DTSA International Engagement Directorate

A team discussion in an office setting

The International Engagement Directorate (IED) is a multi-discipline organization comprised of security and foreign affairs professionals. IED leads the Defense Technology Security Administration’s (DTSA) efforts on behalf of DoD in developing unilateral, bilateral, and multilateral technology transfer policies, and national foreign disclosure policy in support of the priorities of the Secretary of Defense and the National Defense Strategy. IED works to strengthen alliances and attract new partners by supporting technology security capacity building and facilitating security cooperation. IED personnel share approaches in technology security and export controls, both on a bilateral basis with partners and allies, as well as through multilateral export control and nonproliferation regimes, in order to strengthen technology security relationships and help establish the foundation for greater defense cooperation. IED works with DTSA’s technical subject matter experts and other DoD stakeholders to identify and protect critical technologies to blunt military modernization efforts of strategic competitors and other hostile actors while maintaining our warfighter’s military superiority.

IED carries out the responsibilities of the Secretary of Defense for U. S. national policy governing the disclosure of classified military information and material to foreign governments and international organizations; for DoD liaison and exchange programs with foreign governments; for DoD as the U.S. Designated Security Authority for security policies and arrangements for government and commercial international programs; for the development and negotiation of security arrangements with allied and other friendly governments; for U. S. implementation of NATO security regulations; and the development of U.S. positions on NATO security-related issues. IED serves as the Executive Secretariat to the Arms Transfer Technology Release Senior Steering Group (ATTR SSG) and the National Military Information Disclosure Policy Committee (NDPC). IED’s Technology Security/Foreign Disclosure (TSFD) activities work to facilitate coordination and synchronization of technology release requests of high importance to DoD. IED assists these requests through the TSFD processes to ensure transparency and timely, well-informed decisions and policies are applied to technology or information transfers.

There are three divisions within the IED: Multilateral Engagement; Regional Engagement; and, Strategy and Policy. The three divisions have responsibilities in the following areas:

The Multilateral Engagement Division (MED)

Multilateral Export Control and Non-Proliferation Regimes (Australia Group, Missile Technology Control Regime, Nuclear Suppliers Group, and the Wassenaar Arrangement)
DoD Patent Security Review Manager
Bilateral Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreements
Defense Trade Cooperation Treaties between the U.S., the United Kingdom and Australia
Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. (CFIUS) technology transfer and regional security reviews
International security aspects of industrial security policy
Policies and procedures for protection of NATO classified information in the U.S. Government
United States Representative at NATO Security Committee Co-Chair U.S.-Canada Security and Technology Sharing Subcommittee
Senior U.S. Representative at Multinational Industrial Security Working Group (MISWG)
Policy relating to Central United States Registry operations relative to the protection of NATO classified information
Policy guidance and oversight to the Military Services, Defense Systems Management College (DSMC), the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA), and the Defense Security Cooperation University (formerly the Defense Institute of Security Assistance Management (DISAM)) on training courses pertaining to foreign disclosure and international programs security

The Regional Engagement Division (RED)

Technology Security Bilateral Engagements (Cooperative Technology Security Programs, Interagency and Intra-Departmental Bilateral Engagements, and Security Survey Follow-up)
Interagency advisory role and USG subject matter experts on defense technology security and technology transfer issues
General security agreements (General Security of Military Information and General Security of Information Agreements), Industrial Security Agreements, and Special Security Agreements with Allies and other friendly nations
With A&S, lead the U.S.-Australia Defense Trade Working Group and the U.S.-UK Defense Trade Task Force
Develop and integrate special security provisions for international programs to include cooperative R&D, security assistance, and reciprocal procurement programs
Lead interface between DoD and security officials of allied and other friendly nations on technology transfer and technology security issues of mutual concern
Security surveys of foreign government security laws, policies and practices
DoD lead for policy advice and guidance to DoD and interagency components on technology security aspects of security assistance, arms cooperation and other international programs
Developing and providing policy advice on sections of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) that deal with security and the export of classified defense articles and technical data
DoD lead for technology security interests at international meetings and conferences

The Strategy and Policy Division (SPD)

Arms Transfer and Technology Senior Steering Group (ATTR SSG) Executive Secretariat
National Military Information Disclosure Policy Committee (NDPC) Executive Secretariat
National and DoD policies on disclosure of classified military information and materiel to foreign governments and international organizations
Policies and procedures for Foreign Liaison, Defense Exchange Personnel, and DoD Foreign Visits programs
Anticipatory technology release and policies for defense systems and sensitive capabilities
Conventional Arms Transfer (CAT) Policy implementation coordinator
Security Cooperation Workforce program coordinator
Cross-DTSA Strategic Competition integrator

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