Mark Esper, acting defense secretary and 2019 Wash100 Award recipient, has renamed the Defense Security Service as the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency, the National Background Investigations Bureau said Monday.
DCSA will handle background investigations for all federal entities and manage insider threat programs, continuous vetting and other functions under the National Industrial Security Program. NBIB Director Charles Phalen will concurrently serve as DCSA’s acting director starting July 1 until a permanent director has been appointed.
DCSA’s establishment comes in compliance with Executive Order 13869, known as “Transferring Responsibility for Background Investigations to the Department of Defense.â€