Agents of Change: Driving a More Diverse and Capable Intelligence Community

About

About

Working from the premise that a diverse intelligence community is essential to national security, we aim to bring current and former intelligence practitioners together with experts, students, and faculty from across organizations to create greater understanding and awareness of opportunities and challenges which exist in the intelligence field for members of historically underrepresented groups.

This two-day conference will explore the state of diversity & inclusion in the Intelligence Community (IC):

• Examining the historical record and highlighting the experiences of historically underrepresented groups in the IC;
• Comparing strategies and identifying areas of improvement for recruiting, retaining, and developing a diverse workforce;
• Considering paths to improving diversity of thought and experience in the IC and how academia and the private sector may play a facilitating role;
• Re-examining what networking, mentorship, and leadership development means within organizations
• Highlighting the opportunities and need in the IC for women and minorities.

In doing so, we hope to stimulate important dialogue, spark creative new solutions, and inspire a diverse new generation to consider service in the intelligence community.

Schedule

Day 1: Thursday, September 24th

Day 2: Friday, September 25th

Agenda

Agenda

Welcome 

Paul Kolbe, Director, Intelligence Project 

Eric Rosenbach, Co-Director, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs

Keynote Address 

The Honorable Susan. M  Gordon, Former Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence

Session 1: Why Diversity is a National Security Issue: Views from Leadership and the Experts 

Overview: The conference will kick-off the with a keynote on the strategic vision for increasing diversity in the intelligence community (IC) and why it matters, followed by a panel of IC leaders driving diversity efforts to discuss why diversity is crucial to national security, what strategies are currently in place, how they are working, and what further efforts need to be explored.

Panelists:
Janice Glover-Jones, Chief Diversity Equality and Inclusion Officer, Defense Intelligence Agency 
Sonya Holt, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Central Intelligence Agency
Rita Sampson, Chief of Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity for the IC
Moderated by Paul Kolbe, Director, Intelligence Project

Focus Questions: 

• Why is a diverse IC important to national security? To policymakers? The general public?
• What is the record? What do the numbers tell us, historically and today? 
• What are the current strategies and areas of focus from the leadership level?
• What are the main areas of outreach and what partners are in need?

REGISTER FOR WELCOME, KEYNOTE, AND SESSION 1 HERE

Session 2: #IAMA (Spy)Talks: Highlighting the Real Experiences of Intelligence Officers

Overview: Short, TedTalk-style “SpyTalks” followed by a roundtable Q&A session with the audience. This session aims to highlight the personal stories of intelligence officers from a variety of backgrounds and experiences. 

Panelists:

Tracey Ballard, LGBT Outreach Manager, Central Intelligence Agency 
Jeff Fields, Supervisory Special Agent, FBI,  and Belfer Center Non-Resident Fellow
Mehtab Syed, Supervisory Special Agent, FBI
Claudia Rodriguez-Hall, Director of Operations, International Affairs at Novus Intelligence
Tracy Walder, Former CIA Officer and FBI Special Agent, Author of “The Unexpected Spy”
John Wigle, Data Scientist, Office of the Director of National Intelligence
Moderated by Caitlin Chase, Coordinator, Intelligence Project

Focus Questions:

• How are diversity initiatives viewed and experienced amongst the general workforce?
• How have personal experiences with diversity issues in the IC affected individual careers?
• How can we develop and implement innovative ideas to drive change?

REGISTER FOR SESSION 2: #IAMA SPYTALKS: HIGHLIGHTING THE REAL EXPERIENCES OF INTELLIGENCE OFFICERS

Session 3: Black Ops: A Candid Conversation on Race & the U.S. Intelligence Community

Overview:  A candid conversation on the historical and present-day racial issues in the IC. In this session we will highlight the historical legacy of people of color (POC) in intelligence, discuss the tensions and conflicts facing black members of the national security community today, and address and analyze the specific efforts currently being taken to increase black and POC recruitment, retainment, and advancement. 

Panelists:
Darrell Blocker, Chief Operating Officer, MOSAIC and former Senior CIA Officer
Mel Gamble, CEO and President, Gamble Advisory Group and former Senior CIA Officer
Janice Glover-Jones, Chief Diversity Equality and Inclusion Officer, Defense Intelligence Agency 
Debra Smith, Former Deputy Assistant Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation
Moderated by Jeff Fields, Joint Non-Resident Fellow, Belfer Center’s Cyber and Intelligence Projects

Focus Questions:

• What is the historical legacy of intelligence contributions by POC?
• Why is systemic racism a national security issue?
• How is the current social and political conversation surrounding BLM and police brutality affecting members of and being discussed in the national security community?
• What are the challenges and biases facing black members of the IC? How does this affect retention and advancement opportunities?
• What are the efforts currently being taken to specifically increase black and POC recruitment, retainment, and advancement? What can be done to improve these?

REGISTER HERE FOR SESSION 3: BLACK OPS: A CANDID CONVERSATION ON RACE IN THE USIC

Session 4: Women in Power: The Rise and Realities of Women in Leadership Positions 

Overview: In recent years, the IC has seen a rise of women to the highest levels of leadership -- but this certainly hasn’t always been the case, and there is still much work to be done. This panel will focus on the historical legacy and current efforts to increase retention and provide equal advancement and leadership opportunities for women in the IC.

Panelists:
Karen deLacy, Principal & Co-Founder, deLacy Associates
Sue Gordon, Former Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence
Sonya Holt, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Central Intelligence Agency
Victoria Nguyen, Head of Data & Analytics at SANTÉ
Moderated by Lauren Zabierek, Executive Director, Cyber Project

Focus Questions:

• What is the legacy of the 1995 class action lawsuit addressing systematic bias against female intelligence officers? How did this lead to advancement of women to leadership positions? 
• How did the post 9/11 organizational and cultural changes to the IC affect the retention and advancement of women?
• Why do we see such a large retention drop off at the mid-career level? What policies have been put in place to address this issue, and how have they succeeded or failed?
• Has the culture of the IC evolved or changed with the increase in representation of women in senior leadership positions?

