SMO engagement – National Security Institute

Tuesday, April 15 8:45 AM Register for this Session Return to Full Agenda

Tuesday, April 15 8:45 AM

Mastering SMO Engagement and Managing Cross-Functional Relationships

Moderator: Jim Kennedy, Boeing • Panelists: Kari Phillips, Security Director, SAIC • Pat Gould, Security Director, Peraton

Turn SMO Engagement into a Strength—And Expand Security’s Influence

Your Senior Management Official (SMO) is responsible for your facility’s industrial security program under NISPOM, but that doesn’t guarantee meaningful engagement. Security professionals must bridge the gap—proactively driving conversations, making security relevant to leadership, and securing buy-in.

But SMO engagement is just one piece of the puzzle. Security leaders also need cross-functional collaboration to integrate security into legal, HR, IT, and operations—ensuring it’s embedded in business decisions, not just a compliance afterthought.

Join this session to hear from security professionals who have successfully navigated leadership dynamics, strengthened SMO engagement, and built productive cross-functional relationships. Learn what works, what doesn’t, and how to document engagement in ways that meet DCSA expectations.

Key Takeaways

Lessons from the Field – Real-world insights from security professionals on engaging SMOs and cross-functional teams.
Managing Up for Impact – How to work with an SMO who is passive or disengaged—and apply the same principles to other functions.
Tailoring Security Messaging – Making security relevant and actionable for leadership and cross-functional colleagues.
Documenting Engagement for DCSA – Creative ways to show consistent interaction and compliance readiness.
Optimizing Leadership Briefings – The right cadence, topics, and strategies to keep leadership informed and prepared for audits.

This session delivers practical, experience-driven strategies that you can implement immediately to build SMO relationships, strengthen cross-functional engagement, and position security as a business priority.

Seats are limited—register today.