Donald Kerr receives AFCEA International’s Charlie Allen Award for Distinguished Intelligence Service

Dr. Donald Kerr Jr., vice chairman, The MITRE Corporation, has been named the recipient of AFCEA International‘s 2016 Charlie Allen Award for Distinguished Intelligence Service, AFCEA International announced May 11. AFCEA International’s highest honor in the intelligence realm, the award recognizes senior-level intelligence professionals with a distinguished record of significant accomplishments and senior leadership supporting the Intelligence Community.

Prior to joining MITRE, Kerr served as the principal deputy director of national intelligence. He also has supported the Intelligence Community as the director of the National Reconnaissance Office and assistant to the secretary of the Air Force for Intelligence Space Technology. From 2001 to 2005, Kerr worked as the CIA’s deputy director for science and technology. Prior to his time with the CIA, he was the FBI’s assistant director in charge of the Laboratory Division.

Kerr also has held several executive positions in the private sector. He served as executive vice president and director at Information Systems Laboratories Incorporated, corporate executive vice president and director at SAIC, and president and director of EG&G Incorporated.

A fellow of the American Physical Society and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Kerr’s published material includes topics such as nuclear weapons efforts, national security and arms control, energy technology and ionospheric research. He holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, a master’s degree in microwave electronics and a doctorate in plasma physics and microwave electronics.

AFCEA’s Charlie Allen Award is named after an intelligence professional that served in government for more than 50 years, including over 25 years as a senior government executive. From 1998 to 2005, Allen worked as the assistant director of central intelligence for collection. He also held intelligence and management positions with responsibilities for providing all-source intelligence to cabinet-level officials and as a program manager under the Director of National Intelligence. He is a nationally recognized expert in counterterrorism, homeland security, warning intelligence and information sharing.

According to Jake Jacoby, chairman of the AFCEA Intelligence Committee, during his more than 40 years at the CIA, Allen became as much a legend as a respected senior official. He earned a reputation for plain speaking, even when his opinions differed from those of senior officials.

Kerr joins a long and distinguished list of Allen Award winners, including Robert Cardillo, director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency; David Shedd, acting director of the Defense Intelligence Agency; and Stephanie O’Sullivan, principal deputy director of national intelligence.

Kerr accepted the award at the AFCEA Spring Intelligence Symposium in April.

Source: AFCEA International