Profiles in Leadership: Sophia Edwards, Former Chief of Staff to the U.S. Marshals Service

Kalyna White is an operations and strategy professional with expertise spanning government relations, nonprofit leadership, and digital communications. She currently serves as Manager at the Government Technology & Services Coalition (GTSC), where she oversees day-to-day operations, manages over $1 million in annual billing, supports 200+ member companies, and leads events with up to 400 attendees. She also directs the editorial and digital strategy for Homeland Security Today, where her leadership has grown the platform from 200,000 to more than 4 million annual visitors. In addition to her professional work, Kalyna is the Founder of LABUkraine, a nonprofit organization that connects Ukrainian youth to opportunity through technology and education by building computer labs with recycled technology from American businesses. Since Russia’s invasion, she has expanded LABUkraine’s mission to deliver critical humanitarian aid to frontline communities, coordinating international logistics for medical supplies, water filtration systems, and hygiene goods. A graduate of the University of California, San Diego with a B.A. in Political Science and minors in Middle Eastern Studies and English Literature, Kalyna also served as President of the Panhellenic Association and Pi Beta Phi Fraternity, representing more than 1,500 women. She has been deeply engaged in the homeland security community since high school, serving for nearly a decade as Youth Ambassador and later a Board Member for Women in Homeland Security. She is passionate about leveraging operations, strategy, and innovation to strengthen organizations and create lasting global impact.