April Skou Email & Phone Number

Fairfax, Virginia, United States

Virginia, United States

Washington Dc-Baltimore Area

Washington, District Of Columbia, United States

Serves on the Executive Leadership team providing collection management expertise including modernization and automation to the U.S. Secretary of Defense (SECDEF), Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS), and worldwide counterparts across 80+ focus countries, in support of U.S. national objectives.STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP• Advises leadership on strategic decisions on the capabilities and global force management of collection assets including the impact of COVID-19.• Synchronizes collection resources to ensure the most efficient use of resources in support of Secretary of Defense priorities.• Executes full range of executive-level duties with regard to National and Defense Intelligence functional activities.• Served as Acting Deputy Director for Collection Management while under COVID for 9 months (01/2020-09/2020). • Selected for promotion to lead the top tier of Army’s Aerial intelligence talent.OPERATIONS & PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT• Coordinates human resources for 300 personnel across seven facilities including IT, and logistic requirements for the board of directors (directorate).• Leads, trains, and drives cultural change for a workforce of 200 employees (military, civilian, and contract) with a $20M operations & training budget.• Guides 25+ joint service officers as the senior military leader. • Processes $220K worth of civilian and military awards annually.

South Korea

As the Commander of the Military Intelligence Battalion, I drove innovation and partnerships contributing to the creation, testing, and implementation of new mission profiles, dramatically increasing the unit’s overall productivity and production.• Directed 320 soldiers, civilians, and contractors and led organization (unit) to win 2016 Army Aviation Unit of the Year, above six other organizations.• Received Maintenance Excellence Award in 2015 and 2016 over 30 organizations.• Maintained 98% operational readiness and mission accomplishment rate.

Hand-selected as Deputy Brigade Commander (Second-in-command) encompassing Europe, Africa, and the Middle East covering 19 geographically dispersed locations across 15 countries directing 1500 personnel. Established and maintained standing operating procedures for multiple initiatives including personnel planning to establish a new 1000+ organization (brigade), adaptation to a new talent management system for personnel evaluations, and travel across Europe in support of operations. • Conduct resource management of physical property and equipment valued at $300M and a $44M annual budget.• Led vision, development, and implementation of new strategic campaigns/partnerships for Army Military Intelligence organization.• Provided language support to increase operational capability during two national crises.

Wiesbaden, Hesse, Germany

Served as an Operations Officer for a multi-service organization providing Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) to support national customers, three worldwide counterparts, and their components within the European Cryptologic Center. • Managed planning, operations, training, and cohesiveness for a diverse workforce of 225+ government civilians, multi-service military personnel, and defense contractors.• Ensured collaboration between national and tactical intelligence analysts, facilitating end-to-end SIGINT solutions. • Led an Army organization of approximately 125 personnel and developed strategic planning objectives.• Executed a $10M budget across multiple funding streams including Department of Defense and State.

Afghanistan & Wiesbaden, Germany

Served as an active RC-12D/H pilot and Aviation officer as the Commander in the #2 and #3 leadership position. Managed training of 500 personnel for current and future operations. Flew 80 combat missions and 250+ flight hours. Provided 24/7 integrated intelligence operations (ISR). I served in this role both in Afghanistan and Wiesbaden, Germany. • Directed 150+ personnel working across five detachments in addition to eight fixed wing aircraft (RC-12X Guardrail), seven unmanned aerial sensors, and. Increased intelligence reporting accuracy 80%. • Coordinated worldwide operations and maintained accountability of $54M in aircraft (six RC-12H and three RC-12D), 21 heavy construction vehicles, a Ground Relay Facility (GRF) with equipment in excess of $500M.• Managed aviation safety program including changes to the management of aviation maintenance operations that substantially improved unit safety

California, United States

Served as both Aviation Battalion Operations officer (S3) and California Army Aviation Safety Officer for entire state of California. Directed and oversaw aerial operations for the Western Region Security and Support mission focused on Homeland Defense and Defense Support to Civilian Authorities’ missions. Performed wildland fire missions and search and rescue missions. Coordinated aviation regional response operations including wildfire support, aerial search and rescue operations, and support law enforcement and counter-drug operations. Coordinated aviation safety investigation following all aviation accidents in the State of California. Graduated #1 from the Army Aviation Safety Officer School.• Directed training and operations of 500 military and contract personnel conducting split-based operations across California.• Coordinated aerial medical evacuation deployments with California resources to operation enduring freedom in Afghanistan.• Planned and executed the battalion’s fielding of Army’s electronic command tools which ensured the battalion was prepared for upcoming Army operations in Iraq.• Saved $75K monthly by reducing vehicle count by 50%.• Provided aviation composite risk management expertise while ensuring safety of 150 California Guard personnel and 10 aircraft while aggressively responding to three state wildfire response operations. • Synchronized with national and California safety experts including, National Guard Bureau, sister state Army Guard staff, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, and the Governor’s Office.

Education record

Bachelor'S Degree, Finance, General

Army Fellow And Guest Lecturer

Master Of Business Administration - Mba