Amanda W. Email and Phone Number

• Develops reports and program studies that recommend policy, and organizational improvements to national security, foreign policy, and commerce-related government programs. • Specializes in synthesizing large amounts of data, survey results, personal interview documentation, and regulatory information to develop findings and recommendations to improve national security programs. • Briefs Congress and senior GAO management on proposals to change national security, foreign policy, and commerce-related policy and operational processes.• Evaluated the Department of Defense's (DOD's) efforts to vet contractors used in Africa to ensure they are not funding any terrorist, criminal, or other sanctioned entities. Made recommendations for improvements to AFRICOM's vendor vetting and contractor screening processes to reduce DOD security risks in the African region. • Created a unique cost estimating methodology for evaluating DOD's F-35 aircraft cost estimates valuing over $1 trillion. Evaluated thousands of lines of performance and cost data to develop recommendations to improve the F-35 cost estimates. • Reviewed DOD's Afghanistan equipment drawdown processes to identify logistical choke points, process improvements and potential cost savings. Made a related recommendation that if implemented would result in $100 million cost savings for DOD. • Performed extensive data and network analysis comparing the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service's staff and budget allocation to strategic goals and current global market demand in key U.S. trade sectors.• Evaluated the Department of Commerce’s process for resolving non-tariff trade barriers overseas.• Analyzed DOD's homeland defense risk assessments and ability to determine threat, vulnerability, and consequence of an airborne attack on sites around the U.S. as well as the capabilities necessary to mitigate that risk.

• Assisted in providing legal, strategic and tactical advice on agriculture trade policy to producers and exporters competing in the global food market.• Performed quantitative analysis on U.S. and foreign agricultural trade data to determine if Asian free trade agreements disadvantaged U.S. agricultural trade interests in the region.• Conducted qualitative analysis on the scope and content of U.S. foreign trade agreements.

•Researched and wrote a report on international migration trends with a specific focus on how European and North American Red Cross societies are responding to the needs of the migrant community.•Created guidance for American Red Cross chapters responding to immigration raid service requests.•Worked across silos to consult with other key departments within the Red Cross to create better communication and understanding. In these consultations I gained buy-in from other departments on guidance that I created within International Services.•Served as a resource on migration matters within the International Services Department.•Recommended American Red Cross contributions to the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement-wide migration policy.

•Determined US passport eligibility by examining applications and citizenship documents (both U.S. and foreign born) in order to assure that they were compliant with Immigration and Nationality laws, Code of Federal Regulations and Departmental policy.•Adjudicated over 40,000 passport applications, most of which were completed under the difficult conditions of the Western Hemisphere Initiative passport surge.•Received customer service award for my assistance in both Spanish and English to customers with emergency travel.•Served as general liaison to Spanish-speaking public. •Received a Consular Affairs Customer Service Award and numerous written compliments from customers for my exceptional service.

Conducted research on country conditions to confirm asylum narratives and gather evidence to support cases. Evaluated clients’ narratives and evidence against criteria based on U.S. immigration law to assist attorneys. Managed over 50 cases at once, balancing and prioritizing cases based on timeframes.•Evaluated programs for grant reporting and funding purposes.•Conducted asylum intakes and presentations in office and detention centers in both Spanish and English.•Monitored and researched country conditions and found documentation for asylum cases.•Prepared asylum documentation and narratives for review by staff immigration and pro bono attorneys.•Arranged representation for asylum seekers and later provided coordination (translators, witnesses, etc.) between clients and pro bono attorneys.•Created network of pro bono psychotherapists in order to meet the emotional and psychological needs of my clients, many of whom had suffered torture and imprisonment.•Maintained fifty or more clients’ files during my year-long service. Assisted these clients with various social service needs and updated them on their cases. •Organized the annual Houston Refugee Pro Bono Project Seminar to train attorneys in the Houston area in Asylum Law.

Research topic: Latin American Immigration to Spain•Researched the sociopolitical effects of Latin American immigration to Madrid, Spain.•Conducted informal interviews and research at the International Institute and the Fundacion Juan March.•Volunteered at 4K, a non-profit community organization that runs an after-school program for children in the immigrant neighborhood of Cuatro Caminos.•Gained language fluency in Spanish and expanded knowledge of Italian