Security Magazine logo
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • NEWS
  • MANAGEMENT
  • PHYSICAL
  • CYBER
  • BLOG
  • COLUMNS
  • EXCLUSIVES
  • SECTORS
  • EVENTS
  • MEDIA
  • MORE
  • EMAG
  • SIGN UP!
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • NEWS
  • Security Newswire
  • Technologies & Solutions
  • MANAGEMENT
  • Leadership Management
  • Enterprise Services
  • Security Education & Training
  • Logical Security
  • Security & Business Resilience
  • Profiles in Excellence
  • PHYSICAL
  • Access Management
  • Fire & Life Safety
  • Identity Management
  • Physical Security
  • Video Surveillance
  • Case Studies (Physical)
  • CYBER
  • Cybersecurity News
  • More
  • COLUMNS
  • Cyber Tactics
  • Leadership & Management
  • Security Talk
  • Career Intelligence
  • Leader to Leader
  • Cybersecurity Education & Training
  • EXCLUSIVES
  • Annual Guarding Report
  • Most Influential People in Security
  • The Security Benchmark Report
  • The Security Leadership Issue
  • Top Guard and Security Officer Companies
  • Top Cybersecurity Leaders
  • Women in Security
  • SECTORS
  • Arenas / Stadiums / Leagues / Entertainment
  • Banking/Finance/Insurance
  • Construction, Real Estate, Property Management
  • Education: K-12
  • Education: University
  • Government: Federal, State and Local
  • Hospitality & Casinos
  • Hospitals & Medical Centers
  • Infrastructure:Electric,Gas & Water
  • Ports: Sea, Land, & Air
  • Retail/Restaurants/Convenience
  • Transportation/Logistics/Supply Chain/Distribution/ Warehousing
  • EVENTS
  • Industry Events
  • Webinars
  • Solutions by Sector
  • Security 500 Conference
  • MEDIA
  • Videos
  • Podcasts
  • Polls
  • Photo Galleries
  • Videos
  • Cybersecurity & Geopolitical Discussion
  • Ask Me Anything (AMA) Series
  • MORE
  • Call for Entries
  • Classifieds & Job Listings
  • Continuing Education
  • Newsletter
  • Sponsor Insights
  • Store
  • White Papers
  • EMAG
  • eMagazine
  • This Month's Content
  • Advertise
Security Magazine logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Security Magazine logo
  • NEWS
    • Security Newswire
    • Technologies & Solutions
  • MANAGEMENT
    • Leadership Management
    • Enterprise Services
    • Security Education & Training
    • Logical Security
    • Security & Business Resilience
    • Profiles in Excellence
  • PHYSICAL
    • Access Management
    • Fire & Life Safety
    • Identity Management
    • Physical Security
    • Video Surveillance
    • Case Studies (Physical)
  • CYBER
    • Cybersecurity News
    • More
  • BLOG
  • COLUMNS
    • Cyber Tactics
    • Leadership & Management
    • Security Talk
    • Career Intelligence
    • Leader to Leader
    • Cybersecurity Education & Training
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Annual Guarding Report
    • Most Influential People in Security
    • The Security Benchmark Report
    • The Security Leadership Issue
    • Top Guard and Security Officer Companies
    • Top Cybersecurity Leaders
    • Women in Security
  • SECTORS
    • Arenas / Stadiums / Leagues / Entertainment
    • Banking/Finance/Insurance
    • Construction, Real Estate, Property Management
    • Education: K-12
    • Education: University
    • Government: Federal, State and Local
    • Hospitality & Casinos
    • Hospitals & Medical Centers
    • Infrastructure:Electric,Gas & Water
    • Ports: Sea, Land, & Air
    • Retail/Restaurants/Convenience
    • Transportation/Logistics/Supply Chain/Distribution/ Warehousing
  • EVENTS
    • Industry Events
    • Webinars
    • Solutions by Sector
    • Security 500 Conference
  • MEDIA
    • Videos
      • Cybersecurity & Geopolitical Discussion
      • Ask Me Anything (AMA) Series
    • Podcasts
    • Polls
    • Photo Galleries
  • MORE
    • Call for Entries
    • Classifieds & Job Listings
    • Continuing Education
    • Newsletter
    • Sponsor Insights
    • Store
    • White Papers
  • EMAG
    • eMagazine
    • This Month's Content
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!
Security Leadership and Management