REGISTER HERE FOR SESSION 4: WOMEN IN POWER: THE RISE AND REALITIES OF WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS

Session 5: Overt Outreach: Building a New Pipeline of National Security Practitioners

Objective: This session will focus on how to create and engage with a new pipeline of future national security and intelligence practitioners. Following the panel, the Q&A portion will dive deeper into one of two topics: (1) Engaging a new generation of national security practitioners, and (2) Recruiting diverse talent into the IC

Panelists:
Lauren Buitta, Founder & CEO, Girl Security
Michael T. Burns, Associate Deputy Director for Analysis, CIA 
Emmerson Buie Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Field Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation
Andy Vail, Former Deputy Director for Operations Support, National Counter-terrorism Center

Focus Questions:

• How can we spark interest in groups that might not see themselves in the IC because of lack of historical participation, media representation, and access points?
• How do we build a new pipeline of diverse young people interested in national security? 
• Where have official efforts succeeded and where have they failed?
• What are examples of traditional and untraditional hiring and recruitment efforts, and what is the record of success?
• What are we actually recruiting for? A degree? Or honor, integrity, courage, work ethic?
• What can we learn from the private sector?

REGISTER HERE FOR SESSION 5: OVERT OUTREACH: BUILDING A NEW PIPELINE OF NATIONAL SECURITY PRACTITIONERS

Session 6: Developing Diverse Talent: A New Era of Mentorship 

Overview: This panel will focus on the development and advancement of diverse talent in the intelligence community. We will explore what networking, mentorship, and sponsorship means in an organization actively seeking to increase diversity of background, experience, and thought. The panel will follow with a Q&A discussion with the audience. 

Panelists:
Sandra Auchter, Deputy Associate Director for Capabilities, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
Col Candice Frost, US Army Colonel | Intelligence & National Security Leader
Gerry Hamilton, Former Head of the Employee Resource Center, CIA
Camille Stewart, Director of Security & Privacy Policy, Google Play + Android, and Cofounder of Diversity in National Security Network  
Moderated by Lauren Zabierek, Executive Director, Cyber Project

Focus Questions:

• What does mentorship, sponsorship, and networking look like in an environment in an organization actively seeking diversity of backgrounds, experiences, and thought?
• How do we increase access to information, influencers, and decision makers that will propel diverse talent to succeed? 
• How do we challenge people in positions of power to examine who are in their networks?
• How do we ensure minorities gain access to and leverage these networks?
• How do we engage men and women to mentor and sponsor outside of their own demographic?
• Have existing mentorship programs in the IC succeeded or failed?
• In order to develop diversity of thought, what are the opportunities and challenges of developing JDAs with the private sector to allow greater permeability in and out of the IC? 

REGISTER HERE FOR SESSION 6: DEVELOPING DIVERSE TALENT: A NEW ERA OF MENTORSHIP 

Session 7: Driving Cultural Change in the IC: Is it Possible?

Overview: This panel discussion will explore the historical and current advocacy efforts to drive culture change in the IC and look to experts in the field to discuss how to drive future initiatives. Following the panel and Q&A, participants will divide into breakout rooms led by the panelists do discuss the topic of cultural change further. Panelists:
Tracey Ballard, LGBT Outreach Manager, Central Intelligence Agency 
Darrell Blocker, Chief Operations Officer, MOSAIC and former Senior CIA Officer
Karen deLacy, Co-Founder, DeLacy & Associates
Maggie Feldman-Pilch, CEO & Founder, #NatSecGirlSquad
Laicie Heeley, Founder of InkStick Media 
Moderated by Jeff Fields, Joint Non-Resident Fellow, Cyber and Intelligence Projects

Focus Questions: 

• What does it take to change the culture of an organization, externally and internally? What are the legal aspects?
• How do you initiate diversity and inclusion conversations within your organization? Is it possible to have honest conversations about social inequality and racial injustice at work?
• How to change the existing “Old Boys Club” structures to create more advancement opportunities?
• How do you create a culture of innovation in a large bureaucratic organization like the USIC?
• What is the legacy of activism in the USIC? What groups exist and what do they do?
• Where are the focus areas in confronting cultural issues in the IC?
• How do we address the “macho” culture that exists in operations & deployment environments?
• How does the portrayal of the IC in the media contribute and impact on culture issues?

REGISTER FOR SESSION 7: DRIVING CHANGE IN THE IC: IS IT POSSIBLE?

Speakers

Speakers

Sandra Auchter

Deputy Associate Director for Capabilities, Associate Director for Capabilities, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency

Ms. Sandra Auchter serves as the Deputy Associate Director for Capabilities (ADC) at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). In this role, she supports the ADC in the oversight, synchronization, guidance, and development of NGA, National System for Geospatial Intelligence, and Allied System for Geospatial Intelligence strategic direction, future resource programming, capabilities planning and acquisition, innovation, research, and the adoption of new technologies supporting GEOINT requirements.

Previously Ms. Auchter served as the Director of NGA’s Office of Eurasia and Africa (AOE) from December 2016 – November 2018, and prior as the Deputy Director, AOE between June 2015 and December 2016. From 2010 to 2015, Ms. Auchter served as a manager in NGA’s Office of Counterterrorism, completing her tour as the Deputy Division Chief for the Counterterrorism Division.

Ms. Auchter began her career with NGA in 2000 focused on national intelligence priorities and crises in the Africa AOR, with particular focus on Central Africa. In 2003, she served on a rotation concurrently as the NGA representative to the Director of Central Intelligence Agency’s Operations Center and as the Weapons Intelligence, Non-Proliferation and Arms Control Watch Officer. From 2004-2007, Ms. Auchter worked Strategic Issues in the Near and Middle East, to include managing a special program on behalf of the Central Intelligence Agency and NGA. She served as the Lead for Executive Communications to Director NGA from 2007-2010.

