Professional Experience

SUMMARY
Security/Operations professional with over twelve years’ experience in international security, crisis, and business continuity analysis, planning, and management in the academic, private sector, and NGO humanitarian aid & development fields.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Deputy Director, Risk Management & Global Security | Arlington, VA | July 2011 – Present
§  Develop and implement IRD’s global security strategy to mitigate risk, safeguard personnel, physical assets, and intellectual property, as well as assure continuity of operations;
§  Identify and assess current threats and vulnerabilities to ensure protection goals, objectives and metrics are consistent with corporate strategic objectives to achieve commonality and efficiency in a cost efficient manner;
§  Plan, coordinate, and implement enterprise-wide security management activities to ensure the effective roll out and implementation of policies, protocols, and systems;
§  Develop and implement organization and project specific contingency, crisis, and emergency preparedness management plans and procedures;
§  Create and disseminate security education and training curricula and materials to organization personnel worldwide;
§  Conduct quality control audits and assessments of project security infrastructure, standards and performance to ensure proper implementation and appropriate levels of effectiveness,
§  Support proposal development, program start-up, and field operations
§  Develop corporate and program security budgets and oversee security services vendor relationships.
§  Represent IRD in safety and security-related forums (e.g. InterAction’s Security Advisory Unit, OSAC International Development Working Group and Pan-Asian Regional Council, DC Analyst Roundtable)

Technical Manager, Security & Field Operations | Washington, DC | Sept. 2009 – June 2011
§  Managed organization-wide and project specific crisis, security and business continuity planning including: Personnel and Information Security Program; field office assessments; security policy and procedure development; guard force and transport management; security training and implementation; and outsourced security administration.
§  Ensured compliance with USG regulations including Department of Defense and National Industrial Security Program.
§  Conducted threat and physical security assessments and staff training:
o   Nigeria: Northern Education Initiative (NEI), January 2010 (US$43.6m)
o   Afghanistan: Ambassador’s Small Grants Program (ASGP), February 2010 (US$40m)
o   Afghanistan: Building Educational Support Systems for Teachers (BESST), February 2010 (US$93.8m)
o   Afghanistan: Crowded House (CH), February 2010 (US$10m)
o Afghanistan: Community Based Stabilization Grants Program (CBSGP), April 2010 (US$40m)
o   Sudan/South Sudan: Health, Education and Reconciliation Program (HEAR), November 2010
o   Palestinian Territories: Middle East Partnership Initiatives (MEPI); November 2010
o   Palestinian Territories: Middle East Partnership Initiatives (MEPI); March 2011
o   Egypt: Technology for Improved Learning Outcomes (TILO), April 2011
o   Jordan: Education Reform Support Program (ERSP), April 2011

Project Start-up Team Leader
§  Community Based Stabilization Grants Program (CBSGP) | Kabul, Afghanistan | March – April 2010
§  Community Youth at Risk Program | Panama City, Panama | July 2010
o   Locate and secure project office/residential space;
o   Develop security infrastructure;
o   Identify, recruit, and hire local national staff, vendors, and service providers;
o   Register and submit corporate legal documents with local/national governments,
o   Establish administrative and financial systems consistent with corporate standards

Acting Deputy Chief of Party, Operations
§  Ambassadors Small Grants Program (ASGP) | Kabul, Afghanistan | May – June 2010
o   Managed a staff of 60, in three (3) regional offices (Kabul, Herat, Mazar-e-Sharif)
o   Approved  operational budget and procurement
o   Enforced security protocols
Security Program Officer | Silver Spring, MD | Mar. – Sept. 2009
§  Responded to security incidents  including evacuations, kidnappings, and illegal detention of staff operating abroad
§  Developed and enforced regional and country specific crisis management, security and evacuation plans
§  Conducted threat assessments, trend analyses, and long term strategic country reports
§  Trained international and national staff on safety and security procedures in high risk countries
§  Coordinated operations and logistics with external security organizations in post-conflict environments
§  Tracked country and regional political, social, economic, environmental and security threats in over 28 countries
§  Liaised with program partners, INGO, and private sector security personnel
§  Represented CHF International congressional hearings and other events affecting security policy development

Security Consultant | Silver Spring, MD | Jan. – Mar. 2009
§  Implemented international online Travel Tracker system
§  Liaised with internal CHF departments, travel agencies, and system developer to provide rapid integration into daily operations
§  Trained staff on Travel Tracker system

Control Risks                                     
Operations Coordinator | Washington, DC | Sept. 2005 – Dec. 2008
§  Managed more than US$1.5 million dollars in revenue as case manager for international crisis & security projects
§  Coordinated executive protection, security operations and evacuations in complex and hostile environments
§  Monitored international security crises, distributing up-to-date critical information to internal and external clients
§  Designed crisis management plans, security assessments, business continuity plans, and shelter in place plans
§  Developed kidnap & extortion, travel security, crisis management training programs and tabletop exercises for international organizations & multinational companies
§  Analyzed threats posed by international and domestic terror groups and insurgent movements for multinational organizations

