On April 22, members of the Chanticleer Intelligence Brief (CIB) met at the Coastal Science Center Complex for a special Awards Ceremony that celebrated the organization’s 10 years of operation. Alongside this important historical milestone, the CIB members partook in a longstanding tradition that marks the culmination of the semester. The event recognizes the dedicated work of CIB recruits, members, analysts, and senior analysts, and serves to renew everyone’s pledge to make the organization even stronger in the coming year, which will be our 11th consecutive year of operation.

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: Halle Brown (Asia); Brendan Minett (Europe); Matthew Rosso (Africa); Aibiike “Ivy” Atkins (Russia); Ayden Dunn (Americas); Aaron Roecklein (Middle East); McKenzie Shakespeare (China); Ryan Campbell (Cyber, second semester in a row); and Frankie Cullen (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 Aibiike “Ivy” Atkins (Russia).

The organization recognized its Critical Mission Center (CMC) directors and deputy directors, who served as Applied Intelligence Project Interns this semester. These were: CMC KILO Director Savannah Bennett, CMC FOXTROT Director Jack Goldberg, CMC SIERRA Director Olivia Connell, and CMC DELTA Director Ryan Campbell. They were supported by CMC KILO Deputy Director Ethan McWaters, CMC FOXTROT Deputy Director Kevin Taber, CMC SIERRA Deputy Director Abigail Gross, and CMC DELTA Deputy Director Madison Bunting, as well as by 16 other Support Officers, who are now eligible to complete this internship as directors or deputy directors in a subsequent semester.

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 Olivia Connell (KILO). The Intelligence Analysis Award, presented to the CMC Director with the highest-quality analytical effort during the semester, went to Ryan Campbell (X-RAY). The Support Excellence Award, presented to the Senior Analysts with the most dedicated overall contribution to the project, went to Ellie Kreiser (KILO) and Henry Patterson (FOXTROT). Finally, the Intelligence Dissemination Award, which recognizes the best-performing AIP briefer as seen by the customer, went to Madison Bunting (DELTA).

The CIB’s Executive Director, Lilyanne Sweat, (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, Brandon Macallair (Transnational), Alexa Cannella (Cyber), Ryan Kelly (Asia), Lex Martin (Europe), Preston Martz (China), and Lilyanne Sweat (Executive Director). We also welcomed our new Executive Team members and those Executive Team members in new positions: Savannah Bennett (Executive Director); Reed Miller (Counterintelligence Officer); Eva Hodges; Nick Bernardini; Ethan McWaters; Rachel Skinner; Anna Howard; and Kevin Taber. Connor Ellinghaus and Jack Goldberg will continue their tenure in the Executive Team.

The final recognition of the evening went to the CIB Africa Desk, headed by Connor Ellinghaus. For the fourth time in a row, the Africa Desk won this semester’s CIB Weekly News Trivia Quiz. This equalized the record held by the Middle East Desk, which dominated the competition between 2017 and 2018. The Transnational Desk narrowly won this semester’s Cool List Award after defeating the Europe Desk in a caption competition—a longstanding CIB tradition used to break ties in the semester-long Cool List standings.

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.