Ms. Auchter received her Bachelors of Science Degree in Regional Studies, Africa, from the School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University and is an alumnus of the National Defense Intelligence College/National Intelligence University. Ms. Auchter is the recipient of the Director of National Intelligence’s (DNI) Joint Operation Abbottabad Intelligence Community Integration Team National Intelligence Meritorious Unit Citation, the NGA Joint Civilian Service Commendation Award and NGA Meritorious Civilian Service Award.

Ms. Auchter resides in Arlington, VA.

Trace Ballard

LBGT Outreach Program Manager, Central Intelligence Agency

Tracey Ballard has been with the CIA for 34 years and served in a multitude of positions. She currently serves as the CIA's LGBT Outreach Program Manager.  Ms. Ballard was the first openly gay officer at the CIA, coming out in 1988 at a time with federal law precluded openly gay Americans from holding security clearances.  She founded the Agency Resource Group, Agency Network of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Officers and Allies (ANGLE), in 1996, and has been an advocate for workplace equity and inclusion for most of her career. 

Lauren Buitta

Founder and CEO, Girl Security

Lauren began her career in national security in 2002 as a policy analyst and managing editor with the 25-year old Chicago-based national security think tank, the National Strategy Forum. During this time, Lauren conducted analysis on wide-ranging national and global security issues including domestic terrorism, transnational threats, and cybersecurity. Lauren observed a critical gap in public education and public understanding of national security issues between Washington, D.C. and the Midwest, while also recognizing the continued under-representation of women in national security. Following her work with the National Strategy Forum and while completing her law degree, Lauren formed an independent consulting firm, Stele Consulting, which advised clients on urban security issues in Chicago. Lauren was inspired to start Girl Security in 2016 when she observed how girls are uniquely impacted by national security and the need for a more intentional model for girls’ and young women’s engagement in national security, beginning at the middle and high school levels.

Lauren is author of Careers in National Security Law, a career guide published by the American Bar Association Standing Committee on Law and National Security. Lauren is a former Fellow with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (2003), Truman National Security Project (2006), American Bar Association Standing Committee on Law and National Security Law Student Liaison (2012),  and the Chicago Council on Global Affairs Emerging Leader (2017).

Darrell M. Blocker

Chief Operating Officer, MOSAIC; Program Manager, CT-Watch; ABC News Contributor

Awarded the Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal upon retirement from a 32-year career in the U.S. Intelligence Community (four as an Air Force analyst and 28 as an Operations Officer in the Central Intelligence Agency), Darrell M. Blocker is currently serving as the Chief Operating Officer for MOSAIC (Multi Operational Security Agency Intelligence Company), as the National Security Program Manager for CT-Watch, a global solutions provider of training and consulting in counterterrorism, security and intelligence and as an ABC News Contributor, with subject matter expertise on Africa, Iran, North Korea and Terrorism.

His CIA career highlights include serving as Chief of their iconic operational training facility, Deputy Director of the Counterterrorism Center, Chief of Africa Division, and served multiple times as a Chief of Station—the highest honor for his career track. Darrell was the most senior black CIA officer in the Directorate of Operations when he retired in October 2018 with the rank equivalency to a three-star general.

Mr. Blocker is a certified executive coach and mentor and a frequent public speaker on leadership and diversity and inclusion issues. He is currently serving on two nonprofit boards dedicated to improving the future of youth in foster care (Peace4Kids.org) and ending the exploitation and the human trafficking of youth and women (HumanSlavery.com). Darrell now lives in Santa Monica after a lifetime residing and working in ten foreign countries in Africa, Asia and Europe, including Italy, Okinawa, South Korea, Niger, Senegal, Morocco, Nigeria, Uganda, Pakistan, and Switzerland. 

Emmerson Buie Jr.

Special Agent in Charge (SAC), FBI's Chicago Field Office 

Emmerson Buie was appointed the Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the FBI’s Chicago Field Office in July 2019. Prior to this assignment, he served as the SAC of the FBI’s El Paso Field Office beginning in June 2017.

Mr. Buie entered on duty with the FBI in July 1992. Following graduation from the FBI Academy, he was assigned to the Denver Field Office, Colorado Springs Resident Agency until November 1999, when he was promoted to a Supervisory Special Agent (SSA) assigned to the Counterterrorism Division, Weapons of Mass Destruction Operations Unit. Mr. Buie subsequently served as the Senior Supervisory Resident Agent (SSRA) in the Fairview Heights Resident Agency, Springfield Field Office from 2002 to 2006, then as Assistant Legal Attaché’ and Acting Deputy Legal Attaché’ in London until 2008. After that, he served as an ASAC in the Springfield Field Office where he oversaw the Administrative, National Security, and then Criminal branch over the course of his tenure. In December 2014, Mr. Buie was promoted to the Senior Executive Service and assigned as the FBI Cyber Division’s Senior Liaison to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), National Cybersecurity, Communication, and Integration Center (NCCIC).

Mr. Buie earned a Bachelor of Arts in Operations, Productions Management from Western Illinois University, and served four years in the U.S. Army as an Infantry Officer and Desert Storm Veteran. Mr. Buie was awarded a Bronze Star and Combat Infantry Badge for his service

Michael T. Burns

Associate Deputy Director of CIA for Analysis 

Mr. Mike Burns is currently serving as the Associate Deputy Director of CIA for Analysis, an assignment he began in April 2019. Prior to this, he served as the Deputy Associate Director of CIA for Talent where he oversaw the Agency’s employee training programs and professional development.  He served in this assignment from April 2018-April 2019.

From January 2017-April 2018 Mr. Burns served as the Director of the Office of Advanced Analytics in the Directorate of Analysis.

From October 2015-January 2017 Mr. Burns served as the Deputy Director of the Office of Resources and Support in the Directorate of Analysis.  Prior to that, he served as the Deputy Director of the Office of Collection Analysis, Strategies, and Advanced Analytics (CASAA), from July 2013-October 2015.

Prior to his CASAA assignment, Mr. Burns served as the Directorate of Intelligence's Chief of
Staff (COS), from February 2012-July 2013, where he oversaw the day-to-day operations of the DI front office.