Research Analyst | Monterey, CA | May – Sept. 2005
§  Organized “Emerging Terrorist Threats” conference for the Los Alamos National Laboratories and the Department of Homeland Security
§  Tracked international WMD terror threats for leading academic/government database
§  Fielded media inquiries during 2005 London subway bombings, organizing interviews with Center experts

Associate | Los Angeles, CA | May 2004 - May 2005
§  Compiled and assessed activities of single issue terror groups for multinational corporations resulting in daily and weekly situation reports
§  Conducted background investigations on potential employees of multinational corporations

Media Liaison, Asia Pacific Economic Conference Meeting | Shanghai, China | Oct. 2001
§  Media contact for the Asia Pacific Economic Conference (APEC) Summit in October 2001 in Shanghai
§  Coordinated international press conference for Canadian Prime Minister during APEC summit

Project Manager | Shanghai, China | Jan. – Oct. 2001
§  Designed and organized conferences on Asian financial/capital markets and regional security issues
§  Managed marketing, sponsorship, operations teams with 5-10 people and more than $300,000 in sales
§  Maintained budgets of $25k for projects including international conferences, promotional events, and advertising
§  Secured the participation of senior level government officials for numerous international business conferences

Strategic Intelligence
Marketing & Business Development Manager | Beijing, China | Mar. – Nov. 2000
§  Launched international business-intelligence company in China
§  Negotiated approximately US$100k in contracts
§  Maintained budgets for projects including international conferences, promotional events, and advertising
§  Established and managed marketing operations and campaigns for China including media and conferences

Production Associate | Beijing, China | Oct. 1999 – Mar. 2000
§  Researched and assisted in the production of news reports for international distribution
§  Archived and managed database of past productions and stock footage
§  Supervised interns
Research Associate | Los Angeles, CA | July – Sept. 1999
§  Analyzed international media coverage of Asia-Pacific security, political, social, and economic issues for a large database accessed by academic, government, and private research institutions

Research & Teaching Assistant | Santa Barbara, CA | Sept. 1998 - June 1999
§  Researched and edited portions of the book Terror in the Mind of God by Mark Juergensmeyer
§  Facilitated a panel discussion on international security, terrorism and East Asian conflicts

Research Assistant | Santa Barbara, CA | Jan. - June 1997
§  Researched security, political, and social conditions and analyzed effects on Asia/Pacific economic trends

EDUCATION & CERTIFICATION
Certificate in Project Management | Washington, DC | Sept. 2008 - Jan 2009

M.A. International Policy Studies | Monterey, CA | Sept. 2003 - May 2005
Emphasis: The nexus between Security & Development, Terrorism and Transnational Crime

B.A. International Relations | Santa Barbara, CA | Jan. 1996 - June 1999
Minors: East Asian Cultural Studies (Chinese); Global Peace & Security

Certificate, Mandarin Chinese | Beijing, China | Sept. 1997 - July 1998; Sept. 1999 – Feb. 2000

Certificate, Mandarin Chinese | Beijing, China | June 1997 – Sept. 1997

LANGUAGES  
§  English: Native
§  French: Native
§  Mandarin Chinese: Proficient Spoken
§  Spanish: Working Knowledge

CERTIFICATIONS & GOVERNMENT CLEARANCES   
§  US Government Security Clearance: Secret (Inactive)
§  Professional Association of Dive Instructors (PADI) Dive Master
§  Professional Association of Dive Instructors (PADI) Rescue Diver
§  Certified Emergency First Responder

LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE
§  International NGO Safety & Security Association (INSSA): Co-founder; Secretary, Board of Directors
o   International Development Working Group: Chair & Steering Committee Member
o   Pan-Asian Regional Council (PARC): Steering Committee Member
§  Monterey Institute of International Studies DC Alumni Association: Vice President, Operations
§  American Mandarin Society: Member, Board of Advisors

INTERNATIONAL WORK & TRAVEL
Afghanistan, Cambodia, Chad, China, Dubai, Egypt, France, Great Britain, Germany, Honduras, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Mexico, Netherlands, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Singapore, South Sudan, Sudan, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, West Bank, Yemen

ASSOCIATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS
§  Monterey Institute of International Studies DC Alumni Association

HOBBIES & INTERESTS
§  Avid reader of history and current affairs;
§  Collector of antiques and Buddhist art;
§  Photographer; artist; graphic designer;
§  Camping; Orienteering; Scuba Diving;
§  Corporate Social Responsibility
§  Social Entrepreneurship; Community & Volunteer Engagement
§  Organizational innovation and efficiency;