WIFLE FOUNDATION, INC.
ANNUAL LEADERSHIP TRAINING
Theme: “Walking the Talk of Inclusive Leadership”
AUGUST 14–17, 2023
TAMPA, FLORIDA
JOIN US AT WIFLE.ORG
WIFLE FOUNDATION, INC.
THEME: “Walking the Talk of Inclusive Leadership”
THEME: “Walking the Talk of Inclusive Leadership”
Monday, October 23, 2023
Rookery Golf Course, 27052 Broadkill Rd., Milton, Delaware 19968 (5 miles from Rehoboth Beach)
9:00 a.m. Shotgun Start, Scramble Format | 8:00 a.m. Check-in and continental breakfast
All Skill Levels are Welcome!
WIFLE ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENTS ARE FUN!
Registration: $120 per Golfer
Registration deadline is October 13, 2023; OR, until first 100 golfers are registered. Then registration will be closed earlier. Your entry fee includes golf, range balls, cart, water, breakfast, lunch and one beverage of choice (beer, wine, soft drink) and a goody bag! PRIZES GALORE! A $10,000 prize for primary hole-in-one; (2) prizes awarded for closest to the pin; and a prize for low gross teams.
This is a charity event where all profits support the Women in Federal Law Enforcement Scholarship Fund that helps send women to college who are seeking a career in law enforcement. All are welcome to participate, along with our federal, state and local law enforcement active and retired personnel, emergency responders, firefighters, US Veterans and their families and friends.
Popular Annual WIFLE Event! Think about enjoying a weekend in Rehoboth Beach and taking a vacation day on Monday to play a fun round of golf. Chair for this event is Maryann Veitch (text to 443-414-6424), U.S. Army retired.
Any questions, please email Margie Moore, margiemoore@comcast.net or text to 703-981-6903. Please register and pay online at this link. Or, checks may be mailed to Margie Moore, WIFLE Chair, 37378 Oxford Ct., Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971, with the registration form.
PREMIUM SPONSORSHIPS FOR HOLES
$2500.00 Lunch Sponsor
$600.00 Breakfast Sponsor
$1000.00 Beverage Cart (your name or company name on cart, in brochure and Leaderboard)
$600.00 Hole in One Sponsor (name at hole)
$500.00 Closest to the Pin (your name or company name at hole)
$125.00 Regular Holes (your name at hole)
Other Sponsorship Opportunities, Contact Margie Moore, 703-981-6903, WIFLE Chair, to discuss.
Every day, WIFLE members take a stand to keep people and communities safe. Your dedication and sacrifice is what makes the difference. TRSS - a data and technology-driven insights company - supports our federal law enforcement in their critical mission to protect public safety and preserve national security.
Inspired by WIFLE’s dedication to empowering women in federal law enforcement, TRSS is a proud Diamond Sponsor for the 2023 Annual Leadership Training.
Catrina M. Bonus President, WIFLE Foundation, Inc. and Executive Director, Women in Federal Law Enforcement, Inc.
Jessie L. Lane Vice President, WIFLE Foundation, Inc. and Deputy Executive Director, Women in Federal Law Enforcement, Inc.
Catherine W. Sanz Immediate Past President, WIFLE Foundation, Inc. and Immediate Past Executive Director, Women in Federal Law Enforcement, Inc. Treasurer, WIFLE Foundation, Inc.
Sheree L. Mixell Chair, Board of Directors, Women in Federal Law Enforcement, Inc.
Barbara D. Linney Partner, BakerHostetler, General Counsel, WIFLE Foundation, Inc., and Women in Federal Law Enforcement, Inc.
Melissa Lucio Secretary, WIFLE Foundation, Inc.
Margaret M. Moore
Chair, Board of Directors, WIFLE Foundation, Inc.
Elizabeth M. Casey Board Member
F. Erhard Board Member
Williams Board Member
Dorene Amy Jo Lyons Board Member Lynda R.Jessica McTigue
Supervisory Special Agent, Diplomatic Security Service, U.S. Department of State President, Women in Federal Law Enforcement, Inc.
Janice Ayala
Director, Joint Task Force Investigations
Homeland Security Investigations Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Retired)
Dr. Jean Kanokogi, Ph.D.
Senior Special Agent (Retired)
Food and Drug Administration
Office of Criminal Investigations
Heather C. Fischer
Senior Advisor for Human Rights Crimes
Thomson Reuters Special Services, LLC
Amber R. Jordan, Esq.
Office of Counsel
Inspector Attorney
Labor and Litigation Group
U.S. Postal Inspection Service
Vice President, Women in Federal Law Enforcement, Inc.
Carolyn J. McMillon, MA, ACC
Owner, ASK-Coaching-TrainingConsulting, The Power of 3, LLC
Office of Equity and Employee Support Services Executive –
U.S. Secret Service (Retired)
Dr. Helen H. Yu
Associate Professor
University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Carol A. Paterick
Administrative Technical
Assistant Chief - INTERPOL U.S. (Retired)
WIFLE E-NEWS EDITORS
Elizabeth M. Casey
Dorene F. Erhard
Melissa Stormer (2022)
U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations
Katherine (Castaneda) Eberhardt (2021)
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
Katherine Castaneda (2020)
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
Tira Hayward (2019)
U.S. Postal Inspection Service
Stephanie Metzger (2018)
Federal Air Marshal Service
Transportation Security Administration
Regina Lombardo (2017)
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
Ruth Mendonca (2016)
U.S. Postal Inspection Service
Tamra Goldsmith (2015)
Federal Air Marshal Service
Transportation Security Administration (Retired)
Janice Ayala (2014)
Homeland Security Investigations
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Retired)
Diane McCreary (2013)
U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service
Kimberly Thompson (2012)
Federal Air Marshal Service
Transportation Security Administration
Jessie L. Lane (2011)
U.S. Secret Service (Retired)
Mary Irene Cooper (2010)
Drug Enforcement Administration (Retired)
Amy Jo Lyons (2009)
Federal Bureau of Investigation (Retired)
Rebekah A. Salazar (2007-2008)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Catherine W. Sanz (2007)
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Retired)
Stephanie J. Davis (2006)
Office of the Inspector General
U.S. Postal Service (Retired)
Sheree L. Mixell (2005)
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (Retired)
Natalie C. Murphy (2004)
Office of the Inspector General
U.S. Postal Service (Retired)
Monica Blodgett Rocchio (1999-2003)
Criminal Investigation Division
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (Retired)
Women in Federal Law Enforcement, Inc. and the WIFLE Foundation, Inc. work in concert to promote and support women in federal law enforcement. Together, these two tax-exempt organizations form WIFLE’s unique identity as a vital member of the federal law enforcement community.
Women in Federal Law Enforcement, Inc. was incorporated in 1999 to serve as a professional organization for women and men in federal law enforcement. It is an outgrowth of the former Interagency Committee on Women in Federal Law Enforcement, created in 1978, and
The WIFLE Executive Leadership Institute (WELI) was established to not only bring attention to issues that affect women within organizations in the United States and in the world but explore potential solutions. We believe that when issues that underutilize or obstruct the skills, knowledge, leadership, and vision that women bring to the workplace and the community are challenged and resolved, society as a whole will benefit. Therefore, our goal is to examine and explore ideas that improve quality of life for all.
The purpose of WELI training and information sharing is to make government leadership aware of the challenges, opportunities, and responsibilities
co-sponsored by the U.S. Departments of Justice and Treasury.
The WIFLE Foundation, Inc., incorporated in 2006, is the educational entity providing for the Annual Leadership Training, the Scholarship Program, research, and other programs to benefit women in the federal law enforcement arena. The WIFLE Foundation, Inc. Scholarship Fund provides scholarship monies to students and members pursuing educational opportunities in law enforcement related fields.
inherent and unique to each organizational leadership team. To be prepared to lead, to become a change agent, and to accomplish the agency’s mission are skills expected of each leader. The Institute will further that expectation by challenging the inner self to accomplish greater goals that effectively help all women. Since women are the most underrepresented group in law enforcement and are marginalized in certain societies, WELI will demonstrate that women and men in leadership positions who advocate for their fellow women can originate real change. Mission efficiency and, in turn, delivery of services to a community are improved when consensus is built through the involvement and participation of all.
I challenge you. I challenge both women in Federal Law enforcement and you managers to change the culture of Federal law enforcement to become more inclusive, communicative & cooperative. Understand what women bring to the table and to each of their organizations, unique gifts. The recruitment, promotion, and retention of women must remain in the forefront of issues for women in federal law enforcement. We challenge the leaders of the Federal law enforcement community to confront the systemic barriers to the success of women in Federal law enforcement and promote the most qualified most valuable assets to your organization... Take pride in promoting qualified individuals that will serve to build and strengthen your organizations.
Margaret M. Moore - Founder Women in Federal Law Enforcement, Inc. 2000Bureau of Justice Statistics
Federal Law Enforcement Officers: Female 1998–2020
For more information, contact Carol Paterick, carolpaterick@gmail.com, or go to WIFLE.org/membership.
August 14, 2023
Dear Attendees,
I would like to warmly welcome you to Tampa, Florida and to the 2023 WIFLE Foundation, Inc. Annual Leadership Training. I know you have worked hard to get here, and I have no doubt you will benefit greatly from this exciting week.
Our theme for 2023 is “Walking the Talk of Inclusive Leadership.” In creating our leadership program, we wanted to highlight law enforcement agencies, leaders, private organizations, programs, and initiatives that are setting the example for others, that create an environment where we feel respected, valued, and able to contribute our best work.
