Overseas Security Advisory Council
The U.S. Department of State’s Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) was created in 1985 under the Federal Advisory Committee Act to promote security cooperation between American private-sector interests worldwide and the US Department of State.
OSAC has developed into an enormously successful joint venture, with US companies and organizations receiving the tools they need to cope with security issues in a foreign environment.
Currently, over 4,500 constituent organizations with approximately 15,000 representatives participate in the program, including businesses, faith-based groups, academia, and other non-governmental organisations.
OSAC promotes effective cooperation by working to assist the US private sector to better anticipate security issues, including identifying and tracking threats, particularly those targeting private sector personnel, facilities, investments, interests, and intellectual property. OSAC also aids in the development of new markets through the creation of accurate assessments of current and future security environments.
Information is shared through four principal means:
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OSAC Executive Council
The OSAC Executive Council is a 34-member joint private/public sector body that leads the organization and sets its strategic direction, goals and objectives. This structure ensures the goals are set by the private sector with public sector support.
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Research and Information Support Center (RISC)
The RISC staff research issues affecting the private sector and make this information available through reports, briefings and consultations. With access to a broad range of classified and unclassified reporting from diplomatic missions around the world as well as open-source information and on-the-ground feedback/information from constituents operating abroad, the RISC staff is able to track social, political and economic issues that affect the security of the US private sector operating overseas. The RISC staff is composed of three units: Country Councils and Outreach, Global Security and the Regional Analysis Unit.
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Country Councils
The Country Councils replicate the OSAC public/private partnership at over 130 overseas locations, bringing together the American embassy or consulate with private sector regional personnel to share information about security issues of mutual concern. These Councils encourage personnel to ensure there is a self-sustaining network in place to mitigate security-related issues.
Key representatives of these Councils and embassy security officers, as well as other embassy officials, develop relationships to create a network for sharing timely and actionable security information.
Through the OSAC London Country Council there is opportunity for local non-US businesses to become an integral part of OSAC in support of local business communities.
For additional information on OSAC and how to apply for membership as a Country Council-only Member, please visit www.osac.gov