Prior to his COS assignment, Mr. Burns was the chief of the Collection Operations Group within the DI's Office of Collection Strategies and Analysis (CSAA), a position he held since November 2010.  Prior to this assignment he served for three years as the chief of CSAA's Programs,
Policy, and Evaluation Group.

Immediately following 9/11/2001 Mr. Burns was selected to serve as the Executive Officer in the DI's newly created Office of Terrorism Analysis (OTA). Before moving to OTA, Mr. Burns was the Executive Officer for the Directorate of Intelligence.

Mr. Burns joined CIA in January 1988 as a cartographer at CIA’s National Photographic Interpretation Center in Washington, DC.  Prior to joining CIA, Mr. Burns worked as a cartographer at the US Department of Commerce's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Norfolk.

Mr. Burns holds a B.A. from Virginia Tech with a double major in Political Science and Urban
Planning. He did graduate work at the University of Virginia and American University, and has
completed executive leadership programs at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government and Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management.
 

Karen deLacy 

Co-Founder, deLacy Associates

Karen deLacy is the co-founder of deLacy Associates which focuses on gender equity, culture change and leadership.  This endeavor follows a three-decade career in the CIA’s clandestine service where she worked as a field operative and senior manager in the CIA's Directorate of Operations (DO). She served multiple overseas tours — on three continents —  including as Chief and Deputy Chief of Station. She was responsible for leading human and technical operations with foreign partners.  She is a recipient of the CIA’s Career Intelligence Medal, in recognition of her senior operational leadership and efforts at advancing gender equity.  She is also a recipient of the DNI Culper Award for her contributions to cyber intelligence.  

Karen has conducted women empowerment training sessions in the US, Asia, Africa and Europe and coached individual clients. She has published on gender equity.  She holds a Masters Degree in Organizational Development and a Georgetown University Certificate in Leadership Coaching; she is a Certified Dare to Lead ™ Facilitator.  

Maggie Feldman-Piltch

Managing Director of Unicorn Strategies; Founder of #NatSecGirlSquad

A well-respected operational artist and strategic magician, Maggie is known for expertly bridging the civilian-military gap and completing the impossible. Areas of expertise include national security strategy and policy, building innovative partnerships for the greater good, and skillful execution of smart power.

Maggie started working for retired flag officers and their civilian counterparts as the Chief of Staff and Special Assistant to the CEO and Board of Directors at American Security Project. She launched and led the organization's  Women in Security Leadership Initiative (WiSe) and hosted ASP’s weekly podcast series “What’s Next?” Prior to joining ASP, Feldman-Piltch worked for The Conference Board in the Research Working Groups department and served as an Advanced Risk Apprentice with Risk Cooperative after spending time working the fashion and consumer goods industries.

Maggie graduated with Honors from Wesleyan University and is a proud Hoya, earning her degree from Georgetown's School of Foreign Service Security Studies Program. She is also working towards an Advanced Degree in Opera Performance from the Royal Academy of Music through its partnership with the Levine School.

@MaggieCaroline1

Colonel Candice E. Frost

Colonel, United States Army, Director, Department of the Army Military Intelligence

Colonel Candice Frost is a lifelong advocate for mentoring and leadership development. She is currently a Director for the Army G-2 within the Headquarters, Department of the Army where she provides current and estimative intelligence to the Secretariat and the Army Staff and projects the Future Strategic Environment to the Secretary of the Army, Chief of Staff of the Army, Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, Army G-2, and Army Acquisition Executive. She provides foreign technical threat intelligence assessments in support of Army acquisition programs, science and technology efforts, and research and development programs. 

Colonel Frost received her commission from the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY branching into Military Intelligence with the United States Army. Within the Army she has served at all levels of Military Intelligence from tactical, operational, to strategic levels of both analysis and command. Most recently, after her Battalion Command, she completed a War College Fellowship at the Central Intelligence Agency. Colonel Frost’s deployment experience includes Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan (2011), Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan (2005), and Stabilization Force XI, Bosnia (2002).

Colonel Frost’s military and civilian education are Airborne School, Military Intelligence Officer Basic Course, Military Intelligence Advanced Course, Combined Arms and Staff School, Signals Intelligence Tactical Operations Officer Course, Command and General Staff College, School of Advanced Military Studies, and the Senior Service College (Fellowship) Central Intelligence Agency. Colonel Frost holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Science from the United States Military Academy, a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Central Michigan University, and a Master’s in Military Arts and Science from the School of Advanced Military Studies. She served as an adjunct professor for the University of Arizona and currently runs her own consulting business in Washington D.C.

Colonel Frost’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Distinguished Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (5 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Commendation Medal (2 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Achievement Medal, Meritorious Unit Citation, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terror Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (Numeral 5), National Defense Service Medal (2), Combat Action Badge, and the Parachute Badge. She hails from Muscatine, Iowa and now lives with her family in Washington D.C. 

Mel Gamble 

CEO and President, Gamble Advisory Group

A 40-year retired Senior Intelligence officer, Mr. Gamble served in a number of senior executive positions in the Directorate of Operations in the Central Intelligence Agency to include:  Chief and Deputy Chief of Stations in Africa and Latin America; Chief of Central Asia and the Caucasus; Special Assistant to the Associate Deputy Director of Operations; Deputy Chief of European Division, and Chief of Africa Division.  Mr. Gamble retired and is currently President of Gamble Advisory Group, a security consulting firm.  He also serves as an advisor on security matters to two Wall Street firms.

Janice Glover-Jones

Chief, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Officer, Defense Intelligence Agency

Ms. Glover-Jones is the first Chief Diversity,  Equality  and Inclusion Officer where she is responsible for providing vision, leadership, planning and oversight for programs, policies and procedures related to the Agency's commitment to developing an inclusive diverse culture to leverage the power of cognitive and demographic differences of our 16,000 plus workforce to enhance the intelligence advantage DIA provides to warfighters and policy makers.