On the Track of OSAC: Dubai - ISMA/OSAC Regional Security Conference

By John McClurg
OSAC Slide 1
More than 225 Regional Security Officers, OSAC analysts, and Private-Sector Security Representatives gathered in Dubai.
OSAC Slide 2
John McClurg and fellow attendees met in Dubai, after security concerns forced the conference to relocate from Cairo.
OSAC Slide 1
OSAC Slide 2
March 22, 2011
March 20th, 2011
Dubai, UAE
 
Well-rested from our February foray into Iraq, Peter Ford and I are once again converging on a site in the Mid-East -- not for a Country Council this time -- but rather a large gathering of more than 225 Regional Security Officers, OSAC analysts, and Private-Sector Security Representatives for what represents the next in a long line of successful, jointly-sponsored ISMA/OSAC regional security conferences. Originally the gathering had been slated for Cairo, but for reasons now obvious to most of us, it became prudent to move the location to Dubai, UAE. 
 
OSAC_1 150px OSAC_2 150px
John McClurg and Peter Ford attend a regional security conference in Dubai, sponsored by ISMA and OSAC.

As ever-changing as the sands that surround it, it did not surprise us that the region as a whole has continued to command our attention over the course of the last few intervening weeks.  Notwithstanding current challenges, many of our corporations continue to harbor hopes of focusing on the region as a viable place from which to securely advance global efforts. 

To that end this joint conference, the 14th in a series of what now represents a well-established tradition within ISMA and OSAC, affords a unique forum within to discuss and devise, mutually validated strategies to deal with the challenges this region poses. Past forums have included such venues as Prague, Mexico City, Buenos Aires, Istanbul, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Budapest, and Cape Town.

While all of their presentations were characterized, if you will, by the general uncertainty that now pervades the region, they were at the same time universally up beat in the confidence they radiated as to what we as a community can achieve if we continue to work together. To that coordinated end they all universally committed themselves.Given the forces at play this last week in the region, never was there a more appropriate time to convene. I’ve been coming to the UAE almost twice a year for the last 10 years and have noticed, on every visit, marked changes from the time I last visited. In the earlier years, I was taken with over-whelming number of construction cranes (the national bird of the UAE) that dotted the skyline -- more than any other city on the globe that I was then visiting. The decline that subsequently followed was for that reason made all the more dramatic. My sense on this visit, confirmed by the observations of a local taxi driver, was that the city has returned to about 30-40% of that level of activity that once characterized the city at its peak a few years ago…a muted but encouraging sign.

One of the great benefits that the format of these regional ISMA/OSAC conferences affords is that of meeting with various Regional Security Officers (RSO) from around the region. Rather than traveling to each of them individually, which would be costly and inefficient, they come to us.  In this instance seven RSOs from Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Amman, Beirut, Baghdad, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi joined us, presented to the group, and then met with us in private sessions in what has come to be called the “Knowledge Cafe.” 

The highlight of the afternoon was a private screening of the film “Killing in the Name,” a  2011 Oscar Nominee for Best Documentary. Carie Lemack, whose mother was one of those murdered on 9/11, presented this compelling voice of the victims of radicalized Islam, reaffirming in a dramatic way Edmund Burke’s proposition that the only thing that allows evil forces to exist unabated is that good men and women do nothing.

This conference wraps up tomorrow at which time we’ll again make our ways home for a respite of only about a month, after which time you will once again be able to join us “On the Track of OSAC” as we make our way to Mexico. The current plan is to convene a large collection of Mexico-based RSOs, representatives of the FBI, other U.S. government agencies, and the Private Sector, the first week of May, at the Baker Institute in Houston where we our goal will be to advance a vision of how to yet engage more effectively, as a community, the intractable security problems of what are no longer just a challenge of the border cites. From Houston we’ll head to Monterey and Mexico City for Country Councils and from there to points south and Country Councils in Rio and Sao Paulo. For exact dates and times of these events please consult www.osac.gov. Watch for what will be our continuing series of blogs here at www.securitymagazine.com where Mark McCourt and Diane Ritchey graciously continue to host us.

