Political Science

Stakeholder Management: Served and led intra-Agency working groups designed to support the Agency’s implementation of directives from the President’s Management Council, the Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act (FITARA), and Section 889 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2019 prohibitions on the acquisition of certain technologies transforming how information technology was acquired and managed across the Agency. Led the development of significant information technology policy initiatives by achieving buy-in among Bureaus and Independent Offices complicated by significant constraints and organizational challenges.

FITARA Implementation: Developed robust policy guidance and communication strategies providing guidance to staff around the adoption of FITARA, IT security clause reporting requirements, and Section 889 requirements. In 2019, we reviewed approximately 150 acquisition requests from the field. With the adoption of robust review processes, we managed the review of approximately 1600 requests to procure IT in 2024 with contractor support.

IT Security Clauses / Rulemaking: Developed comprehensive IT security contract clauses with clearly defined requirements ensuring that IT procured on behalf of the Agency was compliant with federal laws and prohibitions related to the acquisition of information technology by the Agency and contractors in the field. USAID finalized rulemaking for 5 of the interim clauses in 2024.

Section 889: Developed robust policy guidance and an agency wide communications strategy around the implementation of Section 889 requirements in coordination with the Chief Acquisition Officer and General Counsel. Coordinated the development of quarterly reports to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence on the use of Section 889 National Security Waivers by overseas contractors (in Fiscal Years 24 – 25 approximately 4000 waivers were issued by Contracting Officers.)

IT Supply Chain Program: Participated in the development and implementation of the Agency IT Supply Chain Illumination Tool pilot and supported broader implementation of the Agency’s ICT Supply Chain Risk Management program to enhance the Agency’s IT supply chain resilience.
Governance: Stood up a robust internal Policy Governance Board comprised of CIO senior leadership creating internal processes around the development, review, and approval of IT and Agency policies. The Policy Governance Board reviewed and provided input into 311 Agency Operational Policies since 2017 ensuring that organizational equities were addressed in ADS.

Subject Matter Expert: Reviewed and developed CIO comments to draft legislation, Administration Memoranda, Executive Orders, IT related FAR cases, and NIST guidance. Represented USAID on the CISO Council sponsored Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) Tiger Team.
Conducted Employee Training: Co-led the development of the Cybersecurity Engagement for Diplomacy & Development pilot training modules with the San Salvador Mission; the first pilot was conducted in October 2024. Developed and conducted training(s) for Contracting Officers and Contracting Officer Representatives on the Agency’s IT Security Contract Clauses and requirements related to FITARA and Agency IT Operational Policies.

Strategic Planning: Plan and develop long-range objectives and milestones for IT policies that involve substantive, mission-oriented programs.

Governance: Accomplished leader with extensive experience in establishing and managing governance structures, demonstrated by successfully creating and overseeing the Office of the Chief Information Officer's Policy Working Group (PWG leading to improved compliance, risk mitigation, and strategic policy-based decision-making.

Subject Matter Expert: Developed and interpreted Agency policies, procedures, and strategies governing project planning and delivery of services throughout the agency. Worked with technical subject matter experts to ensure Agency IT policies integrate configuration management, information technology architecture, infrastructure design, cybersecurity, privacy, and supply chain risk management aspects and requirements into IT project plans.

Problem Solver: Coordinated M/CIO positions on policy-related issues/topics and took ownership to resolve challenge(s) working with Agency stakeholders independently or in coordination with Senior M/CIO Leadership to resolve conflicts around policy leading to the issuance of revised or new Agency policies providing direction to users on FITARA, Identity, Credential, and Access Management, and IT Asset management that align with NIST, Administration, or Congressional requirements.

Inter-Agency Coordination: Served as the Office of the Chief Information Officer liaison to the Section 889 NDAA Senior Leadership Working Group. Worked to obtain a USAID Section 889 Waiver from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) ensuring that programs in countries where there were no alternatives to 889 covered technologies were able to continue operations. Developed policy guidance for Agency staff around Section 889 requirements, including directions on how contractors could request a Section 889 waiver.

FITARA: Facilitated Agency efforts to implement the Federal IT Acquisition Reform Act (FITARA) through the development of the Agency FITARA implementation plan, supported the development of materials submitted to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), developed congressional testimony for the CIO and supported House Oversight & Government Reform FITARA hearing preparation for the CIO.

IT Security Clauses / Rulemaking: Managed the development and issuance of interim Agency IT security contract clauses in coordination with the Office of the Chief Acquisition Officer to implement requirements from the President’s Management Council and FITARA into Agency contracts that contain IT. Coordinating Federal Rulemaking efforts with M/OAA. Stood up the Agency IT Authorization Inbox to support the adoption of the IT Security contract clause requirements while also implementing requirements contained in FITARA that the Agency CIO review and approve and approve the acquisition of IT for use by or on behalf of the Agency.

Congressional and Administration Reporting: Supported development of Office of the Chief Information Officers responses to annual Congressional inquiries and responses to the Office of Management and Budget or National Archives.