Previously, Ms. Glover-Jones was an Exec utive in Residence to the Dell commercia l sector on a 12-month assignment. This was a unique opportunity to share public and private perspectives for mutually beneficial outcomes. She provided her expertise on projects related to diversity and inclusion, projects intended to engage directly with Minority Serving Institutions MSI's in order to influence and develop curriculum to
position Dell as an employer of choice for Hispanic and African-American communities. She also worked with a small cohort of technology partners and subject matter experts building solutions to address bias from the  identification of diverse talent through the upward mobility of such talent.

Prior to joining Dell. Ms. Glover-Jones served as the Chief Information Officer (CIO) of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) from December 2014 to July 2018. In her capacity as CIO, Ms. Glover-Jones was responsible for the  management of a global Information Technology (IT) organization with over 3,000 employees and a budget in excess of $600 million that provides IT services to approximately 230,000 National and Defense customers worldwide. 1n this  position, she serves as the principal advisor on Intelligence Community IT matters to the Agency. A key champion for the implementation of the Intellige nce Community Information Technology Enterprise (IC ITE) at DIA, Ms. Glover-Jones oversaw the IC Enterprise Management (IC EMT) and IC Desktop Environment (IC DTE) programs - efforts which centralize IT infrastructure across the IC allowing for increased efficiencies and information sharing.

Ms. Glover-Jones was selected for the CIO position after serving as the Deputy CIO for over two years. Prior to that time, she served on a Joint Duty Assignment as the Enterprise Common Operating Environment Executive for the Office of the Chief Information Office r, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). Ms. Glover-Jones was responsible for integrating capabilities across the Big Four (DIA, NGA, NRO, NSA) intelligence agencies to  create  the  first-ever Common Operating Environment (CO E), which has evolved into the present day IC ITE.

As the former Satellite Chief and Chief Financial Officer for the CIO, Ms. Glover-Jones developed and managed a strategically sound, financially wise, and legally compliant IT budget. She transformed the CIO organization  by centralizing budget, contract management, cost analysis, and business analytics - creating synergy and developing a customer-centric culture. Additionally, she implemented the IT Value Scorecard, which provides Department of Defense Intelligence Information Systems (DoDIIS) customers a multi-perspective view of strategic performance and aligns the value and strategic drivers to customers' values.

As a result of her work and accomplishments, Ms. Glover-Jones has been recognized numerous times by  Agency leadership and peers with Special Act/Service Awards, IC Awards for exceptional performance, and the National Women of Color Professional Achievement Award.

Ms. Glover-Jones was born in Camden, South Carolina. She graduated from the University of Maryland  University College with a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems Management. She is a graduate of the IC Executive Leader Program at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. She has certifteations  in the  following: George Washington University - Advanced Public Policy; Stephen M.R. Covey Speed of  Trust  and  Emotional Intelligence EQ-i2.0. She is also a DIA certified coach.

Sue Gordon

Senior Fellow, Intelligence Project, Belfer Center; Former Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence

The Honorable Susan M. (Sue) Gordon is an Advisor, Director, Contributor, Leader, and Senior Fellow with the Intelligence Project at the Belfer Center.

Gordon was Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence, until August 2019. A longtime member of the Intelligence Community, she has nearly three decades of intelligence experience. As PDDNI, she managed the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and focused on advancing intelligence integration across the Intelligence Community. Earlier, she was Deputy Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) where she drove NGA’s transformation to meet the challenges of a 21st century intelligence agency.

Gordon has worked in a variety of leadership roles spanning numerous intelligence organizations and disciplines. Prior to her assignment with NGA, she served for 27 years at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), rising to senior executive positions in each of the Agency’s four directorates: operations, analysis, science and technology, and support.

Gerald P. Hamilton

Former Chief, Employee Resource Center, Central Intelligence Agency 

Gerald "Gerry" Hamilton is a senior officer in the National Clandestine Service. In his last role, he was chosen by Director Leon Panetta to lead the CIA’s diversity programs, including its public outreach efforts, as  head of the  Employee Resource Center. 

 The Employee Resource Center was created combine, focus and increase the capabilities of existing offices responsible for promoting diversity and equal opportunity within the agency.The center serves as a point of contact for agency employees looking for information, advice, or assistance on issues such as anti-discrimination laws, disability accommodations, dispute resolution and mentoring.

Hamilton previously served in a number of overseas posts and was deputy chief of the NCS human resources staff. He graduated from Morgan State University and earned a master’s degree from American University.
 

Laicie Heeley

Founder & CEO, Inkstick Media

Laicie Heeley is the Founder and CEO of Inkstick Media and Editor in Chief of the foreign policy magazine Inkstick. Laicie’s background as a writer and photographer lends itself to an appreciation of storytelling in all of its forms. This is evident in her role as Executive Producer and Host of the PRX- and Inkstick-produced podcast, Things That Go Boom, where she explores the “ins, outs, and whathaveyous of what keeps us safe.” She is also a Partner with the Truman National Security Project. Laicie's work has appeared in well-known newspapers, journals, and periodicals including Foreign Policy, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and Associated Press, and she has appeared as an expert on CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News. 

Prior to launching Inkstick, Laicie was a Fellow with the Stimson Center’s Budgeting for Foreign Affairs and Defense program and Policy Director at the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation. Her areas of expertise include U.S. budget process, defense strategy, and nuclear weapons proliferation. Laicie previously held positions at Physicians for Social Responsibility, The Counter Terrorist Finance Organization, and Global Green USA where her research focused on nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons in addition to the financing and structure of terrorist organizations. 
 

Sonya Holt

Deputy Associate Director for Talent for Diversity and Inclusion; Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Central Intelligence Agency

Sonya Holt currently serves as the Deputy Associate Director of CIA for Talent for Diversity and Inclusion, and the CIA Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer.  Prior to, she led for the Director’s Advisory Group on Women in Leadership (DAG) Implementation, a corporate initiative.  The DAG was responsible for fully implementing 10 recommendations from the Director’s Advisory Group on Women in Leadership Final Report.  