KEYWORDS: osac

Share This Story

John mcclurg

John McClurg served as Sr. Vice President, CISO and Ambassador-At-Large in BlackBerry's/Cylance’s Office of Security & Trust. McClurg previously was CSO at Dell; Vice President of Global Security at Honeywell International, Lucent Technologies/Bell Laboratories; and in the U.S. Intelligence Community, as a twice-decorated member of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Blog Topics

Security Blog

On the Track of OSAC

Blog Roll

Security Industry Association

Security Magazine's Daily News

SIA FREE Email News

SDM Blog

Manage My Account
  • Security eNewsletter & Other eNews Alerts
  • eMagazine Subscriptions
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Online Registration
  • Mobile App
  • Subscription Customer Service

Security’s Top 5 – 2024 Year in Review

Security’s Top 5 – 2024 Year in Review

Middle East Escalation, Humanitarian Law and Disinformation – Episode 25

Middle East Escalation, Humanitarian Law and Disinformation – Episode 25

The Money Laundering Machine: Inside the global crime epidemic - Episode 24

The Money Laundering Machine: Inside the global crime epidemic - Episode 24

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Security audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Security or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • Sureview screen
    Sponsored bySureView Systems

    The Evolution of Automation in the Command Center

  • Crisis Response Team
    Sponsored byEverbridge

    Automate or Fall Behind – Crisis Response at the Speed of Risk

  • Perimeter security
    Sponsored byAMAROK

    Why Property Security is the New Competitive Advantage

Popular Stories

Rendered computer with keyboard

16B Login Credentials Exposed in World’s Largest Data Breach

Verizon on phone screen

61M Records Listed for Sale Online, Allegedly Belong to Verizon

Security camera

40,000 IoT Security Cameras Are Exposed Online

Fountain pen

Trump Administration Executive Order Changes Cybersecurity Policy

Red spiderweb

From Retail to Insurance, Scattered Spider Changes Targets

2025 Security Benchmark banner

Events

July 17, 2025

Tech in the Jungle: Leveraging Surveillance, Access Control, and Technology in Unique Environments

What do zebras, school groups and high-tech surveillance have in common? They're all part of a day’s work for the security team at the Toledo Zoo.

August 7, 2025

Threats to the Energy Sector: Implications for Corporate and National Security

The energy sector has found itself in the crosshairs of virtually every bad actor on the global stage.

View All Submit An Event

Products

Security Culture: A How-to Guide for Improving Security Culture and Dealing with People Risk in Your Organisation

Security Culture: A How-to Guide for Improving Security Culture and Dealing with People Risk in Your Organisation

See More Products
×
More than 225 Regional Security Officers, OSAC analysts, and Private-Sector Security Representatives gathered in Dubai.
John McClurg and fellow attendees met in Dubai, after security concerns forced the conference to relocate from Cairo.

Sign-up to receive top management & result-driven techniques in the industry.

Join over 20,000+ industry leaders who receive our premium content.

SIGN UP TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing

Security Magazine logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Security Magazine logo
  • NEWS
    • Security Newswire
    • Technologies & Solutions
  • MANAGEMENT
    • Leadership Management
    • Enterprise Services
    • Security Education & Training
    • Logical Security
    • Security & Business Resilience
    • Profiles in Excellence
  • PHYSICAL
    • Access Management
    • Fire & Life Safety
    • Identity Management
    • Physical Security
    • Video Surveillance
    • Case Studies (Physical)
  • CYBER
    • Cybersecurity News
    • More
  • BLOG
  • COLUMNS
    • Cyber Tactics
    • Leadership & Management
    • Security Talk
    • Career Intelligence
    • Leader to Leader
    • Cybersecurity Education & Training
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Annual Guarding Report
    • Most Influential People in Security
    • The Security Benchmark Report
    • The Security Leadership Issue
    • Top Guard and Security Officer Companies
    • Top Cybersecurity Leaders
    • Women in Security
  • SECTORS
    • Arenas / Stadiums / Leagues / Entertainment
    • Banking/Finance/Insurance
    • Construction, Real Estate, Property Management
    • Education: K-12
    • Education: University
    • Government: Federal, State and Local
    • Hospitality & Casinos
    • Hospitals & Medical Centers
    • Infrastructure:Electric,Gas & Water
    • Ports: Sea, Land, & Air
    • Retail/Restaurants/Convenience
    • Transportation/Logistics/Supply Chain/Distribution/ Warehousing
  • EVENTS
    • Industry Events
    • Webinars
    • Solutions by Sector
    • Security 500 Conference
  • MEDIA
    • Videos
      • Cybersecurity & Geopolitical Discussion
      • Ask Me Anything (AMA) Series
    • Podcasts
    • Polls
    • Photo Galleries
  • MORE
    • Call for Entries
    • Classifieds & Job Listings
    • Continuing Education
    • Newsletter
    • Sponsor Insights
    • Store
    • White Papers
  • EMAG
    • eMagazine
    • This Month's Content
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!