CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Sept. 10 (UPI) -- The U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence has been recognized for an intelligence collaboration program.
Harvard University's Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation honored the Office of the Director of National Intelligence with one of six 2008 Innovations in American Government Awards.
The award recognizes the Intelligence Community Civilian Joint Duty Program designed by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence as a way to encourage collaboration among the intelligence community.
The program, which was created after the passing of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act in 2004 and the release of the Sept. 11 Commission report, requires intelligence personnel to work outside their parent agency for a period, in order to be considered for promotion to a senior-level position.
The Ash Institute recognized the program for its ability to break down the once non-communicative and independent intelligence branches, saying that the overall intelligence community has gained a better perspective on intelligence.
"Knowledge-sharing between our federal intelligence agencies is key to improved national security," Stephen Goldsmith, director of the Innovations in American Government Awards at Harvard Kennedy School, said in a statement.
"The Office of the Director of National Intelligence has developed an innovative solution for improving cross-agency understanding, while at once creating a more rewarding professional experience for intelligence community personnel."
Winners of the innovation award all receive $100,000 to replicate their programs for other government agencies in the United States.
