"We are aware that the Annual Briefing is a banner event and an important connection point for our membership each year, offering opportunities for information sharing and networking among our esteemed cadre of international security professionals," said Jason Kight, OSAC Executive Director, in a news release. "We did not make this decision lightly and only after much discussion, during which we assessed Washington, D.C.’s opening protocols. Regrettably, we agreed that by November, we are unlikely to have moved beyond the city’s Phase 3 guidance, which prohibits more than 250 people from gathering at an event until a vaccine is available."

 

The release notes: "For similar reasons, the International Security Foundation’s annual dinner will also not be held this November. The ISF is working in collaboration with us on a full slate of sponsorship opportunities for the virtual Annual Briefing. They will roll out these exciting donor recognition packages in the next few weeks. These sponsorships are a critical and creative way to support OSAC programming and resiliency in 2021 during these challenging times. For those companies and organizations who have been stalwart ISF partners, we humbly ask that, if possible, you continue to support OSAC through the ISF to ensure this public-private partnership continues to thrive in future years."

 

According to the release, "To close on a positive note, we emphasize our commitment to providing you, our members, a well-planned, content-rich, and meaningful virtual Annual Briefing in November. By making these decisions now, we are allowing our staff and private sector leadership additional time to create a stellar event that will feature the same professional-level content you have come to expect over the years. We will host expert keynote speakers and in-depth panel discussions on critical security topics, share regional analytical reports, and offer opportunities for more personalized discussions through breakout rooms."