In the spirit of inclusion, our focus is to continue to capitalize on the importance of partnerships by expanding our outreach efforts exponentially. As a result, we have identified the following WIFLE partner priorities, processes, and initiatives:
» Agencies and leaders who are keeping with WIFLE’s mission of promoting gender equity.
» Organizations who are working to increase the percentage of women in law enforcement.
» Agency leaders who are committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion in their workforce.
» Initiatives that promote leadership development and increase promotion potential for women.
» Efforts to change outdated policies that represent barriers to progress and work toward ensuring women in our demanding profession can have long, successful careers.
» Highlight emerging topics that allow us to advance our profession and help us in our day-to-day responsibilities.
Vice President Jessie Lane and I were intentional with our program to ensure it created a meaningful week for you. Each day focuses on content related to Professional Development, Leadership, Law Enforcement and Security, and Navigating Your Career. All of this developed around “Walking the Talk of Inclusive Leadership.”
Throughout the week, you will hear from powerful speakers who represent the best and brightest in our field. They will showcase best practices around a variety of topics, share their insights and expertise, and discuss challenges and opportunities facing women in law enforcement. They will impart successful skills and strategies we need to be effective leaders. We could not have put this
training together without their participation, and I extend my sincerest gratitude to them for investing their time to provide a top-notch event for everyone to enjoy.
In addition to the formal sessions, you will have the opportunity to network with others in law enforcement, from across the country, even from across the world. Enjoy getting to know your fellow WIFLE attendees. During breakfast or lunch, at our WIFLE Welcome Reception, WIFLE members/new members networking event, WIFLE Awards Banquet, and during our Flash Mentoring, this week is about learning from others, sharing ideas, and building relationships.
I encourage you to make contacts and forge connections that will provide a long-lasting support system for you. This includes me. I hope you will stop me and introduce yourself. I would love to chat and get to know you. Take advantage of all this week has to offer. Ask questions, participate in discussions, exchange emails and phone numbers, and connect with your fellow colleagues. The more you get out of this training - the more you will benefit from it.
Finally, I want to acknowledge your impact in law enforcement. You are powerful, capable, courageous women who make a difference in your agency and in your community. You are valued. You are appreciated. You are strong. WIFLE Strong. WIFLE is proud to support you and we are committed to helping you as you continue to make significant contributions to our profession.
You are the future of law enforcement, and I am excited to see what you will accomplish. I encourage you to always remember the importance of your role as a role model and mentor. As women in law enforcement, you inspire and empower other women to pursue careers in this field. You show them that it is possible to be successful in this demanding and noble profession.
In closing, I would like to share that I am truly honored to have been selected to serve as President of the WIFLE Foundation, Inc. and Executive Director of Women in Federal Law Enforcement, Inc. I am strongly committed – and I will do my absolute best to represent you and the WIFLE organization in the highest manner possible..
Thank you for choosing WIFLE. We look forward to a productive and inspiring week.
Sincerely,
Catrina M. BonusAugust 14, 2023
To my WIFLE Warrior Queens,
Walking the Talk of Inclusive Leadership is the theme chosen for this year’s annual Women in Federal Law Enforcement leadership training, a timely theme following the 2021 Executive Order 13985, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government, and the 2021 Executive Order 14035, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in the Federal Workforce. These recent executive orders strengthen goals and policies to further strategic efforts for more inclusivity across the federal government.
WIFLE has been a leading advocate for DEIA in federal law enforcement for nearly 25 years now, and we all must take an active role in securing DEIA in our agencies. We have much to be proud of thanks to the years of WIFLE’s advocacy, and I urge you to find creative ways to implement DEIA in your daily tasks as a peer or a leader. This could mean including diverse input during small or large meetings all the way to agency-wide strategic planning – this is what walking the talk is.
I encourage you to meet as many of the attendees as possible this week, we all have so much to share and learn. Be excited to say hello to someone you don’t know or join a group conversation. We already have so much in common being together at WIFLE, don’t be shy! This year’s speakers were selected from among many timely and important topics facing federal law enforcement and the communities where we live and serve. But most importantly, the sessions and workshops will provide a forum to express thoughts, ideas, and challenges common among women in federal law enforcement.
Monday’s line-up includes but is not limited to the following workshops: Emotional Display Rules: How Gender Stereotypes Impact Female Leaders, Giving and Receiving Effective Criticism, How to Create Goals and Boundaries, and a workshop on How to Lead Yourself to Better Lead Others
Tuesday’s Opening Ceremony will feature opening remarks from WIFLE Foundation, Inc.’s new President, Catrina Bonus, WIFLE Foundation, Inc.’s Vice President, Jessie Lane, and myself, this year’s President of Women in Federal Law Enforcement, Inc.’s Executive Committee. Then, our first General Assembly session by a stellar panel will discuss Courage Under Fire: When the Top Cop is a Female followed by an update on The
30x30 Initiative: Building a Culture of Inclusion in Law Enforcement. Tuesday’s break-out sessions cover a variety of topics from agency-sponsored Employee Resource Groups; Building and Maintaining Resilience; and a workshop on career road mapping to leadership positions. Tuesday will end with the ever-popular WIFLE “Members-Only” networking reception.
Wednesday’s General Assembly sessions feature a Case Study on Sex Trafficking and Transnational Criminal Organizations as well a panel on Best Practices in the Interagency Implementation of the Women, Peace, and Security Act of 2017. Wednesday’s break-out sessions will include Overcoming Challenges in Conducting Covert Operations, Trends and Risks of Fentanyl and How to Protect Yourself, as well as a workshop on Firearms Proficiency and Female Retention and a workshop on Prevention, Preparedness, and Response to Active Shooter Incidents.
Thursday will feature workshops on Mental Health and Trauma, Harnessing Gender-Specific Differences in Threat Management Training, as well as informative retirement information and our always-popular Flash Mentoring.
If this is your first WIFLE event, I promise you that the experience will inspire and energize you. If you have attended previous WIFLE events, thank you for returning, and be sure to make the Annual WIFLE Leadership Training as memorable as possible for our first-time attendees.
I look forward to meeting all of you this week and hearing your perspectives on inclusivity and best practices in leadership. Inclusivity is something everyone can do in small and big ways. This week you will take away ideas and inspiration to bring home to your peers, your teams, and to your leadership.
(“Ganbatte Kundasai” – Japanese for do your best, fight, good luck!)
Jessica McTigue President, Women in Federal Law Enforcement, Inc.
Greetings:
It is a pleasure to welcome you to the National Women in Federal Law Enforcement (WIFLE) Annual Leadership Training and Awards Ceremony held August 14-17, 2023, at the Tampa Marriott Water Street Hotel in Tampa, Florida. The conference theme is Walking the Talk of Inclusive Leadership and Tampa is honored to have been selected for this important conference that includes federal, state, and local law enforcement agenc y attendees. As the former City of Tampa Police Chief, I understand and appreciate the dedication and professionalism you exhibit each day as women in law enforcement and the contributions you make to our communities .
Established in 1999 as a nonprofit, Women in Federal La w Enforcement has earned the reputation globally for its excellence in a broad spectrum of training including tactical, operational, investigative, organizational, professional development, and management and leadership curriculum. The mission of WIFLE inc ludes promoting gender equity through education that provides training, research, scholarships, awards, and networking opportunities in partnership with federal law enforcement agencies and WIFLE members and sponsors. The organization is dedicated to leadi ng change in diversity, equity, opportunity, growth, and recognition.
Tampa is a unique and diverse city and offers an exciting experience for all its visitors, and our rich history, entertainment venues, museums, parks, and restaurants ensure an outstanding time. I hope you will have the opportunity to experience the many cultural and historical venues our city has to offer. Whether you visit one of our landmark attractions, ride the streetcar from downtown to Sparkman Wharf and Historic Ybor City, stroll along Tampa’s Riverwalk or Bayshore Boulevard, spend some time at a signature park, enjoy a meal at one of our fine restaurants or visit our many first-class shopping areas, we are sure you will find your stay to be an unforgettable experience.
Again, welcome, and thank you for your commitment to the safety and well-being of our nation and its citizens. Your roles are vital and greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Jane Castor
Women in Federal Law Enforcement, Inc.’s predecessor was the Interagency Committee on Women in Federal Law Enforcement (ICWIFLE) which was hosted by the U.S. Departments of Justice and Treasury. ICWIFLE was originally formed as a task force created by the Office of Personnel Management in 1978. It was charged with studying reasons for the low numbers of women entering federal law enforcement – fields that opened to women only after President Richard Nixon signed Executive Order 11478 (EO 11478) on August 8, 1969. EO 11478 provided equal opportunity in Federal employment for all persons; prohibited discrimination in employment because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, handicap, or age; and, promoted equal employment opportunity through a continuing affirmative action program in each executive department and agency. WIFLE was established as a nonprofit organization June 28, 1999, as an outgrowth of ICWIFLE to carry forward the ICWIFLE mission and vision.
In 1971 and 1972, the first women were hired by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, the U.S. Secret Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms,
and Explosives into positions which they had been previously barred based solely on their gender. These women carried firearms, executed search warrants, and made arrests like their male colleagues had done all of the years prior to the EO.
