On April 23, members of the Chanticleer Intelligence Brief (CIB) met at the Coastal Science Center Complex for yet another CIB Awards Ceremony and celebration. This is a longstanding CIB tradition that marks the culmination of the semester. The event aims to recognize the hard work of CIB recruits, members, analysts, and senior analysts, and to renew everyone’s pledge to make the organization even stronger in the coming academic year.

This semester’s celebration marked the 19th CIB Awards Ceremony, in the tradition of the group’s first-ever ceremony, which was held in May 2016. The membership of the CIB remained very prolific throughout this semester, and much solid work was completed by members at all levels of the organization. The Awards Ceremony provided the CIB with an opportunity to recognize a number of individuals and groups, who did outstanding work in the past several months.

During the ceremony, the CIB recognized its most promising members based on the consistency of their work this semester. The head of each membership desk nominated a member for the Regional Expert Award, which is given for distinguished semester-long performance as a CIB member. The award winners were: Henry Patterson (Americas); Kevin Taber (Europe); Brendan Minett (Russia); Connor Ellinghaus (Africa); Ethan McWaters (Asia); Savannah Bennett (Middle East); Preston Martz (China); and Lucas Simpson (Cyber/ Transnational).

Additionally, the editors of the CIB’s Weekly Intelligence Brief publication recognized one of the contributors this semester whose work for the publication represents the highest standards of content selection, analysis and written delivery. The award recipient was Matthew Petersen (Europe).

The organization recognized its Critical Mission Center (CMC) directors and deputy directors, who served as Applied Intelligence Project Interns this semester. These were: CMC ECHO Director McKenzie Shakespeare, CMC DELTA Director Preston Martz, CMC Echo Deputy Directors Madison Conway and Sophia Batchelder, and CMC Delta Deputy Directors Connor Ellinghaus and Emma Plutnicki. These senior analysts were surrounded by 14 Critical Mission Center Support Officers, who are now eligible to complete this internship as directors or deputy directors in a subsequent semester.

The following awards were presented to the following Applied Intelligence Project participants: The Highest Quality Oral Intelligence Product Award, presented to the CMC Director with the best overall delivery of oral intelligence briefs, went to Emily Falcon (DELTA). The Intelligence Analysis Award, presented to the CMC Director with the highest-quality analytical effort during the semester, went to McKenzie Shakespeare (ECHO). The Support Excellence Award, presented to the Senior Analysts with the most dedicated overall contribution to the project, went to Madison Conway (ECHO) and Ethan McWaters (DELTA). Finally, the Intelligence Dissemination Award, which recognizes the best-performing AIP briefer as seen by the customer, went to Preston Martz (DELTA).

The CIB’s Executive Director, Tessa Bentley, (pictured) was presented with the CIB Achievement Award. This recognition is offered by the CIB Executive Team to an individual member of the organization who has gone above and beyond the call of duty in contributing to the CIB’s efforts.

On behalf of the CIB Executive Team, CIB Faculty Mentor Dr. Joseph Fitsanakis recognized the longstanding work of our graduating Executive Officers, Tessa Bentley, Ricky Limon, Aubrey Belanger, Madison Conway, Mason Marlowe, and Jordan Maple. We also welcomed our new Executive Team members and those Executive Team members in new positions: Lily Sweat (Executive Director); Brandon Macallair (Chief Operations Officer); Connor Ellinghaus (Counterintelligence Officer); Savannah Bennett; Alexa Canella; Ryan Kelly; Jack Goldberg; Lex Martin; Preston Martz; and Matthew Petersen.

The final recognition of the evening went to the CIB Africa Desk, headed by Aubrey Belanger. For the second time in a row, the Africa Desk won this semester’s CIB Weekly News Trivia Quiz. The Russia Desk placed second ahead of the Europe Desk, which came in third. The Cyber/Transnational Desk narrowly won this semester’s Cool List Award, just a point ahead from the Americas Desk.

The CIB wishes to thank all of its Executive Team officers, its senior analysts and analysts, as well as its recruits, for a highly successful semester. Our organization looks forward to continuing to strengthen our work and output in coming semesters. We also want to congratulate our graduating members and wish them our very best as they embark on their next steps in life.