WIIG In A Minute
WIAM is a program designed to offer small group mentoring sessions in functional areas of interest to those in our community. The general format for the event is intended to be intimate with each session consisting of 8- 10 attendees. Each functional area is led by a woman performing at a high level in that field. Each attendee has the opportunity to pick two sessions of interest to them and each session is approximately 45 minutes long.
2:30-3:00: Registration, Networking, and Appetizers Served
3:00-3:15: Introductions and Format Explanation
3:15-4:00: First Mentoring Session
4:00-4:30: Break/Switch Groups
4:30-5:15: Second Mentoring Session
5:15-6:00: Closing comments and Networking
Program Management
Lisa Auld - Praxis Engineering
Ms. Auld joined Praxis in 2014 as a Senior Program Manager. She has over 20 years of program management experience managing large, complex, multi-contractor Level of Effort and Completion Technical Task Order (TTO) contracts within the Intelligence Community, consistently achieving outstanding award fee scores. Prior to joining Praxis, she was a Principal at Booz Allen Hamilton. Her 30+ year career in the Intelligence Community spans a diversity of technical roles, including systems engineering, software engineering, and Agile Development.
Ms. Auld graduated with a B.S. in Technology and Management from the University of Maryland University College. She also holds a Masters of Administrative Sciences from The Johns Hopkins University and Masters in Professional Studies (MPS) in Cybersecurity from the University of Maryland Baltimore County. She is a certified Project Management Institute (PMI) Program and Project Management Professional (PgMP, PMP), International Council of Systems Engineering (INCOSE) Certified Systems Engineering Professional (CSEP), PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (ACP), and AACE International Earned Value Professional (EVP). She is a member of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA) and INCOSE. In her free time, Lisa enjoys yoga, reading, knitting, and spending time with her family.
Business Strategist, Trusted Advisor, Speaker, Entrepreneur
Tori Boats - Leidos
For as long as she can remember, Ms. Boats been insatiably curious about finding formulas for success and bending the rules to create her own path. She's worked with NSA and the Intelligence Community for over 20 years as an Arabic linguist, computer scientist, and engineer. She brings her experiences in DoD together with that of the commercial sector, senior leadership in a Fortune 500 technology company, and business ownership to round out her perspective. She's dedicated to helping mid-career professionals pursue the career they dream of, build thriving businesses, and create a happier, more fulfilling life. Break free and find joy in the work you do!
Business Development
Linda Drake - BAE
Ms. Drake is the Director of Business Development at BAE System, Inc. supporting the Electronic Systems Sector located in Reston, VA. Electronic Systems provides efficient solutions throughout the full life cycle of mission critical work; including software and system development, deployment, integration, operations, and mission management. Appointed to this position in January 2016, Ms. Drake is responsible for long-term positioning within the National Security markets and identifying customer needs, challenges, and requirements.
Prior to BAE Systems, Ms. Drake held Director of Intelligence Account positions at Harris, formerly ITT Exelis, and at Raytheon, Applied Signal Technology, Inc. where she supported the business areas focused on providing end-to-end solutions for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, serving national priorities in defense, intelligence, and homeland security markets.
Ms. Drake serves on the Board of Directors for the Washington, D.C. Chapter of the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA), and is active on several AFCEA Chapter Committees.
Ms. Drake holds an MBA from George Mason University, and B.S. degrees in Finance and Marketing Management from Virginia Tech.
CEO/Recruting
Jami Kirkwood - Automation Career Consultants (ACC)
Ms. Kirkwood founded Automation Career Consultants in March of 1999 and they just celebrated 20 years of business! Jami graduated from Towson University with a B.S. in Mass Communication with a Minor in Marketing. She is passionate about helping people and has strived throughout her career in recruiting to create and foster relationships that enable Engineering Professionals to find the right job that help them achieve not only their career goals but their personal goals as well. Ms. Kirkwood has extensive experience in sourcing, recruiting, interviewing, relationship building, business development, qualifying candidates and keeping them interested in the long cycle of the placement process. She has been an active member in the AFCEA CMD Chapter since 2003 and served on the Women in Intelligence Group (WIIG) for the past 9 years and has received the President's UnSung Hero Award twice.
Engineering
Janelle Romano - Senior NSA Civilian
Ms. Romano serves as the Deputy Chief of Industry and Academic Engagement (IAE). In this position, Ms. Romano oversees the establishment and management of NSA's engagements with industry and academic communities delivering SIGINT and Cybersecurity solutions for Agency customers. Ms. Romano began her career with NSA as a cooperative education student. Over the course of her engineering career, she developed a number of advanced processing and signals analysis capabilities. She initially served at a global collection activity where she gained a detailed technical and operational understanding of the NSA mission. Ms. Romano has held technical and leadership positions with progressively greater levels of responsibility across the Signals Intelligence, Technology, and Research Directorates.
Ms. Romano holds a B.S. degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Valparaiso University and M.S. degree in Engineering from Johns Hopkins University.
Ms. Romano has received numerous awards over the course of her Agency career to include Presidential Rank Award, Office of the Secretary of Defense Exceptional Civilian Service Medal, Meritorious Civilian Service Award, the Dr. Louis W. Tordella Award from the Director of NSA and the Director of GCHQ for SIGINT Excellence, a prestigious joint Directorate award, and several monetary and National Intelligence Meritorious Unit Citations. Ms. Romano also serves on the University of Maryland's Advanced Cybersecurity Experience for Students Advisory Board.
Executive Leadership
Jenny Smith - Raytheon
Ms. Smith is the Director for Raytheon's Fort Meade business which specializes in full-spectrum cyber operations development and support and large-scale cloud analytics development. She started her career at Raytheon as an engineer and has served in a variety of leadership roles at Raytheon including Program Manager, Engineering Director, Director of Operations, and Product Line Director.
Ms. Smith currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Fort Meade Alliance. She earned B.S. and M.S. degrees in Electrical Engineering from the University of Akron and Johns Hopkins University. She is a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and Society of Women Engineers. She volunteers with the Boys and Girls Club at Fort Meade to expand STEM education initiatives.
AFCEA CMD, helping develop the intelligence community leaders of today and tomorrow through educational programs and networking events.