From the ICWIFLE period in the 1970’s to the current-day WIFLE organizations (Women in Federal Law Enforcement, Inc., and the WIFLE Foundation, Inc.), we work together with the federal law enforcement community to recruit, promote, and retain women in law enforcement careers, embrace and value diversity, provide empowerment, seek inclusiveness, expect integrity, advocate and strive for gender equity in federal law enforcement.
In 1991, ICWIFLE celebrated its 20th year anniversary. The program book for that year’s conference is available to read at the following link: wifle.org/icwifle
In June 2019, WIFLE celebrated its 20th year anniversary. A video produced for that event is available to watch at the following link: vimeo.com/345604660
For security purposes, name badges are required for admittance to all training program sessions and all WIFLE functions throughout our Annual Leadership Training.
Follow the signs to the WIFLE Foundation, Inc. Annual Leadership Training’s registration and information desk. It will be staffed as follows:
Sunday, August 13 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Monday, August 14 7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday, August 15 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday, August 16 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
For more information on the Annual Julie Y. Cross Memorial Golf Tournament, please access www.wifle.org. All proceeds benefit the WIFLE Scholarship Fund. See Page 2 for more information.
A reception will be held on Monday, August 14, from 5:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom Foyer to welcome all conference attendees. Please join us to preview the Silent Auction. Appetizers and a beverage coupon will be provided. A cash bar will be available.
Hosted by the U.S. Marshals Service
On Tuesday, August 15, 2023, the WIFLE Career Day, which is open to the public, will be hosted from 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., in Grand Salons C-D and Foyer. This event will feature Facebook Live
interviews with various law enforcement agencies and private sector organizations hosted by Shaw, Bransford & Roth, Federal Employment, P.C. Students from local colleges and universities in Tampa, Florida and the surrounding area have been invited to WIFLE’s Recruitment and Career Day.
On Tuesday, August 15, WIFLE Career Day classes will be held from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Meeting Room 7. Join us for this unique opportunity to meet with law enforcement representatives. Get first-hand information on law enforcement career opportunities and other positions in the Federal workplace.
Non WIFLE Members are invited to join our organization at the WIFLE “Members-Only” Reception on Tuesday, August 15, from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. The networking event will take place at American Social Restaurant, 601 S. Harbour Island Boulevard, Tampa, and is within walking distance from the Marriott Water Street. Hosted appetizers and a beverage of your choice (water, soda, beer, or wine) are provided. Please join us for this important networking event, designed to promote and expand your professional contacts. All attendees are required to become WIFLE members prior to participating in the WIFLE “Members-Only” Reception. Sign up tables will be available onsite at this event. Take advantage of the reduced fee membership discount to join WIFLE.
The 2023 WIFLE Awards Ceremony and Dinner will be held on Wednesday, August 16 from 7:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. in Grand Salons E-J.
WIFLE’s Annual Business Meeting will be held on Thursday, August 17, from 7:00 a.m. until 8:15 a.m. in Meeting Room 7. Continental breakfast will be available for those attending this important meeting, which is open to WIFLE members only. New members are encouraged to attend.
A silent auction will be held, with proceeds benefiting the WIFLE Foundation, Inc. Scholarship Fund, in the Grand Salons A-B.
The hours for viewing and bidding are as follows:
Monday, August 14 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, August 15 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, August 16 8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Thursday, August 17 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (Pickup
Winners of the auction items will be posted on the message board at the WIFLE registration table on Thursday morning. If you are the highest bidder, pick up your item(s) no later than 12:00 noon on Thursday, August 17 in Grand Salons A-B. Cash, personal check, or credit card (MasterCard and Visa only) will be accepted for payment at time of pickup. Rules governing silent auction operations are available on site for review.
WIFLE merchandise will be available for purchase at the registration table. WIFLE members receive a 10% discount on all purchases. Hours of operation are as follows:
Monday, August 14 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, August 15 8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, August 16 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
All proceeds from the sale of this merchandise benefit the WIFLE Foundation, Inc. Scholarship Fund.
WIFLE Flash Mentoring will take place on Thursday, August 17 from 2:15 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. in Grand Salons E-J. Attendees will have an opportunity to meet one-on-one with high-level officials to discuss career-enhancing strategies.
The Marriott Water Street, 505 Water Street, Tampa, Florida, features a state-of-the-art 24-hour fitness center. The Fitness Center is complimentary and is only available for use by guests of the Marriott Water Street.
WIFLE FOUNDATION, INC. ANNUAL LEADERSHIP TRAINING
AUGUST 14-17, 2023
MARRIOTT WATER STREET HOTEL
TAMPA, FLORIDA
Theme: “Walking the Talk of Inclusive Leadership”
Sunday, August 13, 2023
EARLY REGISTRATION: WELCOME TO OUR ANNUAL LEADERSHIP TRAINING!
4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Location: Registration Desk
Monday, August 14, 2023
7:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Location: Registration Desk
8:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Florida Salon V
Dr. Scena Webb, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF)
The ability to control emotion expression can have a direct effect on a woman’s ability to advance into leadership positions (Brescoll, 2016). This workshop will educate participants on the current literature surrounding the topic of emotional display rules. This topic is important because women often must show up in public venues with a certain look; particularly, the way they display facial expressions. Arguably, when women leaders are seated at the table, they often must refrain from showing too much emotion to be perceived as a credible leader. The focus of this workshop is to armor women with the perspectives from observers who may cast them in an emotionally negative way and to empower women to continue to choose to show up in an intentional way.
*Pre-Registration Required
Class Limit: 200
8:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Florida Salon VI
Col. Brenda Dietzman, Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office (Retired) Wayfinder Consulting, LLC
As we move through our career and life, we often try to figure out ways to make changes to better ourselves. We tend to gravitate towards New Year’s resolutions or lofty goals that would produce massive results but also requires massive change. These look great on paper but are only executable given perfect circumstances. The changes we make to achieve our goals aren’t always sustainable for the long haul and when reality hits, our motivation wanes. This presentation shares effective strategies that produce meaningful change by understanding boundaries, exploring curiosity, digging into our emotions, creating triggers that help us be more mindful, and really living with intention. Learn how to Live a Great Story by exploring what you want to learn, experience, and accomplish in this life and how you want to feel while you are doing it.
*Pre-Registration Required
Class Limit: 200
8:30 AM – 11:00 AM
Location: Meeting Room 12
Service (USSS) (Retired)
Loucious Hires, Executive Office of Equity and Employee Support Services, U.S. Secret Service (USSS)
“We but mirror the world. All the tendencies present in the outer world are to be found in the world of our body. If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change...”
–Mahatma GandhiWhat would you do if you could influence your organization’s culture to become more inclusive? Where do great ideas come from that can change people, workplaces, organizations, cultures, and the world? Each of us have within us the ability to help create, cultivate, and sustain cultures of inclusion where every individual can grow, develop, and reach their greatest potential. If we want to be part of a work environment that fosters belonging and acceptance, welcomes and values the strength of differences, it is imperative that we comprehend the importance of our own role and responsibility to influence this type of change. During this seminar, participants will learn impactful strategies that create space for inclusive behaviors and ways to recognize and correct bias that can be disruptive to inclusion. Through facilitator-led discussions and thought-provoking interactive engagements, participants will learn how to activate their own power of influence in creating an atmosphere of inclusiveness.
*Pre-Registration Required
Class Limit: 50
8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Location: Meeting Rooms 5-6
D. Back by Popular Demand: Resume and Structured Interview Workshop
Team of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Workshop Facilitators:
» Marsha Adrien, Assistant Director, Field Operations (Mission Support), Office of Field Operations – Baltimore Field Office
» Dawn Caltagirone, Assistant Port Director (Tactical), Office of Field Operations, Area Port of Buffalo
» Lora Cicciarelli, Supervisory Task Force Officer, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Border Enforcement Security Task Force (BEST)
» Tinesha Cherry, Director – Employee Engagement and Organizational Culture Division (EEOCD) - Office of Field Operations (OFO)
» Nicole Landen, Niagara Falls Facilities Chief, Port of Buffalo, New York
» Jennifer Tucker, Supervisory Customs and Border Protection Officer, Buffalo/Niagara Region
This 8-hour Resume and Structured Interview Workshop will assist attendees with writing a competitive Federal resume that demonstrates work experience using core competencies, powerful action words, and strong and quantifiable accomplishments, and provide tips and information on how to prepare for a structured interview. This workshop will cover resume and interview basics and will help you present your knowledge, skills, and experience in a way that will help you stand out.
*Pre-Registration Required
Class Limit: 80
1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
Location: Florida Room V
Giving
Dr. Angela von Trytek, Supervisory Special Agent, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
The objective of this workshop is to present perspectives for line officers, agents, managers, and leaders to understand the performance appraisal process with a focus on the development of interpersonal skills for leader and follower success. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) defines the five component processes for performance management which are planning, monitoring, developing, rating, and rewarding. Managers and leaders need to be articulate in establishing their agencies’ performance standards and equally competent in communicating those standards to their employees. By improving our own selfawareness, it helps us to learn criticism management. How we respond to criticism versus how we react to it adds to our capacity for success and helps us define what it really takes to lead.
*Pre-Registration Required
Class Limit: 200
1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
Location: Meeting Room 12
F. Continuing the Legacy: The Hiring Process for the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center
Rebekah Tucker, Supervisory Human Resources Specialist, Workforce Management Branch
Chief, Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC)
This workshop will discuss the general federal hiring process, the different methods by which FLETC recruits and retains qualified candidates and the options available for those who are subject of mandatory retirement but still want to contribute to the law enforcement mission. The topics covered will include, but not limited to, public announcements, reemployed or rehired annuitants, dual compensation waivers, various appointment types, and eligible authorities. If you are planning to retire but want to continue your law enforcement legacy beyond retirement, you don’t want to miss this workshop.
