David H. McIntyre, director of the Integrative Center for Homeland Security at Texas A&M University, has been elected to the board of directors for the InfraGard National Members Alliance.

InfraGard is a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) program that began in the bureau’s Cleveland field office in 1996. It started as a local effort to gain support from the information technology industry and academia for the FBI’s investigative efforts in the cyber arena. Today, there are InfraGard chapters made up of businesspeople, government workers and faculty at all 86 FBI field offices in the United States.

Over the last decade, InfraGard and the FBI have developed a relationship of trust and credibility in the exchange of information concerning various terrorism, intelligence, criminal and security matters

"InfraGard is a very important link between law enforcement and university professionals," McIntyre said. "We need their help in abiding by many federal guidelines so we can maintain the most open possible environment for researchers and foreign students. And they need our help in keeping up with emerging challenges to the nation as a whole."

McIntyre said he expects his work with the national board will focus on strategic communication and in helping INMA better explain the role of InfraGard to business and academia.

Contact: Rusty Cawley at (469) 338-9478, email rcawley@.tamu.edu or Keith Randall at (979) 845-4644, email keith-randall@tamu.edu.