The head of a major federal security agency warned Aug. 18 that a “perfect storm” of global threats is targeting the region’s defense contractors and classified government work.
David Cattler, director of the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency, told security professionals that adversaries are increasingly viewing Northern Virginia’s intellectual property and defense workforce as “strategic terrain, as valuable as any battlefield,” according to a DCSA press release.
Speaking at the National Insider Threat Awareness Month conference at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in Alexandria, Cattler outlined mounting challenges facing his agency, which conducts 2.7 million background investigations annually and oversees more than 10,000 cleared defense companies nationwide.
“Our adversaries are on the move,” Cattler said. “Today’s adversaries do not separate economic competition from national security.”
The DCSA director cited recent examples, including Chinese cyber campaigns called “Volt Typhoon” and “Salt Typhoon” that have targeted U.S. infrastructure and telecommunications companies. He noted that one Fortune 100 defense contractor reports dealing with 65,000 phishing attempts monthly.
DCSA, headquartered at Marine Corps Base Quantico, describes itself as “America’s Gatekeeper” responsible for protecting classified information across the defense industrial base. The agency, formed in 2019, oversees 13,000 facilities and 5,500 classified information technology systems.
Cattler said the expanding threat environment will likely mean more work for his agency, which already processes more than 10,000 new security investigations daily.
“We expect to issue more facility clearances, engage in more personnel vetting, and conduct more training,” he said. “Therefore, we will have even more insider risk to manage.”
The agency has seen a surge in suspicious contact reports, receiving more than 32,000 last year, with 3,000 to 4,000 considered serious, according to Cattler.
Recent insider threat incidents have included a 2023 case in which an Air National Guard analyst leaked classified information on Discord, and a 2025 case involving a Defense Intelligence Agency analyst who allegedly sought to sell information in exchange for foreign citizenship.
DCSA this year began deploying insider threat representatives directly into military commands and installations nationwide as “strategic force multipliers,” Cattler said.
The agency also manages extensive security training programs, conducting 5.4 million course completions last year and training more than 100 new polygraph examiners annually.
Cattler emphasized that rapid technological advancement is outpacing policy development, creating additional vulnerabilities.
“Artificial Intelligence, autonomous systems, cyber warfare, and just the sheer volume of global data flows are transforming our operating environment,” he said.
The DCSA director’s remarks come as the Defense Department faces what he described as competing pressures of economic strain and tighter budgets while demand for defense capabilities increases.
The conference, held at the Patent and Trademark Office at 600 Dulany St., brought together security professionals from the military, government, industry, and academia to discuss insider threat challenges.
Cattler emphasized that the National Industrial Security Program overseen by his agency is “central to defending our national power.” The program, established by executive order, ensures that cleared defense companies safeguard classified information while working on contracts and research projects.
DCSA was formed in 2019, consolidating functions previously handled by the Defense Investigative Service and Defense Security Service.
