadership in making the council so successful. Three upcoming events are planned for 2015 on the following topics: hostage situations and personal recovery, cybersecurity, and business resilience.
OSAC was established in 1985 under the Federal Advisory Committee Act to promote security cooperation between American private sector interests worldwide and the U.S. Department of State. The OSAC Council comprises 30 private sector and four public sector member organizations that represent specific industries or agencies. Today, the OSAC partnership encompasses 10 federal agencies and more than 4,600 private organizations from the business and academic communities, as well as non-governmental and faith-based organizations.
The OSAC Bulgaria Country Council, launched in November 2012, is one of 178 OSAC chapters around the globe attached to U.S. embassies and consulates. For more information on OSAC, contact the Regional Security Office at the U.S. Embassy or visit the OSAC website or Linkedin group: OSAC Bulgaria Country Council.