Previously, Ms. Holt completed a one year Joint Duty Assignment at the Department of Defense, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence (OUSDI), Human Capital Management Office as the Chief of Staff.  
She served as the Program Manager for the Director, Central Intelligence Agency’s External Advisory Board and managed relationships with key senior officials on his behalf.  

She was the Chief, within the Agency’s Recruitment Center were she lead strategic direction and planning.  She was responsible for the strategic vision and leadership of four unique programs:  the Sourcing Unit, Student Programs, Advertising and Marketing Program, and the Regional Recruiter Program which encompassed the strategic planning and direction of the Center’s diversity initiatives in relation to the Agency’s mission.  

Ms. Holt has served in other various positions ranging from Program Management in the Directorate of Science and Technology; to Chief, Diversity Programs in the Recruitment Center.

Ms. Holt obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems from Strayer University in 1998.  She received an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from Martin University in May 2010. And is the first and only women to serve as the Chair of the National Urban Leagues (NUL) Black Executive Exchange Program (BEEP) Executive Advisory Council (EAC) in its 45 year history.  She received the first ever BEEP Corporate Liaison Award in year 38, and was inducted in the BEEP Hall of Fame in 2012.

Ms. Holt has been an employee of the Central Intelligence Agency for 36 years.  She uses the knowledge and skills that she has gained from both her technical and human resources experiences to establish herself as an expert in Diversity & Inclusion, Diversity Recruitment and Management.  Ms. Holt acts as a mentor to junior officers promoting self-development and networking strategies. 

Victoria Nguyen 

Head of Data and Analytics, SANTE

Victoria Nguyen is the Head of Data and Analytics at SANTE, where she coordinates data and human intelligence to improve the firm’s competitive advantage through better insight. She is an operations leader with 13+ years of private and government experience who specializes in bridging the gap between strategy and implementation and evaluating emergent technology that can fuel organizational change.

Victoria is a recognized authority in spatiotemporal analytic tradecraft and Big Data analysis. Prior to joining Santé, Victoria served as the Senior Intelligence Officer for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency’s Counterterrorism Division, where she pioneered new data methodologies and drove novel application of technologies against no-fail global operations. A change agent and trusted advisor to senior leadership, she led and implemented Agency-wide tradecraft and technology transformation. Victoria completed 13 deployments in direct support of the United States Special Operations Command and interagency partners.

Victoria earned her BA in journalism and environmental science, magna cum laude, from Carthage College. She is a recipient of the Presidential Unit Citation and Joint Civilian Service Commendation for notable service and contributions to U.S. National Security.

Claudia Rodriguez-Hall 

Founder & CEO, Veritas Global Solutions

Claudia Rodriguez-Hall is the Founder and CEO of Veritas Global Solutions and the Director of Global Operations and International Affairs at Novus Intelligence Group. 

Claudia served for over 25 years in the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in numerous roles of increasing responsibility, including as Senior Intelligence Representative and three tours as Chief of Station (COS). Throughout her quarter century career, Claudia worked on the highest profile and maximum impact challenges faced by the US Government.   She was the first Hispanic born woman to become COS in the CIA. Claudia worked as the Directorate of Operations Hispanic recruiting representative for the agency, and is passionate about the role of diversity in the intelligence community and US government. She was awarded the Distinguished Intelligence Medal and NCIX Award for Community Excellence.

Claudia is a Certified Field Operations Officer with experience in hostile, volatile, and traditional environments.  Claudia is fluent in four languages and is recognized leader, mentor, coach and innovator. 
 

Rita Sampson

Chief of Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity, Office of the Director of National Intelligence

Ms. Sampson is the Chief of Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity (EEOD) within the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). She is the principal advisor to the Director of National Intelligence on all matters relating to diversity within the U.S. Intelligence Community (IC). Ms. Sampson also oversees compliance with the federal EEO laws, policies, and directives that impact the ODNI workforce and the IC. She serves as the Chair of the IC EEOD Council (comprised of senior EEOD leaders from all 17 IC elements), and leads the implementation of strategic diversity initiatives aligned with the IC EEOD Enterprise Strategy (2015-2020). Promoting greater transparency outreach, and awareness of opportunities for employment and advancement within the IC is one of Ms. Sampson’s key priorities. She advances the IC’s commitment to hire, promote, and maintain a highly-skilled, diverse, and including IC workforce, and engages key stakeholders through partnerships that enable innovative approaches and leverage best practices for achieving EEOD objectives.

From 2010 to 2013, Ms. Sampson served as a Senior Civil Liberties Advisor in the ODNI’s Civil Liberties and Privacy Office. She supported efforts to ensure that the IC maintained effective safeguards to protect the civil liberties and privacy rights guaranteed by the Constitution, Executive Orders, and federal laws. She also led IC initiatives to provide greater public transparency into IC programs and activities, evaluated compliance, and served as the lead for intelligence oversight reporting.

Prior to joining the ODNI, Ms. Sampson served in various capacities within the U.S. Department of Justice. As an Assistant Director within the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys (EOUSA), she served as the Agency’s EEO Officer, and led all aspects of the Agency’s EEO program covering 94 offices. Ms. Sampson also served as an Assistant General Counsel within EOUSA, specializing in government ethics and employment litigation. Before joining EOUSA, she worked in the Office of the General Counsel at the Federal Bureau of Investigation where she litigated a range of civil matters, including complaints related to excessive use of force, Federal Tort Claims Act, and Title VII civil rights violations. Ms. Sampson was an Assistant Attorney General in the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Office of the Attorney General, where she litigated complex civil litigation matters.

Ms. Sampson is a member of the Virginia State Bar, National Bar Association (NBA), and served as Special Counsel and Executive Board member of the NBA. She formerly served as President of the Greater Washington Area Chapter of the NBA, Women Lawyer’s Division. She earned her juris doctorate degree from Wake Forest University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Government from the College of William and Mary.

