The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) has been awarded the prestigious 2010 National Security Agency's Frank B. Rowlett Award for Information Assurance for Organizational Achievement. The Frank B. Rowlett Awards are held annually to recognize individual and organizational achievements in the improvement of national information systems security, information assurance (IA) readiness, or defensive information operations. The award is named after Frank B. Rowlett, cryptologic pioneer and pivotal member of the early National Security Agency (NSA).

The Rowlett Trophy for Organizational Achievement is awarded to the U.S. Government organization that made the most significant contribution to the improvements in those areas. This year's nominees included submissions from the Central Intelligence Agency, Defense Intelligence Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation, all the Military Services within the Department of Defense, several of the Department of Defense's Combatant Commands, Department of Energy, Department of Homeland Security, the United States Department of State, as well as many others.

Dr. James E. Armstrong, Jr., MDA's Chief Information Officer and deputy director of the MDA Integration and Operations Center, accepted the award on behalf of MDA at a ceremony Nov. 4 at NSA headquarters at Fort Meade, Md. Dr. Armstrong accepted the award trophy from Mr. Rob Joyce, NSA Deputy Director for Information Assurance, who presented the award on behalf of General Keith B. Alexander, NSA Director, National Security Agency Chief and the Central Security Service. Also on hand for the presentation of the award was Frank B. Rowlett's son, Tom.

The MDA and its Chief Information Office were recognized as number one in the United States Government for Information Assurance excellence for 2010, based on the organization's ability to identify and solve significant IA problems, successes at the organizational level resulting from the application of IA and a significant contribution to our nation's IA posture.

According to Mr. Joyce, the award this year was the most competitive and diverse that NSA has ever seen. Mr. Joyce stated that, "All of the top three nominees are shining stars that are making IA happen and defending our network!"