*Pre-Registration Required
Class Limit: 50
1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
Location: Florida Room VI
G. Offices of Inspectors General: What They Are…and Why They Rock!
Panelists:
» Kathryn Jones, Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Investigations
Government of the District of Columbia, Office of the Inspector General (DC-OIG)
» Suzann Gallagher, Deputy Assistant Inspector General, Investigative Operations
Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG)
» Shimon Richmond, Assistant Inspector General for Investigations
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG)
» Latisha Cleveland, Special Agent in Charge, Healthcare Fraud Division Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General (VA-OIG)
» Susan Ocampo, Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Investigations
Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General (DOT-OIG)
» Erika Keyes, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Office of the Inspector General (NRC-OIG)
Panel Moderator:
Miranda Bennett, Assistant Inspector General for Investigations, Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG)
Learn the best kept secret in federal law enforcement…Offices of the Inspector General (OIG)! Did you know that OIGs often employ a higher percentage of women in federal law enforcement than other law enforcement organizations? This workshop will educate the audience on the OIG’s unique mission and specifically highlight that they are tasked with conducting independent and objective investigations, audits, and inspections of government programs to prevent and detect fraud, waste, and abuse and promote economy, effectiveness, and efficiency in government.
*Pre-Registration Required
Class Limit: 200
3:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Location: Florida Room V
Linda Gray, Workforce Development Executive, HR Consultant, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Leaders often report feeling overwhelmed and ill-equipped to effectively lead in today’s workplace. Issues ranging from a hybrid workforce; socio-economic and social justice matters; generational differences; technology; and mental health and wellness concerns in the workplace are just a few of the myriad matters facing today’s leaders. This workshop is designed to help participants understand how to effectively lead in a transformed workplace and provide participants with tools to navigate today’s leadership challenges.
*Pre-Registration Required
Class Limit: 200
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Location: Florida Room VI
Qiana Newell, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Office of Inspector General (USPIS-OIG)
Women in the workforce are booked and busy – at work and at home. Work/life balance isn’t realistic. It is never balanced! Life sometimes just gets in the way! Even when it doesn’t, many of us find ourselves overwhelmed with societal norms and social media/TikTok’s of women who seem to have it all together. The pursuit of perfection has led many women to throw their hands up in frustration when they are faced with preparing a resume for that coveted promotional opportunity when it finally becomes available. This workshop was created to give women the tools, confidence, and motivation to get in the game. At the conclusion of this session, attendees will receive handouts, participate in group activities, and benefit from the presenter’s verbal presentation detailing just how close you are to achieving your goals! You just need guidance and actionable steps to get you there – so you can live the life you imagined.
*Pre-Registration Required
Class Limit: 200
3:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Location: Meeting Room 12
J. Women and Burnout: What You Need to Know to Create the Conditions for Yourself and Your People to Thrive
Dr. Corina Rice, Senior Consultant – People Insights Team – BetterUp
BetterUp Senior Consultant on the People Insights Team Dr. Corina Rice will lead a discussion on what burnout is, what causes it, and the ways in which burnout affects performance and mission outcomes. We’ll also share how burnout disproportionately impacts women in the workplace, and impedes greater representation, retention, and advancement. Attendees will learn evidence-based practices to fostering a climate where leaders and their teams can thrive and feel included. The session will include interactive breakout discussion groups for leaders to reflect and create commitments to action.
*Pre-Registration Required
Class Limit: 50
5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Location: Grand Ballroom Foyer
Welcome Reception/Exhibit Hall Preview/Silent Auction
Hosted appetizers and a complimentary beverage will be provided including water, soda, beer, wine or a special WIFLE drink. A full cash bar is available.
7:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Location: Registration Desk
Registration and Information
7:30 AM – 8:30 AM
Location: Grand Ballroom Foyer
Continental Breakfast/Coffee
7:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Location: Grand Salons C-D
Exhibit Hall
7:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Location: Grand Salons A-B
Silent Auction
Bid on various items, with all proceeds benefiting the WIFLE Foundation, Inc. Scholarship Fund.
8:15 AM - 9:30 AM
Location: Grand Salons E-J
PRESENTATION OF COLORS
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
Honor Guard
» CBP Officer Esmeralda Samaniego (Chicago)
» CBP Officer Lisette Robertson (New York)
» CBP Officer Erin Axson (Atlanta)
» Air and Marine Agent Allison Garduno
» U.S. Border Patrol Agent Micia Moses (West Palm Beach Station)
NATIONAL ANTHEM
Arrisia Sims
Jane Castor, Mayor – City of Tampa
WIFLE SPEAKERS
Catrina M. Bonus
President, WIFLE Foundation, Inc. and Executive Director, Women in Federal Law Enforcement, Inc.
Jessie L. Lane
Vice President, WIFLE Foundation, Inc. and Deputy Executive Director, Women in Federal Law Enforcement, Inc.
Jessica McTigue
Supervisory Special Agent
Diplomatic Security Service
U.S. Department of State
President, Women in Federal Law Enforcement, Inc.
Supervisory CBP Agriculture Specialist (Atlanta)
OPENING REMARKS
The Honorable Alejandro Mayorkas
Secretary
Department of Homeland Security
9:15 AM – 9:30 AM
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Kimberly Cheatle Director
United States Secret Service
9:30 AM – 9:45 AM Break
9:45 AM – 10:45 AM
Location: Grand Salons E-J
PANEL DISCUSSION: Courage Under Fire: When the Top Cop is a Female
Panelists:
» Director Kimberly Cheatle, United States Secret Service (USSS)
» Chief Cerelyn “CJ” Davis, Memphis Police Department (MPD)
» Chief Vera Bumpers, METRO Police Department (MPD)
» Chief Jessica Taylor, United States Park Police (USPP)
Panel Moderator:
Lynda R. Williams
Professor, Criminal Justice Administration, Middle Tennessee State University
Deputy Assistant Director, U.S. Secret Service (Retired)
Board Member, WIFLE Foundation, Inc. and Women in Federal Law Enforcement, Inc.
In 1992, the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) released a report entitled, “A Question of Equity: Women and the Glass Ceiling,” which cited the following conclusion about female law enforcement personnel: Women do confront inequitable barriers to advancement in their careers that take the form of subtle assumptions, attitudes, and stereotypes. In most instances, these microinequities affect how managers sometimes view women’s potential for advancement and, in some cases, their effectiveness on the job.
This panel discussion will examine the continued underrepresentation of women in law enforcement. It will also delve into the personal career challenges faced by this distinguished panel whose exceptional achievements have forced us to revisit, reimagine, and redirect our assumptions about women at the top. Moderator Lynda Williams will provide a candid look at how they confront their critical responsibilities with a keen focus on their unique and distinctive style of leadership.
10:45 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Grand Salons E-J
Panelists:
» Director Ronald Davis, United States Marshals Service (USMS)
» Director Steven Dettelbach, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF)
» Acting Commissioner Troy Miller, United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
» Deputy Director Paul Abbate, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
» Associate Director for Training Operations Ariana M. Roddini, Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC)
Panel Moderator:
Maureen McGough, Co-Founder - 30x30 Initiative
The 30x30 Initiative is a coalition of police leaders, researchers, and professional organizations who have joined together to advance the representation and experiences of women in policing agencies across the United States. On December 1, 2022, WIFLE joined the 30x30 Initiative as a partner to support Co-Founders
Maureen McGough and Chief Ivonne Roman (Retired) with addressing the underrepresentation of women in U.S. policing at the federal level.
This panel discussion will feature federal executives who have signed the 30x30 pledge and are leading the charge for increasing gender diversity. In support of this initiative, how are police departments and federal agencies addressing their ability to recruit and retain female law enforcement officers? Moderator Maureen McGough will identify the barriers to equal opportunity through a candid conversation with key decision makers whose decisive leadership can significantly impact the trajectory of the law enforcement profession.
Noon – 1:30 PM
Lunch on Your Own
1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Location: Grand Salons C-D and Foyer
Hosted by the U.S. Marshals Service
*This WIFLE Career Day event will feature Facebook Live interviews with various law enforcement agencies and private sector organizations hosted by Shaw, Bransford & Roth, Federal Employment, P.C.
1:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Location: Meeting Room 7
Join us for this unique opportunity to meet with law enforcement representatives and get first-hand information on law enforcement jobs and other positions in the Federal workplace.
Walking the Talk of InclusiveWIFLELeadership STRONG
Walking the Talk of InclusiveWIFLELeadership STRONG
WIFLE Executive Leadership Institute (WELI)
Walking the Talk of InclusiveWIFLELeadership STRONG
Inclusive Leadership
Tuesday, August 15, 2023
The WIFLE Executive Leadership Institute (WELI) was established to not only bring attention to issues that affect women within organizations in the United States and in the world, but to explore potential solutions. We believe that when issues that underutilize or obstruct the skills, knowledge, leadership, and vision that women bring to the workplace and the community are challenged and resolved, society as a whole will benefit. Therefore, our goal is to examine and explore ideas that improve quality of life for all.