Audits: Supported entrance and exit conferences with the Government Accountability Office and the Agency Inspector General regarding audits related to FITARA and Supply Chain Risk Management.

myHomeland: Supported the Transportation Security Administration Office of the Senior Technical Advisor (TSA STA) in the development of solutions architecture for the secure mobile collaboration prototype “myHomeland” and led the development of a repeatable Functional Demonstration Exercise that tested the functionality of the “myHomeland” prototype in a disaster scenario. Secured the participation of the California Port Authorities in the myHomeland tabletop exercise to obtain private sector input.

Assessments: Supported the development and execution of the 2012 National Fusion Center Assessment.
Strategic Planning: Developed Engagement/Dissemination Strategy for Congressional, State and Local stakeholders regarding the results of the 2011 and 2012 National Assessments.

BYOD: Developed consumerization of IT policy white paper regarding the use of personal electronic equipment in federal agencies and developed policy recommendations on federal agency engagement on social media platforms for leadership.

Represented the WaterISAC on the National Council of ISACs and served as the WaterISAC Liaison to the Water Sector Coordinating Council facilitating the Sector’s collaboration with the FEMA Private Sector Liaison and developing comments on PPD-8.

Led the WaterISAC’s participation in National Level Exercise 2011 to increase understanding of the centrality of water supply in post-disaster scenarios.

Policy: Developed forward-thinking legislation to increase our ability to respond and recover from catastrophic disasters. Responsible for oversight and legislative policy development on issues including, but not limited to: appropriations, chemical security, critical infrastructure, IT/cybersecurity, disaster case management, disaster housing, planning for children in disasters, disaster recovery, flood mapping, Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, National Flood Insurance Program, H1N1 and pandemic flu, Immigration, IPAWS, national level exercises, Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant Program, public safety communications interoperability, and transportation and transit security.

Negotiations: Facilitated negotiations regarding approving Memorandums of Agreement between FEMA and the Department of Health and Human Services on disaster case management.

Constituent Support / Business Development: Facilitated meetings and negotiations for local government officials and constituents with various Federal agencies including DHS/FEMA, HHS, HUD, and DOT related to Katrina/Rita recovery and non-disaster recovery-related issues such as working with a community college to cement their relationship with DHS S&T Centers of Excellence for Cyber Security.

Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs Liaison: Represented the Governor before Congress and the Executive Branch to develop and negotiate solutions for the Commonwealth of Virginia (e.g., Base Realignment & Closure, federal funding support for Woodrow Wilson Bridge and the HOT Lanes projects as projects of National Significance, VLO representative on 2008 Presidential Inauguration National Special Security Event Working Group).

Strategic Planning: Advised senior leadership on strategies and recommended courses of action on a variety of policy issues; identified and summarized Congressional and legislative positions on issues impacting the Commonwealth; monitored Congressional delegation’s requests for information; drafted legislative summaries, memorandum, briefing materials and talking points for the Governor and Cabinet agencies.

Portfolio: Federal Liaison to four Cabinet Agencies: Commonwealth Preparedness, Public Safety, Technology, and Transportation as well as the Senior Policy Group - National Capitol Region (NCR - DC, MD, VA), National Guard, and Department of Defense issues. Coordinated with the appropriate Cabinet Agencies and the Congressional Delegation on legislative and policy initiatives including, but not limited to Appropriations, Air Force CYBER Command, Oceana Outlying Landing Field, Base Realignment and Closure Seminary Road/Mark Center Project, Metro Silver Line expansion, HOT Lane planning and other transportation projects, Emergency Evacuations, H1N1 pandemic, Homeland Security (UASI, HMGP, PDM), Immigration, Interoperability, issues pertaining to the National Capitol Region (NCR) including organizing an NCR meeting with the Principals from Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia with Secretary Napolitano, the REAL ID Act, Telecommunications, and unfunded mandates.

Portfolio: Regularly analyzed complex legislative and policy issues and developed briefing materials, white papers, case studies, and municipal action guides as needed. Drafted comprehensive policy stances on issues such as; broadband access, cybersecurity, FEMA reform, Geographic Information System (GIS), Hometown Security, Immigration reform, Stafford Act reform, and information technology (IT) policy.

Advisory Groups: National League of Cities representative on the: Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) Advisory Board, the National Homeland Security Consortium, the Stafford Act Coalition, and the SAFECOM Executive Committee

Director, Information Technology and Communications (ITC) and Public Safety and Crime Prevention Policy and Advocacy Committees Developed and directed the annual agenda of the policy and advocacy committee and steering committee work plans, developing comprehensive steering committee meetings to discuss relevant public safety and information technology (IT) policy issues both at the local and federal levels.

Co-Director, Joint Interoperability Policy Academies Coordinated with the National Association of Counties and SAFECOM to facilitate and organize five joint interoperability policy academies providing training to city and county officials to improve interoperability leadership, planning, and partnerships among groups at the local, state, and federal levels.