I am the Security Director for the U.S. Army's rapid acquisition organization chartered to develop, test and transition high priority advanced technologies & capabilities to Army organizations worldwide. My teams diligently provide multidisciplined (traditional and cyber) security to all projects and mitigate security vulnerabilities creating minimal impact to overall cost, schedule, and performance.As the Security Director, I am appointed as the Senior Intelligence Officer (SIO) leading teams of security professionals protecting a wide range of classified facilities and acquisition projects. I establish policies and procedures for multiple geographically separated facilities protecting Special Compartmented Information (SCI), Special Access Programs (SAP) and Collateral protective measures. Additionally, I serve as the Authorizing Official’s Direct Representative (AODR) and provide direction and oversight for our cybersecurity professionals. In this capacity, I ensure our Program Information Systems Security Managers (P-ISSMs) engage project leaders and engineers during each phase of prototype development and effectively implement appropriate Risk Management Framework (RMF) measures required. I submit Authority to Operate (ATO) and Initial Authority to Test (IATT) packages to the Authorization Official (AO) recommending approval or changes as required.

I am one of 22 US Government civilians selected to attend Senior Development Education in residence at the USAF Air War College constituting 7% of the 2019 graduating class. I critically analyze the complexities of problems we face in the current and future global environment by clearly identifying strategic objectives and competing issues seeking solutions from a “whole of government,” or joint military perspective. I team with officers and civilians from the Army, Navy, Marines, and foreign militaries reviewing civilian-military relationships required when developing military strategies that, in concert with other US Government agencies, must leverage other instruments of national power to achieve the goals of our national security strategy.I was competitively selected from Air War College and Air Command and Staff College (approximately 800 students) as the only civilian to be part of the 16-person USAF Cyber College, Cyber Research Task Force (Cyber RTF) focusing on the interdisciplinary study of cyberspace and its influence on national and military objectives now and in the future. As part of the Cyber RTF, I studied advanced cyber policy and strategy; untangling the challenges using cyber as an aspect of power projection, different methods employed by state and non-state actors in cyber conflict, the laws and ethics surrounding cyber conflict, mission assurance, critical infrastructure threats and vulnerabilities, and current/future cyber deterrence and defense strategies in joint operational environments. I supported US Cyber Command requirements by conducting independent research focused on the US military’s aggressive migration toward commercial “cloud” computing solutions. I produced a professional studies paper based on my analysis weighing the potential fiscal and scalability benefits of migrating data to commercial infrastructure against the overarching risks involving data integrity and availability between peacetime and conflict.

As the Chief of Special Access Program Security, I provided expert knowledge supporting the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) (AF/A2), securing multiple DOD Special Access Program (SAP) enterprises involving the Department of Defense, military service departments, and other outside intelligence agencies worth $18B+ total obligation authority. I managed multiple SAP portfolios for AF/A2 directorates and other geographically separated organizations integrating special programs relevant to their intelligence disciplines ensuring better decision-making on current operations and future procurement initiatives. During this time, I created a tailored AF/A2s SAP security construct by leveraging disparate special compartmented information (SCI) security programs at multiple geographically separated organizations to build a singular SAP/SCI security infrastructure. The security construct was evaluated by SAF/IG during their (first ever) Air Staff inspection resulting in SAF/IGs team lead commenting AF/A2s security program was “The best SAP program they saw on the Air Staff.”I provided continuous SAP management and oversight establishing inter and intra-agency co-utilization agreements between SAP and SCI facilities (SCIFs) within various intelligence community (IC) partners enabling SAP program execution within their accredited SCIFs. I the installation of SAP information technology (IT) enclaves within local AF/A2 government and commercial locations as well as geographically separated inter-agency facilities enabling more robust capabilities in the ISR and IC communities as a whole. I managed, planned and executed oversight reviews and staff assistance visits to AF/A2 and IC locations throughout the US validating adherence to current policies required for SAP protection and maintained constant communication with organizations to validate corrective actions as needed.

As the Chief of Special Access Program (SAP) Security Inspections, I provided management and oversight for inspections/evaluations of DOD security programs at cleared defense contractors (CDCs) performing contracted work within the Air Force Special Access Required (SAR) enterprise. I oversaw inspections at 800+ CDC facilities ranging from Fortune 500 companies such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Northrup Grumman to the smallest business subcontractors supporting SAP development, production and execution. I established objectives and goals for Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) Office of Special Projects (PJ) by developing the overall AF SAP annual inspection schedule, manpower requirements and budgeting estimates for the fiscal year. I coordinated with individual AFOSI PJ offices, Navy, and other US Government agencies having equities at facilities as well as contractor security representatives within the CDCs themselves alerting all which facilities required inspections/evaluations throughout the year. By coordinating with the outside agencies having equities within the facilities, I deconflicted schedules and streamlined efforts ensuring when possible, all agencies would arrive together creating efficiencies where possible so CDCs would have only one oversight inspection rather than multiple reviews by multiple agencies.

As the Chief of Special Access Program (SAP) Security Operations (DO) I provided expert knowledge and practice of DOD Special Access Programs (SAPs) and restricted Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) and their Governance Processes. I developed and implement policies and procedures for the execution, management, and day-to-day oversight of the multiple SAP security programs implemented throughout the cleared defense contractor (CDC) base. I developed strategies, disseminated directives and executed policy decisions affecting the SAP defense contractor base and having impact over the AF SAP enterprise. I managed the publication of Security Classification Guides (SCGs) for all AF SAP programs. I created a review team consisting of organizations within DOD and the AF who had a vested interest in SAP SCGs to evaluate the quality and quantity of production. From this review, I executed development of new “Acknowledged” and “Unacknowledged” SCG templates currently used today. The new templates not only provided horizontal protection across SAP program disciplines, it streamlined processes making creation and submission of new guides more efficient. Additionally, I implemented new coordination guidance streamlining the review process by creating an intake office for all guides empowering it as the focal point review and approval. This resulted in nearly 50% increases in SCG creations/reviews and SAP umbrella programs being 100% compliant (First time in 10-years).