| While on vacation this summer I had the opportunity to | | | | blending in she stood out enough to be recognized by |
| bump into a famous actress. Actually, I didn't even | | | | my wife (who has also been able to spot other |
| notice her until my wife pointed her out. But, there she | | | | celebrities at airports during our travels). |
| was walking right past us in Dollywood, USA. At first, I | | | | Our actress had attempted to blend in dressing in |
| did not recognize her because I really was not looking | | | | clothing to be somewhat incognito. However, the hat |
| for her. Also, she had not been dressed in the fashion | | | | and sunglasses really made her stand out. Here in the |
| of her TV career. A moment later I asked my wife to | | | | south, many like to wear baseball caps. That day, few |
| continue with the children while I back tracked to get a | | | | people wore hats. Those who did wore regular |
| better look. | | | | baseball caps and not the mesh type of trucker hats; |
| I turned back and finally caught up with the actress | | | | especially not hot pink ones. The sunglasses were |
| and her group. Since I only wanted to verify my | | | | oversized and clashed with the hat (and outfit) and |
| sighting and not bother her, I continued to walk past | | | | kind of made the appearance of someone doing |
| her, took a right and pretended to be lost. I looked | | | | everything wrong in an attempt to look like everyone |
| around as if searching for something. After taking a | | | | else. |
| discreet look I was able to finally recognize her as the | | | | Not that I am a sound fan of fashion, but I am looking |
| TV personality. I then made my way back to my | | | | at this in an OPSEC or security point of view. Our |
| family smiling and nodding to the actress as I walked | | | | actress attempted to have fun at a theme park while |
| by. | | | | not drawing attention to herself or her celebrity status. |
| "I'm not sure, but I think that was her," I later told my | | | | However, her attempt to blend in may have failed |
| wife. "Good sighting". | | | | because of her unusual dress. |
| Later that night, after returning to our vacation cabin | | | | Cleared professionals could learn a lesson from this |
| my wife came running up to me. | | | | story. Defense contractor and Government work |
| "See, I knew that was her." My wife held open a | | | | should be performed in such a way not to bring |
| gossip magazine with the actress and her famous | | | | attention to the operation. This applies for both |
| boyfriend in a photo walking along a resort beach. | | | | classified and unclassified efforts. Practicing good |
| In the picture, the actress had worn the same pink | | | | OPSEC includes taking a look at your operations |
| trucker hat and brown sunglasses we had seen her in | | | | through the eyes of someone wanting to exploit your |
| earlier that day. I couldn't believe it, it had been a good | | | | vulnerabilities. A good question to ask is "how would an |
| sighting. | | | | adversary recognize our effort and how will they |
| "So, why didn't you talk to her?" asked my wife. | | | | attempt to learn more about it?" Security managers |
| "Well, I really didn't know what I would say. Plus, I really | | | | should study the surroundings, situation, and |
| think she just wanted to enjoy her holiday," I replied. | | | | environment to ensure performance on contracts, |
| I've been thinking of the event on and off since | | | | proprietary data and otherwise privileged information |
| returning from our vacation. This actress had made an | | | | remains low key. Teach employees to work in a way |
| attempt at assuming a normal life on a normal vacation | | | | to not draw unwanted attention. |
| taken by normal people. However, instead of really | | | | |
