SPRINGFIELD, IL— Recently, Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Sean M. Cox recognized Protective Security Advisor (PSA) Kevin C. Pennell, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Southern/Central Illinois, for receiving the InfraGard National DHS PSA of the Year Award. This distinguished award was presented at the 2017 InfraGard National Member Alliance Congress in Dallas Texas on September 24, 2017.

Pennell, based in Springfield, has been protecting his community for many years as a member of the Springfield Police Department, as a Major in the United States Air Force, and has been with DHS for the past nine years. As an accomplished leader, Pennell has developed strong and trusting relationships with local, regional police,and sheriff departments, and Federal law enforcement agencies, most notably the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which is the creator and coordinator of the InfraGard Program. Kevin actively works with the Illinois Statewide Terrorism and Intelligence Center, and has been appointed Advisor on the InfraGard Springfield Members Alliance Board of Directors Advisory Committee.

“About InfraGard and the InfraGard National Members Alliance—InfraGard is a partnership between the FBI and the private sector. It is an association of persons who represent businesses, academic institutions, state and local public safety agencies, and other participants dedicated to sharing information, and intelligence to prevent hostile acts against the U.S. The InfraGard National Members Alliance is comprised of over 80 chapters representing over 40,000 FBI-vetted subject matter experts on protecting the 16 Critical Sectors. InfraGard provides its members with unmatched opportunities to promote the physical and cyber security of their organizations, through access to a trusted, national network of Subject Matter Experts from the public and private sectors and government stakeholders, at the local, state, and federal levels.”