Debra Evans Smith

Former Deputy Assistant Director of the Counterintelligence Division, FBI

Debra Evans Smith entered on duty with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in May of 1984, in a support capacity.  She was assigned to FBI Headquarters for two and one-half years prior to entering New Agents Training in 1987.  Ms. Smith’s first office of assignment was the New Orleans Division where she conducted Applicant, Civil Rights and White-Collar Crime investigations.  From August of 1989, to February of 1991, Ms. Smith attended the State Department’s Foreign Service Institute in Rosslyn, Virginia, where she studied and learned to speak the Russian language.  

Ms. Smith’s second assignment was to the Los Angeles Division (1991-1996) where she worked Russian Foreign Counterintelligence (FCI) and Russian Organized Crime matters.  Ms. Smith’s third assignment was to the Washington Field Office, Washington, D.C., where she continued to work Russian FCI matters.  In June of 1998, Ms. Smith was promoted to Supervisory Special Agent, and served in the Overseas Espionage Unit at FBI Headquarters.  In June of 2000, Ms. Smith returned to the Washington Field Office to supervise an Espionage squad.  She supervised numerous espionage investigations and recruitment operations, most notably, the investigation of former FBI Agent Robert P. Hanssen.  Ms. Smith received the Attorney General Award for Intelligence, and the United States Attorney’s Award for her role in this major espionage investigation.  She also received the National Intelligence Community Certificate of Distinction for her role in a national security matter.

In August of 2006, Ms. Smith was promoted to Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the San Diego Division’s Intelligence Branch, managing the Field Intelligence Group, Foreign Language Program, Border Liaison Program, among others.  In March of 2008, Ms. Smith entered the Senior Executive Service, and served in a joint duty position as Chief of the Counterespionage Group at the Central Intelligence Agency. From 2009-2010, she served as Special Assistant to former FBI Director Robert Mueller III. 

From 2010 to 2013, Ms. Smith served as Special Agent in Charge at the Washington Field Office, initially over the Administrative Division, and transitioning to the Counterintelligence Division where she was responsible for all counterintelligence and espionage matters in Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia. She briefly served as the Acting Director in Charge of the Washington Field office, prior to being promoted to Deputy Assistant Director of the Counterintelligence Division at FBI Headquarters. Ms. Smith retired in 2014 after 30 years of service.

She returned to the FBI in 2015 and served in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, where she worked to implement programs and practices to increase diversity, educate the workforce, and pursue equity in hiring processes. 

Ms. Smith departed the FBI in 2019. She currently serves on the President’s Commission for Diversity and Inclusion at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP), as well as the IUP Alumni Board of Directors. 

She is the proud mother of one son. 
 

Camille Stewart

Head of Security Policy for Google Play and Android, Google; Cofounder of Diversity in National Security Network  

Camille Stewart is an attorney and executive whose crosscutting perspective on complex technology, cyber, and national security, and foreign policy issues has landed her in significant roles at leading government and private sector companies like the Department of Homeland Security, Deloitte, and Google. Camille builds global cybersecurity, privacy, and election security/integrity programs in complex environments for large companies and government agencies.

Camille is the Head of Security Policy for Google Play and Android at Google where she leads security, privacy, election integrity, and dis/mis-information. Prior to Google, Camille was a manager in Deloitte’s Cyber Risk practice working on cybersecurity, election security, tech innovation, and risk issues for DHS, DOD, and other federal agencies.

Camille is the former Senior Policy Advisor for Cyber, Infrastructure & Resilience Policy at the Department of Homeland Security. Appointed by President Obama, Camille contributed to a number of federal cyber policies such as Presidential Policy Directive 41 (PPD -41) on United States Cyber Incident Coordination and Cybersecurity National Action Plan (CNAP). Camille focused on a number of domestic and international cyber and technology policy issues, earning recognition from President Obama for her contributions to expanding cybersecurity cooperation with DHS’s Israeli counterparts. 

Prior to working at DHS, Camille spent five years as the Senior Manager, Legal Affairs at Cyveillance, Inc., a cybersecurity company focused on open source threat intelligence and incident response. While there, Camille navigated legal and policy challenges for cyber-related issues such as data privacy, incident response, Internet governance, cyber security, new gTLDs, social media law & policy, and intellectual property (IP) protections online for Global 2000 companies. In this role, Camille managed a team of cyber intelligence analysts in the SOC, revamped the brand protection service offerings, managed the company’s policy and IP portfolio, and built new incident response service offerings.  Camille also spent time working for Rep. Marcia Fudge and Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II. Camille is passionate about making technology and IP issues accessible to entrepreneurs and the less than technically savvy. To that end, she founded a legal consultancy and startup incubator, MarqueLaw, PLLC, and the blog TheDigitalCounselor.com.

Camille remains engaged on national security issues. She leads a project with the Transformative Cyber Innovation Lab (TCIL) to explore exfiltration of sensitive technology through the courts and continues to advise, speak, and write on relevant issues.

Camille is on the Board of Directors for GirlSecurity and on the Advisory Board for Women of Color Advancing Peace, Security, & Conflict Transformation (WCAPS).

Camille is the 2019 Cyber Security Women of the Year in the “Barrier Breaker category, the 2018 New America Black American National Security & Foreign Policy Next Generation Leader, the 2018 National Urban League Cyber Connoisseur Honoree, a 2017 DMV 40 under 40 Trailblazer Awardee, and the 2016 Women in Technology Rising Star Awardee.

Camille is a New America Political Reform Fellow, a Truman Security Fellow, a Council on Foreign Relations Term Member, a Founding Member of Women in Cybersecurity Silicon Valley Affiliate Chapter, an Inaugural Internet Law and Policy Foundry Fellow and has held elected office in the District of Columbia. Camille has CISSP and PMP certifications. 

Andy Vail

Senior in Residence/Fellow, Duke University

Andy Vail is a Senior National Intelligence Service Officer serving currently as a Senior in Residence/Fellow at Duke University. His most recent position was as the National Intelligence Manager for Counterterrorism in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). Within the ODNI, he has served as the Director of Plans, Executive Officer to the Principal Deputy Director and Acting Director of National Intelligence, Senior Advisor to the Deputy Director for Intelligence Integration, and the Director of the Intelligence Community Civilian Joint Duty Program, and Deputy Director for Operations Support in the National Counterterrorism Center. He has also served a joint duty assignment as the Special Advisor to the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency on Strategy.