The purpose of WELI training and information sharing is to make government leadership aware of the challenges, opportunities, and responsibilities inherent and unique to each organizational leadership team. To be prepared to lead, to become a change agent, and to accomplish the agency’s mission are skills expected of each leader. The Institute will further that expectation by challenging the inner self to accomplish greater goals that effectively help all women, as women are the most underrepresented group in law enforcement and are marginalized in certain societies. WELI will demonstrate that women and men in leadership positions who advocate for their fellow women can originate real change. Mission efficiency and, in turn, delivery of services to a community are improved when consensus is built through the involvement and participation of all.
WIFLE Executive Leadership Institute (WELI I, WELI II, and WELI III): These workshops require pre-registration and are open to GS-13, 14, 15 and SES (federal) or the equivalent rank (local and state).
WELI I, WELI II, and WELI III are immersive facilitated and extended sessions held from 1:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. with a scheduled break.
WELI I: 100 participants
WELI II: 50 participants
WELI III: 50 participants
If you are not participating in the WIFLE Executive Leadership Institute workshops: (WELI I, WELI II, WELI III), choose additional workshops D, E, F, or G.
1:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Workshop A (WELI I extended session)
Workshop B (WELI II extended session)
Workshops C (WELI III extended session)
Additional Workshops: Note the Time Change
1:30 PM – 3:00 PM
Choose Workshops D, E, F, or G.
Tuesday, August 15, 2023
I)
1:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Location: Meeting Rooms 5-6
A. Training on Inclusive Policing for Leaders
Rebecca Keel, Educator and Diversity Consultant – Anti-Defamation League (ADL)
During this workshop, participants deepen their appreciation for the importance of trust and legitimacy and their relationship to effective police operations and strengthen their capacity as leaders to build and guide organizations that embrace inclusivity. Specifically, participants will reinforce their understanding of historical barriers to strengthen their capacity to practice the four basic components of inclusive policing: prioritizing cooperation, self-care, joint problem-solving, and proactive transparency; understand and be equipped with strategies for leading constructive dialogue; become equipped with strategies for recruiting, retaining, and promoting a diverse workforce; and deepen their capacity to lead in times of crisis.
*Pre-Registration Required
Class Limit: 100
Tuesday, August 15, 2023
II)
1:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Location: Meeting Room 12
B. Your Career Trajectory – Let’s Identify Which Way is Up?
Panelists:
» Julie Cabus, Deputy Assistant Secretary/Assistant Director to the Training Directorate, Diplomatic Security Service, U.S. Department of State (DSS/DOS)
» Deanne L. Reuter, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration, Miami Field Division (DEA)
» Loucious Hires, Executive, Office of Equity and Employee Support Services, U.S. Secret Service (USSS)
» Carolyn J. McMillon, MA, ACC, Owner, ASK-Coaching-Training-Consulting, The Power of 3, LLC Office of Equity and Employee Support Services Executive, U.S. Secret Service (Retired)
Panel Moderator:
Dr. Willidean Wilkerson, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, The Wilkerson Care GroupDo you feel stuck in your career, or simply ready for a change? How do you really determine if you are on the right career trajectory? Most people identify feeling stuck in their careers when there are no opportunities for advancement, or they are unable to change their career path (Indeed.com).
If you are interested in a career change or simply exploring your options, please join this session to determine if you are on the right career trajectory. This session will help you identify your strengths, evaluate your short- and long-term goals, and find your passion for a more fulfilling career by taking a broad look at the requirements for advancing to the Senior Executive Service.
During this interactive workshop, you will be able to engage in real-time discussions in the following manner:
» Participants will hear directly from a panel of current and former senior executives as they share their successes and failures while ascending to the top.
» Engage with peers to expand your professional network.
» Gain insights and tips for career advancement.
At the conclusion of the workshop, participants should gain a better understanding of which way is up!
*Pre-Registration Required
Class Limit: 50
1:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday, August 15, 2023
Location: Meeting Room 11
Suzanne Hines, Instructor - Leadership Institute
Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC)
Emotional intelligence is a set of emotional and social skills that influence the way we perceive and express ourselves and use emotional information in an effective and meaningful way to build relationships and cope with challenges. It focuses on emotional self-awareness and the ability to understand our emotions and how they affect not only ourselves, but others as well. It can be learned, developed, and enhanced.
Leaders set the tone for their agencies and organizations. To be effective in leadership, one must not only know their people and recognize the value they bring to the agency or organization, but one must also understand oneself and the impact one has while interacting with people and how those interactions affect their performance. The most effective leaders are those who possess strong emotional intelligence. This course provides the foundation and outlines the structure for developing emotional intelligence competencies for law enforcement leadership. Emotional intelligence is inclusive of a set of competencies needed by every leader at every level of the organization. This course is designed to instill the importance of emotional intelligence in fulfilling leadership responsibilities and provide the basis for the development of a plan for strengthening those critical competencies.
*Pre-Registration Required
Class Limit: 50
1:30 PM – 3:00 PM
Location: Florida Room V
D. What is An Employee Resource Group (ERG) and How Does It Support Inclusion?
Panelists:
» Martina Dent, Program Manager for Strategy Division, Office of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
» Alfonso Dyson, Chief - Uniformed Division, U.S. Secret Service (Retired)
» Carla Harris, Program Manager, Employee Engagement Group - Co-Lead, Pentagon Force Program Protection Agency (PFPA)
» Christine Harris, Physical Security Specialist, Employee Engagement Group - Co-Lead, Pentagon Force Protection Agency (PFPA)
» Alisa Petrakis, Program Manager, Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
» Maria Ruano, Inspector - Uniformed Division, U.S. Secret Service (USSS)
Panel Moderator:
Alana-Paige Bell, Acting Supervisory Air Marshal in Charge - Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS)
Employee resource groups (ERG), also known as employee associations (EA), are voluntary employee-led groups which convene over collective interests, backgrounds, or demographics and provide opportunities for employees to be heard, feel valued, and engaged in the workplace. ERGs focus on the inclusivity, collaboration and enhancement of the employee’s workplace experience and add immense value to the agency/organization. These groups provide resources and opportunities for employees through trainings, mentoring, and developmental opportunities, ultimately impacting recruitment and retention.
ERGs create platforms for members; encourage relationship building and support; increase engagement; and provide valuable resources for leadership’s decision making for decisions which impact the organization. There are so many benefits to having ERGs within the workplace.
During this discussion, we’ll hear more about the benefits of ERGs and how they’ve impacted multiple agencies/departments. We’ll also hear about:
» How different ERGs were organized and operate
» Best practices and lessons learned
» Topics of focus
» The importance of leadership buy-in/support
» Having a seat at the proverbial table
» Connecting with other ERGs or the DEIA community
1:30 PM – 3:00 PM
Location: Florida Room VI
The principles presented during this workshop are based on 30 years of federal law enforcement experience and a doctoral study conducted by Dr. Reese. The session will outline steps federal law enforcement leaders can take to position their employees to become better law enforcement personnel and prepare them for leadership roles. Participants will be able to understand the nine leadership themes generated by Dr. Reese’s doctoral study that can be applied to law enforcement personnel, and attendees will be able to improve their organization’s leadership pipeline and gain access to strategies to position law enforcement personnel as leaders that have yet to attain a leadership title.
1:30 PM – 3:00 PM
Location: Grand Salons E-J
The objective of this workshop is to educate the audience on a topic of importance and pertinence in their daily lives; to give participants tools to identify areas they can work on individually to be a healthier person, both physically and mentally; and to shift their mindsets in order to live a happier, healthier life. At the end of this session, participants will better understand what resilience is; why resilience matters; the benefits and foundation of resilience; coping tools; and discover how to build and maintain resilience.
3:00 PM – 3:15 PM
3:15 PM – 4:45 PM
Location: Grand Salons E-J
G. New Role, New Solutions, New Opportunities: Federal Chief Diversity Officer (CDO) (One-time Session)
Panelists:
» Kay Een, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS)
» Kelly Fenner, Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion – Maryland Transit Administration (MTA)
» Yowanda Godfrey, Sr. Advisor to the PFPA Director (Acting), Chief Diversity Officer, Pentagon Force Protection Agency (PFPA)
» Candice Moore, Chief Equity Officer, Office of Equity and Racial Justice, City of Chicago
» Shanita Wilkins, Chief of Affirmative Employment, DEIA, and Analytics, U.S. Secret Service (USSS)
» Sharon Wong, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Chief Engagement Officer, Executive Director for Strategic Talent Recruitment, Inclusive Diversity and Engagement, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS-STRIDE)
Panel Moderator:
Marcia K. Thompson, Esq., Assistant Professor - Criminal Justice, Aurora University
With the new executive order, all federal agencies will create a new Chief Diversity Officer (CDO) role to lead all diversity efforts for each agency. This senior executive position will have the ability to create a framework of inclusivity for the agency that will integrate justice, equity, diversity and inclusion into policies, practices, and procedures. This panel will provide insight from those who have practiced in the field for many years in the corporate, federal, and state sectors to include law enforcement. You will leave understanding some of the inherent benefits to having a central person or office to lead agency efforts and some of the hurdles to creating a culture of inclusion agency wide.
Note: WELI I, WELI II, and WELI III (A, B, and C) are extended workshops held until 5:00 PM
Location: Meeting Rooms 5-6
A. WIFLE Executive Leadership Institute (WELI I): Training on Inclusive Policing for Leaders (Continued)
Rebecca Keel, Educator and Diversity Consultant – Anti-Defamation League
This is a continuation of Women’s Executive Leadership Institute (WELI I). See page 32 for full description.
