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Two graduates of ������Ƶapp University’s Department of Intelligence Studies, Gracie Knopfel ’23 and Jay Camp ’24, have been recognized for their contributions during internships at Carnegie Mellon University’s (CMU) Software Engineering Institute (SEI). Their work played a pivotal role in CMU receiving the prestigious Jack Donnelly Award for Excellence in Counterintelligence.

Earlier this month, the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) honored CMU SEI with the award, acknowledging its leadership in counterintelligence. The Jack Donnelly Award is presented to federal government-cleared organizations that excel in deterring, detecting, and disrupting attempts by foreign entities to steal sensitive or classified U.S. information and technology.

The commendation, presented by DCSA Deputy Director Daniel Lecce on Dec. 3 at CMU’s Pittsburgh campus, also highlighted the SEI’s collaborative efforts with interns who perform preliminary reviews of suspicious contact reports submitted by CMU employees. These efforts contribute to high-quality intelligence reporting for the U.S. intelligence community.

Interns from ������Ƶapp’s Center for Intelligence, Research, Analysis, and Training (CIRAT) have been consistent contributors to SEI’s global counterintelligence initiatives. In an email to CIRAT Executive Director Brian Fuller, a CMU spokesperson credited the internship program as a key factor in earning the award. “A big part of winning that award is our internship program and specifically the research and work our interns perform with the suspicious contacts we receive… Director Lecce specifically called them out in his remarks!” the spokesperson noted.

Fuller, meanwhile, said, “This is a huge honor in the intelligence community and for all the interns involved in the program. This is a true testament to the quality of the students and intelligence curriculum being taught at ������Ƶapp University. Thank you to Carnegie Mellon for providing this internship and high-level project in supporting the growth of two of our most recent best and brightest students, and now alumni. ������Ƶapp looks forward to continuing the relationship with Carnegie Mellon's internship program and providing high-quality and well-trained student intelligence analysts well into the future!"

Both Knopfel and Camp were present for the announcement and recognition ceremony.

PHOTO: Celebrating CMU’s award for excellence in counterintelligence are ������Ƶapp grads and former CMU interns Gracie Knopfel (back row, sixth from left) and Jay Camp (front row, fifth from right).