Andy returned to Government service in February 2007 after having been in private industry for 5 ½ years after his retirement from the US Army. He is a 1976 graduate of the United States Military Academy and entered the Army as an Infantry Officer. He was also a Latin American Foreign Area Specialist. In 1984, he received a Master of Arts degree in International Relations from Mississippi State University. He is also a graduate of the Defense Language Institute in Spanish, the Command and General Staff College at the School of the Americas, and the Armed Forces Staff College.

His military assignments include serving as the Deputy Division Chief, Politico-Military Affairs Division in the CENTCOM J5 Policy and Plans Office. Serving as the Assistant Defense Intelligence Officer for Latin America; Crisis Operations Branch Chief in the JCS/J2; Brigade XO in Task Force Victory, Kuwait; Battalion S3 & XO with the 3d Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 8th Infantry Division in Mainz, Germany; Terrorism Counteraction Inspector with the Provost Marshal, U. S. Army Europe; and as an exchange officer in Paraguay.

After his retirement from the Army in 2001, Andy joined a non-profit defense contractor where he worked in a variety of positions supporting the Intelligence Community. He held positions as the Director, Intelligence Analysis Programs; Executive Director, Advanced Technology Programs; and Executive Director, Integrated Learning and Technology Solutions. 

Some of his military decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, and the Bronze Star.

Tracy Walder

Adjunct Professor of Criminal Justice at Texas Christian University; Author; Former CIA Officer and FBI Special Agent

From 2000 - 2004, Tracy worked as Staff Operations Officer (SOO) Intelligence Agency's Counterterrorism Center Weapons of Mass Destruction Group and a Special Agent at the FBI. During her time at the CIA, Tracy traveled to war zones and many other countries. Tracy received many awards for her service from both the CIA and from foreign intelligence offices, to include the counterterrorism medal and multiple exceptional performance awards.  After the CIA, Tracy became a Special Agent at the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office specializing in Chinese counterintelligence operations.  Following her time at the CIA and FBI, Tracy enrolled in both a master's and a teaching credential program.  She taught history and a self-created course on national security and foreign policy for almost fifteen years.  

Tracy now works as an author, adjunct professor of Criminal Justice, and sits on the Board of Directors of Girl Security, a nonpartisan organization increasing the representation of women in national security by building a pipeline for girls and young women through learning, training, and mentoring support.  Tracy Walder earned her degree in history from the University of Southern California and her Master's in education from Chapman University and has appeared on Fox and Friends, NPR, Good Morning America, The Glen Beck Shop, Al- Jazeera, the number one podcast “The Juicy Scoop” and “SpyCast”, Good Morning Texas, D Magazine, and other national broadcasts.  She has been published in Salon, NY Post, and HuffPo.

John Wigle

Senior Analytic Service Officer, Office of the Director of National Intelligence 

John Wigle is a senior analytic service officer at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and has worked at various agencies in the US intelligence community for over thirty years. He is currently on a joint-duty assignment at the FBI working in the National Security Branch supporting operations. He was a Recanati-Kaplan Fellow (AY19-20) on the Intelligence Project for one year at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School of Government where he continues to support the Intelligence Project's research into the Cambridge 5 Spy Ring.

He is a descendant of the Tuscarora Nation Turtle Clan and holds the name Tra’dee-keh-raw-yea-ree’ given to him by his tribal council. He served for 5 years in increasing roles as board member to vice chairman at the Baltimore American Indian Center and lived in American Indian housing in the city during the 1990s.  Later over a ten-year period, he served as the public advocate for the American Indian Society of Washington, DC and then as its president. Most recently he served as the Chair of the IC's American Indian/Alaskan Native Council from 2010 to 2019. 

Mr. Wigle consults and advises the Tuscarora Nation chiefs and clan mothers on a regular basis and has been invited to sit at tribal council meetings on certain matters.  He was a member of the Harvard University Native American Program and participated in a Harvard American Indian Economic Development project during the Spring of 2020 to assist tribal governments with protecting sacred sites. When Mr. Wigle was younger, he was a drummer and singer on the powwow circuit. He regularly visits his godparents on the reservation and serves as the tribal electrician to help set up the power and lighting on the reservation for the annual tribal homecoming event in July.

His professional interests include countering human trafficking, counterintelligence, data science and the intersection of tribal sovereignty and homeland & national security.

Registration

Registration

Please register for each session individually below. Once approved, participants will receive an email with a link, password, and instructions to access each session.

This conference will take place using the Cisco Webex virtual conferencing platform. Participants will have the option to either download or use a temporary version of the Webex application when logging into the sessions. We advise that participants log on a few minutes before the start of each event to ensure enough time to connect and login before the session begins.

WELCOME, KEYNOTE, AND SESSION 1 (Thursday, Sep 24, 0900-1030)

SESSION 2: #IAMA SPYTALKS: HIGHLIGHTING THE REAL EXPERIENCES OF INTELLIGENCE OFFICERS (Thursday, Sep 24, 1045-1200)

SESSION 3: BLACK OPS: A CANDID CONVERSATION ON RACE IN THE USIC (Thursday, Sep 24, 1215-1315)

SESSION 4: WOMEN IN POWER: THE RISE AND REALITIES OF WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS (Thursday, Sep 24, 1330-1445)

SESSION 5: OVERT OUTREACH: BUILDING A NEW PIPELINE OF NATIONAL SECURITY PRACTITIONERS (Friday Sep 25, 0900-1030)

SESSION 6: DEVELOPING DIVERSE TALENT: A NEW ERA OF MENTORSHIP (Friday Sep 25, 1045-1200)

SESSION 7: DRIVING CHANGE IN THE IC: IS IT POSSIBLE? (Friday Sep 25, 1215-1330) 

Contact