Location: Meeting Room 12
B. WIFLE Executive Leadership Institute (WELI II): Your Career Trajectory: Let’s Identify Which Way is Up? (Continued)
Dr. Willidean Wilkerson, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, The Wilkerson Care Group
This is a continuation of Women’s Executive Leadership Institute (WELI II). See page 32 and 33 for full description
Location: Meeting Room 11
C. WIFLE Executive Leadership Institute (WELI III): Emotional Intelligence and Leadership (Continued)
Suzanne Hines, Instructor - Leadership Institute, Federal Law Enforcement Training Center
This is a continuation of Women’s Executive Leadership Institute (WELI III). See page 33 for full description
Please note the time change.
3:15 PM – 4:45 PM
Location: Florida Room V
D. What is An Employee Resource Group (ERG) and How Does It Support Inclusion?
Alana-Paige Bell, Acting Supervisory Air Marshal in Charge - Federal Air Marshal Service
Repeat Session: See page 34 for full description.
3:15 PM – 4:45 PM
Location: Florida Room VI
E. Making the Roadmap Visible: Ascending to Leadership Roles in Federal Law Enforcement
Dr. Rhonda Glover Reese, CEO – The Rhonda M. Glover Group, LLC, Federal Bureau of Investigation (Retired)
Repeat Session: See page 35 for full description.
Note: The following workshop below was a one-time session and was held from 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM
Location: Grand Salons E-J
F. Building and Maintaining Resilience (One-time Session)
Dr. Mary Beth Janke, Forensic and Clinical Psychologist
3:15 PM – 4:45 PM
Location: Grand Salons E-J
G. New Role, New Solutions, New Opportunities: Federal Chief Diversity Officer (CDO)
Marcia K. Thompson, Esq., Assistant Professor - Criminal Justice, Aurora University
One-time Session
See page 36 for full description.
5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Location: American Social Restaurant, 601 S. Harbour Island Boulevard, Tampa
Non WIFLE Members are invited to join our organization at the WIFLE “Members-Only” Reception on Tuesday, August 15, from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. The networking event will take place at American Social Restaurant, 601 S. Harbour Island Boulevard, Tampa, and is within walking distance from the Marriott Water Street. Hosted appetizers and a beverage of your choice (water, soda, beer, or wine) are provided. Please join us for this important networking event, designed to promote and expand your professional contacts.
All attendees are required to become WIFLE members prior to participating in the WIFLE “MembersOnly” Reception. Sign up tables will be available onsite at this event. Take advantage of the reduced fee membership discount to join WIFLE.
7:30 AM – 8:30 AM
Location: Grand Ballroom Foyer
Continental Breakfast/Coffee
8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Location: Registration Desk
Registration and Information
8:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Location: Grand Salons C-D
Exhibit Hall
8:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Location: Grand Salons G-H
Silent Auction
Bid on various items, with all proceeds benefiting the the WIFLE Foundation, Inc. Scholarship Fund.
8:30 AM – 10:00 AM
Location: Grand Salons E-J
PANEL DISCUSSION: Best Practices in the Interagency Implementation of the Women, Peace, and Security Act of 2017
Panelists:
» Dr. Mary Bell, Dean, The Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences, Dakota State University
» CAPT Peggy Britton, Deputy Sector Commander, U.S. Coast Guard Sector Virginia
» Colonel Elizabeth Evans, U.S. Army, Florida National Guard (FLANG)
» Claire Russo, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
Panel Moderator:
Supervisory Special Agent Jessica McTigue, Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), U.S. Department of State (DOS)
The Women, Peace, and Security Act (WPS) became law in 2017, followed by the 2019 National Strategy and these key agencies have the lead in implementing this strategy: Departments of State, Defense (DoD), Homeland Security (DHS) and the United States Agency for International Department (USAID). During all phases of implementation includes U.S. Government agency assistance to partner governments to increase the opportunity for women to serve in security sector forces, including peacekeeping, military, and law enforcement organizations. The 2021 and 2022 Congressional reports on Women, Peace, and Security include highlighting the 30x30 Initiative that promotes increasing women in law enforcement to 30% by 2030. This workshop will highlight the achievements that U.S. federal agencies have already accomplished with implementing the WPS law and national strategy.
10:00 AM – 10:30 AM
Break
10:30 AM – 12:00 Noon
Location: Grand Salons E-J
Case Study: Transnational Criminal Organizations and Sex Trafficking in the United States
Panelists:
» Stef Braun, Paralegal, United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota (USAO-MN)
» Panida Rzonca, Directing Attorney, Thai Community Development Center
» John Tschida, Special Agent, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division (IRS – CI)
» Melinda Williams, Assistant United States Attorney, United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota (USAO-MN)
Panel Moderator:
Tonya Price, Supervisory Special Agent, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)
With a multi-agency team led by the United States Attorney’s Office (USAO), District of Minnesota, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CI), Department of Justice – Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Session (DOJ-MLARS), and the St. Paul Police dismantled a transnational criminal organization that sex trafficked Thai women and laundered more than $40 million in illicit proceeds. This presentation will highlight evidence that was used during the sixweek trial to show what force, threats of force, fraud, and coercion really look like in criminal investigations. Coined by the media as the “gold standard” in how to investigate sex trafficking criminal organizations, media representatives have boldly asked why law enforcement has not replicated this landmark case.
Noon – 1:30 PM
Lunch on Your Own
Choose from Workshop A, B, C, D, E, or F.
Location: Meeting Room 11
Maureen Dixon, Special Agent in Charge, Health and Human Services –Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations (HHS-OIG-OI), Philadelphia Regional Office
Tamala Miles, Special Agent in Charge, Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations (HHS-OIG-OI), Atlanta Regional Office
Panelists:
» Collette Canady, Special Agent, Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, (HHS-OIG-OI) Roanoke Field Office
» Mary Ann Withrow, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations (HHS-OIG-OI), Philadelphia Regional Office
» Zabrina Zitter, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations (HHS-OIG-OI), Philadelphia Regional Office
Women often face unique and difficult challenges when working covert operations and there are certain considerations that must be addressed when women are in these roles. This workshop will provide an overview of realistic covert operations that would be encountered by a new agent or officer. We will use reallife scenarios – to include real-world videos and some television movie clips -- that women have personally faced. We will also identify different challenges and discuss strategies to safely overcome them, share stories of real covert operations that have gone well and not so well, and include lessons learned.
Location: Meeting Rooms 5-6
Captain Elizabeth Osborne, R.N., Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Health Services Corps
Fentanyl poses a significant threat to law enforcement personnel and other first responders who may come in contact through routine law enforcement duties, emergency response, or life-saving activities. Fentanyl may be ingested orally, inhaled through the nose or mouth, or absorbed through skin or eyes. Exposure to a very small amount may lead to significant health-related complications, respiratory depression, or death. This course is essential to any law enforcement member who has the possibility of coming across fentanyl in their daily activities. The facilitator will provide instruction on protecting oneself from exposure, identifying symptoms that may indicate fentanyl exposure or abuse, differentiating these symptoms from those of a nerve agent attack, and a demonstration of the proper use of a counterdrug in case of fentanyl overdose or accidental exposure.
Location: Meeting Room 12
Nicole M. Shepard, Acting Firearms Section Chief, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations Training Division (EROTD)
Over the past 10 years, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Training Division (EROTD) has provided quality firearms instruction to new hires at our Academy in Glynco, Georgia. Failure to demonstrate required firearms proficiency in the basic ERO Academy was a primary reason for expulsion of students. This training provides information on the evolution of the ICE ERO Firearms Program -- from an area where 10% of the students were terminated and 20% required remediation – to a level in which failure is rare and it is not uncommon for 20% of students to obtain a perfect score. EROTD staff will share their findings that led to the growth of the program, increased success of our students, and increased retention of female trainees. The goal of this workshop is to share information with female federal law enforcement officers to increase their speed and accuracy with firearms proficiency.
Location: Florida Room VI
Active Shooter Attacks: Prevention, Preparedness, Response, and the Impact of Leadership
John P. Skillestad, Supervisory Special Agent, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
This workshop focuses on preparation for and prevention of Active Shooter incidents by examining lessons learned from incidents to develop strategies to survive them. The instructor will highlight what the public can do to prepare themselves when confronted with these situations. This workshop will provide a framework to develop a platform to train the public in the concepts of run, hide, fight, and create plans to stay safe; understand threat assessment and the importance of encouraging the public to report information about persons of concern who are exhibiting disturbing and troubling behaviors; gain insight into the development of advanced tactics for law enforcement when responding to Active Shooter incidents; and define the role of leaders to show the positive impact they can have in tragic situations.
Location: Florida Room V
Dr. Lina Alathari, Chief – National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC), U.S. Secret Service
Ensuring the safety of our communities is a responsibility that belongs to everyone. For over 20 years, the U.S. Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC) has conducted research on the thinking and behaviors of those who commit acts of targeted violence in an effort to prevent future tragedies.
This presentation will highlight past incidents as well as relevant findings and recommendations from NTAC’s latest research, Mass Attacks in Public Spaces: 2016-2020 which indicates that targeted violence is preventable. It will focus on how communities can use a multidisciplinary approach to identify, assess, and intervene with individuals exhibiting concerning or threatening behaviors. This training will enable the participant to:
» Identify potential concerning behaviors and individuals who may pose a risk of engaging in targeted attacks.
» Demonstrate knowledge of the behavioral themes exhibited by individuals who perpetrate targeted violence.
