The Defense Security Service (DSS) has announced that the Maui High Performance Computing Center (MHPCC) a Department of Defense (DoD) Supercomputing Resource Center was selected to receive the 2010 James S. Cogswell Outstanding Industrial Security Achievement Award. Eight facilities have been selected for the award, which was presented at the annual training seminar of the National Classification Management Society (NCMS) on June 16, 2010 in Reno, Nev.

The Cogswell Award, established in 1966, is named in honor of the late Air Force Col. James S. Cogswell, the first chief of industrial security within the DoD. Cogswell was responsible for developing the basic principles of the Industrial Security Program, which include an emphasis on the partnership between industry and government to protect classified information. This partnership ultimately ensures the greatest protection for the U.S. war fighter and our Nation's classified information. The Cogswell Award recognizes industrial security excellence.

This year, DSS presented the James S. Cogswell Outstanding Industrial Security Achievement Award to 8 of 12,000 defense contractors that are subject to annual inspection. The award criterion focuses on principles of industrial security excellence. Factors include establishing and maintaining a security program that far exceeds the basic National Industrial Security Program requirements; and providing leadership to other cleared facilities in establishing best practices while maintaining the highest standards for security.

The Cogswell Award selection process is rigorous. A DSS Industrial Security Representative may only nominate facilities that have at a minimum two consecutive superior industrial security review ratings and which show a sustained degree of excellence and innovation in their overall security program management, implementation and oversight. The Cogswell Award is given for outstanding achievement in matters related exclusively to a facility's security program. DSS makes the final selections.