Secure Community Network Joins Distinguished Public-Private Sector Cohort Partnering with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence
The Secure Community Network (SCN), the official safety and security organization for the Jewish community in North America, is proud to announce its membership in a distinguished public-private sector cohort with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) as part of the Public-Private Analytic Exchange Program (AEP).
Through the AEP, government analysts and partners from the private and non-profit sectors collaborate to share timely intelligence and trends and produce joint analytic products. Through its participation, SCN will enhance its capabilities to protect the Jewish community through even stronger partnerships with the ODNI and the network of its participating organizations.
SCN is one of two faith-based nonprofits admitted to the AEP, marking the first time non-profit entities have been selected for inclusion — a milestone that enhances the program’s diversity and bolsters SCN’s capacity to receive and share actionable intelligence. This membership improves the accessibility and effectiveness of SCN’s National Jewish Security Operations Command Center (JSOCC), while also fostering enhanced collaboration and integration of field intelligence from SCN’s security professionals and the network of Jewish community security directors with government partners and private sector counterparts.
The AEP includes 60 government participants and 64 private sector representatives. Government entities involved include the FBI, U.S. Armed Forces, Department of Transportation, National Security Agency (NSA), ODNI, state and local governments, and fusion centers. The private sector is represented by companies such as Amazon, Meta, The Walt Disney Company, and Citi.
Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines has noted that the Iranian government has exploited ongoing Gaza war protests, with actors linked to the regime posing as activists online and financially supporting protesters. In response, SCN is surging resources during the High Holiday season to mitigate potential threats related to these movements on university campuses and in major cities.
Jewish communities in North America face unprecedented and dynamic threat levels, with incidents of vandalism, harassment, assault, swatting, and false bomb threats, all of which have surged since the October 7th terror attacks by Hamas. In 2023, SCN’s Duty Desk logged a record 5,404 threat incidents, referring 1,619 individuals to authorities. This threat environment underscores the critical need for coordinated security efforts and collaboration with both federal and private sector partners.
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