» Develop multidisciplinary, management strategies to intervene and assist individuals in order to reduce the risk they pose of engaging in harmful behavior.
Location: Meeting Room 7
Danica Dupuy, National Program Manager, Continued Presence Program (CP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)
June Liu, Program Manager, Forced Labor in the Supply Chain Section
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) – Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)
Established in 2020, the DHS Center for Countering Human Trafficking (CCHT) is the first unified, intercomponent coordination center for countering human trafficking and the importation of goods produced with forced labor. Comprised of 16 agencies within the Department of Homeland Security, and led by DHS’ Homeland Security Investigations, the CCHT:
» Directly advises on and supports investigations, particularly high-impact and complex cases.
» Assist with the prevention of good produced with forced labor from entering the U.S. supply chain.
» Provide nationwide public awareness in coordination with the Blue Campaign as well as training and outreach for our domestic and foreign law enforcement, private, public, and non-governmental organizations (NGO) partners.
» Identify, support, and protect victims and the Victim Centered Approach.
This presentation will serve as an introduction to the CCHT and its capabilities to include training on human trafficking indicators and the victim centered response to law enforcement partners; external stakeholder engagement in partnership with the DHS Blue Campaign; subject matter expertise and intelligence analysis in support of investigations; counter-trafficking efforts in support of large-scale events; forced labor in the supply chain; and the Continued Presence Program.
3:00 PM – 3:15 PM
Break 3:15 PM– 4:45 PM
LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SECURITY WORKSHOPS
Choose from Workshop A, B, C, D, E, or F.
Location: Meeting Room 11
A. Working Covert Operations: The Challenges Women Face and How to Overcome Them
Maureen Dixon, Special Agent in Charge, Health and Human Services –Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations (HHS-OIG-OI), Philadelphia Regional Office
Tamala Miles, Special Agent in Charge, Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations (HHS-OIG-OI), Atlanta Regional Office
Repeat Session: See page 41 for full description.
Location: Meeting Rooms 5-6
B. Fentanyl: Trends, Risks, and Protecting Yourself
Captain Elizabeth Osborne, R.N., Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Health Services Corps
Repeat Session: See page 41 for full description.
Location: Meeting Room 12
C. Increasing Firearms Proficiency and Female Retention: It’s Not Just Sight Alignment
Nicole M. Shepard, Acting Firearms Section Chief, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations Training Division
Repeat Session: See page 42 for full description.
Location: Florida Room VI
D. Active Shooter Attacks: Prevention, Preparedness, Response, and the Impact of Leadership
John P. Skillestad, Supervisory Special Agent, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Repeat Session: See page 42 for full description.
Location: Florida Room V
E. Mass Attacks in Public Spaces: 2016-2020: Targeted Violence Prevention Through a BehaviorBased Approach
Dr. Lina Alathari, Chief – National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC), U.S. Secret Service
Repeat Session: See page 43 for full description.
Location: Meeting Room 7
F. DHS Center for Countering Human Trafficking
Danica Dupuy, National Program Manager, Continued Presence Program (CP),
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)
June Liu, Program Manager, Forced Labor in the Supply Chain Section
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) – Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)
Repeat Session: See page 43 for full description.
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Location: The Terrace Room
For award recipients, agency heads, and invited guests only.
7:00 PM – 9:30 PM
Location: Grand Salons E-J
MASTER OF CEREMONIES:
Amber R. Jordan, Esq.
Office of Counsel, Inspector Attorney
Labor and Litigation Group
U.S. Postal Inspection Service
Vice President, Women in Federal Law Enforcement, Inc.
7:00 AM – 8:15 AM
Location: Meeting Room 7
Open to all WIFLE members. New members are encouraged to attend to learn more about our organization. Continental breakfast is provided.
7:30 AM – 8:30 AM
Location: Grand Ballroom Foyer
Continental Breakfast/Coffee
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Location: Registration Desk
Registration and Information
8:30 AM – 9:45 AM
Location: Grand Salons C-D
A. Post-Critical Incident Seminar: Mental Health and Trauma
Ginnette Rivera Hernández, Ph.D., Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Tam K. Dao, Ph.D., Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) developed the Post-Critical Incident Seminar (PCIS) to address the mental health needs of FBI employees, family members, and task force officers who have responded to critical incidents, shooting incidents, violent crime scenes, or those who have been exposed to repeated stressful events throughout their law enforcement career. Specifically, the workshop will provide the theoretical underpinning for the development of the PCIS to include education on the human stress response; theories on stress and trauma; and evidence-based interventions for exposure to traumatic events. In addition to training the attendees on the relationship between stress and trauma, this workshop will educate them on ways to implement and evaluate interventions for their population.
8:30 AM – 9:45 AM
Location: Grand Salons E-J
B. Planning for Retirement at Every Stage of Your Career: FERS and FERS
Tammy Flanagan, Federal Benefits Specialist, National Institute of Transition Planning (NITP)
Retirement planning is more involved, and some might say, more complicated for today’s federal employees than it was in the days when retirement planning started 30 days before becoming eligible to retire. Although it takes more time to be educated and informed about retirement planning in 2023, today’s federal retirement benefits are more flexible and can result in a financially comfortable life after retirement more than under the old “autopilot” system of yesteryear! This session will cover the important retirement planning steps that should be taken in your early career, midcareer, and the five years leading up to the date of separation for retirement! Understanding your retirement is key to a successful transition and also will help you make good decisions when facing important retirement choices.
9:45 AM – 10:15 AM Break
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Location: Grand Salons E-J
In Japanese, the phrase Ganbatte Kudasai (do your best please) is often used to encourage people to always do their best in everything they do. What does it mean to do your best? Most think it is to try as hard as you can or do it as well as you can. In most cases that is true, but let’s not limit doing our best to external forces, let’s do our best taking a global approach.
In this session, we will discuss how to take a proactive approach to do and be our best by utilizing mindset and resilience skills; being the best version of ourselves; being aware, connected and living our best life; finding our purpose; capitalizing on our strengths; building our emotional intelligence skills; and much more. The workshop will empower you and give you tools to deal with the vicarious trauma and other challenges you face in your life and work life.
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Location: Grand Salons C-D
Stephanie McGuigan, U.S. Postal Inspector, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS)
Threat Management training is comprised of Firearms, Control Tactics, Arrest Techniques, Building Entries, Use of Force, and Physical Fitness Training. There are many physical, emotional, and mental differences between women and men. Women comprise a small percentage (approximately 14.5%) of the Law Enforcement Officers in the United States. Because of this, females have very unique strengths and encounter very specific challenges that their male counterparts may not face. This can be especially true when it comes to threat management situations and training. Firearms and Control Tactics training is often run by male instructors to mostly male classes. In these training situations, some female agents may feel added pressure, anxiety, and the need to conform to the mental space that their male counterparts are in. Females have often reported they do not feel like they can ask questions due to fear that the instructors will think they are weak – or should know things. This workshop will help attendees identify what agents can do to create a more productive and inclusive training environment specific to threat management training.
11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Lunch on Your Own
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Location: Grand Salons E-J
Lynda R. Williams
Professor of Criminal Justice Administration, Middle Tennessee State University
Deputy Assistant Director, U.S. Secret Service (Retired)
Board Member, WIFLE Foundation, Inc. and Women in Federal Law Enforcement, Inc.
Queendom is defined as the position or status of a queen. As a result of the underrepresentation of females in law enforcement, we need to seize every opportunity to celebrate our individual and collective triumphs. During this hour of power, you will hear from our moderator and other experienced women who have faced what appeared to be insurmountable challenges; however, they handled them with the grace befitting of a queen. The “Queen’s Talk” is sure to provide you with the motivational nuggets needed to change your trajectory for the better!
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Location: Grand Salons C-D
Panelists:
» Jamie Holt, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)
» Monica Laguna, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO)
» Kristen Sullivan, Deputy Chief of Staff, Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
» Malissa Tucker, Esq., Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)
Panel Moderator:
Mary Hogan, Community Relations Officer, Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
This workshop will provide attendees with information about accommodations that may be available to them during the pregnancy and post-pregnancy recovery period. Panelists will discuss recent changes to laws that govern accommodations and to assist members in developing questions and improvement proposals that they may take back to their own agencies. They will also delve into the application and inconsistency of current policies, the real-time application of the June 2023 Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, and address reasonable accommodations, firearm-related issues, and possible waivers.
2:00 PM – 2:15 PM
2:15 PM – 4:30 PM
Location: Grand Salons E-J
G. Flash Mentoring
Facilitator: Jessie L. Lane, Vice President, WIFLE Foundation, Inc., Deputy
Executive Director, Women in Federal Law Enforcement, Inc., U.S. Secret Service
(Retired)
WIFLE’s Flash Mentoring session gives conference attendees an opportunity to meet “face-to-face” with high-ranking law enforcement executives and officials to discuss how to further enhance your current and future career aspirations in the field of law enforcement. You will certainly benefit from this transfer of experiential knowledge following this two-hour networking session.
4:30 PM – 4:45 PM
Closeout
Thank you for your continued support of WIFLE! We look forward to seeing you in 2024 as we celebrate our 25th Anniversary.
Deputy Director
Federal Bureau of Investigation
In February 2021, Director Christopher Wray named Paul M. Abbate as Deputy Director of the FBI. In this role, he oversees all FBI domestic and international investigative and intelligence activities. Prior to his appointment as Deputy Director, Mr. Abbate served as the Associate Deputy Director of the FBI where he was responsible for the management of all FBI personnel, budget, administration, and infrastructure.
