Benjamin Thomas Email & Phone Number

I am the primary senior executive advisor to the Chancellor, National Intelligence University (NIU). I serve as the principal expert regarding training and education policies, programs and issues. I oversee planning and execution of $70M budget supporting learning and professional development and foreign language programs impacting thousands of government employees. I lead, manage, and direct a professional level staff (32 authorized positions), evaluate performance, collaborate on goal setting, and provide guidance regarding personal and professional development.Specific Duties Include:• Analyze community-wide training and education programs and improve resource sharing.• Lead planning and programming efforts for 5-year budget cycles.• Complete acquisition and deployment of a Learning Management System for use across the community.• Serve as Corporate Resource Board member determining investment priorities for ODNI.• Respond to Congressional inquiries and prepare senior correspondence.• Represent the Chancellor at senior executive meetings and functions.• Collaborate on a strategic design for the learning and professional development activities of the IC.

Responsible for providing strategic support and guidance to the Chancellor, National Intelligence University (NIU) to establish and maintain the daily operations of the office to include technical, program, personnel, financial, research or special information impacting NIU. Oversaw planning and execution of ~$70M budget supporting learning and professional development and foreign language programs impacting thousands of personnel across the IC. Serve as liaison between the NIU and headquarters staff on a daily basis to ensure coordination of NIU programs with other ODNI activities. Lead, manage, and direct a professional level staff (32 authorized positions), evaluate performance, collaborate on goal setting, and provide feedback and guidance regarding personal and professional development. Plan and execute workforce development programs and oversee routine contracting efforts.Specific Duties Include:Oversee, lead, and guide organizational processes and procedures to ensure NIU leadership has a comprehensive awareness of operational functions.Manage and oversee the execution of multiple activities and institute strategic programmatic initiatives to resolve issues regarding the NIU.Participate in the coordination and development of short and long range strategic planning initiatives to support NIU mission, goals, and objectives.Develop strategic objectives in support of learning and professional development, to include future capabilities, personnel requirements, and business management processes. Ensuring learning and professional development programs meet community requirements across 16 government agencies.Develop submissions for Congressional Budget Justification Book and related programming activities.Oversee the coordination and preparation of Congressional responses, reports, and other communication vehicles regarding NIU policy issues, analyses, and recommendations.

, Plans, & Requirements (DDNI/PPR)/Foreign Language Program Office (FLPO; An approved government senior executive position - Responsible for effectiveness and oversight of foreign language activities across the Intelligence Community. Served as ODNI representative and directed activities in support of Presidential National Security Language Initiative program STARTALK. Directed planning and execution of ~$40M annual budget and provided input to annual community effort exceeding $500M. Led development and implementation of foreign language training, personnel, policy, and programming activities across 16 agencies via the Foreign Language Executive Committee (FLEXCOM). Developed and coordinated long-term strategic goals and objectives for foreign language programs affecting the IC and the US Government. Responsible for senior-level communications with Congressional oversight committees, the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), and the Executive Committee (EXCOM). Accomplishments:Served as the principal advisor on foreign language issues to the DNI, ODNI, and ICDeveloped strategic objectives in support of collection requirements, future capabilities, personnel requirements, and business management processes. Ensured foreign language capabilities adequately met collection and analysis requirements across 16 government agencies and a multitude of collection missions and platforms.Provided guidance and support to the foreign language training and education system across the IC. Ensured implementation of foreign language reporting requirements in accordance with the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004.Authored and submitted an annual report to Congress highlighting the foreign language activities of the IC; responding to ad hoc requests for information and other Congressionally Directed Actions.Managed and directed activities of the IC FLEXCOM and supporting Expert Groups.

Responsible for development and implementation of the Foreign Language Strategic Plan, a top-level strategic document designed to provide government agencies with a performance-based approach to identifying, planning, and budgeting for long-term foreign language requirements. Planned, managed, and executed ~$40M annual budget. Coordinated foreign language training, personnel, policy, and programming activities across 16 agencies via the Foreign Language Executive Committee and Expert Groups. Communicated daily with ODNI mission managers, executive staffs, operational centers, and program offices. Preparing briefings and drafting justification documents on budget priorities, annual ODNI testimony to Congressional oversight committees, and foreign language-related briefings to the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) and the Executive Committee (EXCOM). Accomplishments:Developed program objectives in support of requirements, capabilities, and personnel databases. Integrated foreign language technology requirements into operational environments.Supported to the National Intelligence University System; assisted in development of governance policies, definition of operating framework, and integration of military personnel requirements. Led in a study team to conduct a review of Human Language Technology resources across the IC and make programmatic recommendations for investments. Reviewed investment options and developed funding recommendations.Developed office budget, internal and external engagement strategies, and planned fiscal year activities.Exercised government oversight of support contracts as Contracting Officer'

ODNI officer responsible for foreign language training, education and testing programs for IC. Led group that identified unfunded language training requirements and critical gaps in foreign language capabilities. Performed duties supporting the ODNI Senior Language Officer (SLO), including filling in as the acting SLO when necessary. Accomplishments: Responsible for development and coordination of ODNI Foreign Language Human Capital Plan.Oversaw requirements for development of human language tools and technologies. Managed ~$20M annual budget; aligned budget to National Intelligence Priorities Framework.Conducted data validation and research and assisted in the development of briefings to senior ODNI officials to communicate IC foreign language personnel, training, programmatic and budget requirements. Participated in development of a standard data collection process, in coordination with the Program Assessment and Evaluation Office, to support repeatable reporting of foreign language capabilities.Developed ODNI FL-related policies, including pay, program management, and production standards.

Bs, Management

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B.S, Management

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