Who administers and oversees the contractor security program?

• A. Facility Security Officer (FSO)
• B. Cognizant Security Office (CSO)
• C. Industrial Security Field Office (ISFO)
• D. Contracting Officer (CO)

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that the daily management and implementation of a contractor’s security program sits with the Facility Security Officer. This person is designated by the contractor to run the security program inside the facility, ensuring compliance with the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM), safeguarding classified information, controlling access, conducting security training, and coordinating with government security offices. They act as the internal point of contact for security issues and ensure the program runs smoothly on a day-to-day basis.

The government Cognizant Security Office and Industrial Security Field Office provide oversight and approvals and serve as the external point of contact, but they do not administer the contractor’s program on a daily basis. The Contracting Officer handles procurement and contract administration, not security program administration.