Mr. Abbate served as the Executive Assistant Director of the Criminal, Cyber, Response, and Services Branch prior to his appointment as Associate Deputy Director. In this capacity, Mr. Abbate oversaw all FBI criminal and cyber investigations worldwide, international operations, critical incident response, and victim assistance. Additionally, he served as the Assistant Director in Charge (ADIC) of the FBI’s Washington Field Office (WFO) for several years.
Mr. Abbate served in a variety of executive leadership roles earlier in his career to include: Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Detroit Division, Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Office Counterterrorism Division (also serving as the on-scene commander in Libya during this time), and Section Chief in the Counterterrorism Division. As Section Chief, he provided oversight of all FBI international terrorism investigations and counterterrorism operations external to the United States.
Additionally, Mr. Abbate previously served in the Los Angeles Field Office as Assistant Special Agent in Charge for counterterrorism matters, overseeing the primary branch of the Los Angeles Joint Terrorism Task Force. Mr. Abbate also previously served as the Assistant Section Chief in the Counterterrorism Division, providing nationallevel oversight and guidance of all United States-based international terrorism investigations. During this time, Mr. Abbate received the Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service alongside other team members.
From February 2006 to December 2009, he served as a Supervisory Special Agent within the Newark Division’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. During this time, he deployed to Afghanistan and served as the FBI deputy on-scene commander, leading FBI counterterrorism operations and personnel in theater. Mr. Abbate previously deployed to Iraq, in October 2005, where he served as the senior FBI liaison officer to the U.S. Department of Defense and lead a group of FBI personnel conducting counterterrorism operations in theater.
In December 2003, Mr. Abbate began his extensive leadership career as a Supervisory Special Agent for the Counterterrorism Division in the Iraq Unit, overseeing FBI counterterrorism operations and personnel deployments in Iraq. He began his FBI career as a Special Agent in March 1996, assigned to the New York City Field Office, where he worked in the Criminal Division and served as a member of the SWAT team.
Assistant Director, Field Operations (Mission Support) U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations – Baltimore Field Office Marsha J. Adrien currently serves as the Assistant Director, Field Operations (Mission Support), Baltimore Field Office (BFO), which is comprised of over 950 employees. She has held the position since September 2017 and oversees a range of administrative functions to include Budget and Procurement, Asset Management, Facilities, and Human Resources.
Ms. Adrien previously served as a Supervisory Mission Support Specialist at Preclearance Field Office (PCFO) in Washington, D.C. While assigned to PCFO, she successfully managed all human capital functions for over 600 employees within 16 locations in Canada, Ireland, the Middle East, and the Caribbean. Ms. Adrien began her Mission Support career in 2009 with the Miami/Tampa Field Offices.
Ms. Adrien has 27 years of Federal Service. Ms. Adrien holds a master’s degree in Human Resources and Employment Relations with a concentration in Collective Bargaining from Penn State University. She attended the University of the Virgin Islands and has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology.
Chief
National Threat Assessment Center U.S. Secret Service
Dr. Alathari is the Chief of the U.S. Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC), where she oversees the center’s targeted violence behavioral research program. The findings from these projects have identified behaviors, motives, and triggers of individuals who engage in various forms of targeted violence to include school violence; workplace violence; terrorism; attacks against government officials and facilities; and mass attacks in public spaces. Dr. Alathari also oversees NTAC’s training and consultation programs.
She has testified before congress, frequently presents on threat assessment, and provides guidance to government agencies, K-12 schools, universities, and corporations on threat cases and establishing threat assessment programs. Dr. Alathari was named a 2020 Safety, Security, and International Affairs Finalist for the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals and was the recipient of the 2022 DHS Secretary’s Award for Innovation, 2019 DHS Secretary’s Meritorious Service Award, 2019 Secret Service Director’s Team Impact Award, and the 2015 DHS Law Enforcement Information Sharing (LEIS) Visionary Award. Dr. Alathari’s previous experience includes mental health treatment, behavior analysis, and crisis intervention. Immediately prior to joining the U.S. Secret Service, Dr. Alathari worked at the Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute, an inpatient state psychiatric facility, where she oversaw the behavior management program for patients who posed a risk for violence, self-harm, and suicide. Dr. Alathari earned a Ph.D. in Cognitive Neuropsychology from The George Washington University.
Assistant Supervisory Air Marshal in Charge Los Angeles Field Office
U.S. Transportation Security Administration (Law Enforcement)
Federal Air Marshal Service (Field Operations)
Ms. Alana-Paige Bell is assigned to the Transportation Security Administration – Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS) Los Angeles Field Office (LAX) as the Assistant Supervisory Air Marshal in Charge (ASAC). In her duties, ASAC Bell manages seven Assistant Federal Security Directors of Law Enforcement, two Visual Intermodal Prevention and Response teams, Airport Assigned FAMs and the FBI and HSI task force FAMs in an office of over 160 personnel. In July 2022, she graduated the Department of Homeland Security Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program.
ASAC Bell began her career as a Federal Air Marshal in the New York Field Office in September 2006. She served in various roles to include lead recruiter, assistant operations officer, and acting Supervisory Federal Air Marshal (SFAM). In May 2014, she was awarded the title of Senior Federal Air Marshal in acknowledgement of her service, dedication, and exemplary leadership abilities that she has displayed while serving the agency in various capacities. In August 2015, she was promoted to Supervisory Federal Air Marshal (SFAM) and supervised a squad of 24 Federal Air Marshals and served as the Administrative SFAM, Joint Terrorism Task Force SFAM, and Acting Administrative Officer concurrently while also being involved in recruitment, hiring and diversity efforts. In May 2018 she accepted a reassignment to
HQ where she independently managed and served as the FAMS Ombudsman and National Coordinator of Diversity and Inclusion.
Prior to joining the Federal Air Marshal Service, she obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the University of Central Florida in 2005. She also worked as an intern for the Department of Veteran’s Affairs Office of Inspector General in both the New York and Bay Pines, Florida field offices.
While working for the Federal Air Marshal Service and balancing various collateral duties, ASAC Bell received a master’s in business administration with a concentration in Homeland Security Resource Allocation in August 2014. She is the founder and Chair of the first employee resource group at FAMS, Women Excel at FAMS (WE@ FAMS) and is a member of WIFLE and NOBLE. In 2022, she was a WIFLE Award Recipient for Outstanding Advocacy for Women in Law Enforcement. She is also the mother of two girls ages 5 and 2.
Mary S. Bell, Ph.D.Dean
The Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences
Dakota State University
Dr. Mary Bell is Dean of The Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences at Dakota State University. She was previously a Professor at the National Defense University (NDU) where she started teaching in 2010. At NDU, she served as a department head of the Joint Advanced Warfighting School Operational Art and Campaign Planning Field of Study. While there, she also created an elective on cyberspace, intelligence, information, and space considerations. She has 34 years of leadership experience in both the Department of Defense and academia to include 13 years of teaching experience with 11 years at the graduate level and two at the undergraduate level. She has over 20 years of service in the U.S. Army with experience in Aviation and Intelligence.
Dean Bell holds a Doctor of Philosophy in International Studies from Old Dominion University, a Master of Arts in International Relations from St. Mary’s University at San Antonio, Texas, and a Bachelor of Administration in International Business from New Mexico State University. She flew the UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter in South Korea, Hawaii, throughout the U.S., and Haiti in support of Operation Uphold Democracy. She also flew the C-12 Huron and EO-5B/C Airborne Reconnaissance Low (ARL) to support Operations Palmetto Ghost and Palmetto Shield, Counter Drug operations for U.S. Southern Command. She flew missions on the ARL as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom, collecting real-time fullmotion video for the Joint Special Operations Command.
She then served as a Mission Commander for the Open Skies Treaty, negotiating with diplomats from 33 nations, including Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Sweden, Georgia, Italy, and France. Besides operational and planning experience, she was an Assistant Professor of Military Strategic Studies at the Air Force Academy (2001 – 2003) and Joint and Combined Warfighting School (2010 –2017). She has additional expertise in U.S. energy policy, Women, Peace, and Security issues, as well as EuroAtlantic and Indo-Pacific relations.
Assistant Inspector General for Investigations Office of the Inspector General
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Miranda Bennett serves as an Assistant Inspector General for Investigations in the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General overseeing three regional offices and the Digital Investigations Branch. She began her federal career in 2005 as a Special Agent with HHS-OIG and spent ten years investigating complex health care fraud schemes. She has also served as an Assistant Special Agent in Charge and Special Agent in Charge of the Dallas Regional Office. Miranda holds a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University. She has been recognized with the Inspector General’s Bronze Award and by the Women in Federal Law Enforcement Foundation as an Outstanding Law Enforcement Employee.
Marymount University
Forensic and Legal Psychology Program
Women in Federal Law Enforcement, Inc. (Intern)
Linnea Bodenhamer is an Intern with Women in Federal Law Enforcement, Inc. from Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia. She attended the University of Sioux Falls in her home state of South Dakota where she majored in Psychology, Criminal Justice, and Social Science and completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in 2020. Ms. Bodenhamer is currently in the Forensic and Legal Psychology Program at Marymount University with a concentration in Intelligence. She will complete the requirements for a master’s degree in forensic and legal psychology by August 31, 2023. After graduation, Linnea would like to secure a position in the Intelligence field that would allow her to travel frequently and live abroad. Ms. Bodenhamer has served as an Intern for Women in Federal Law Enforcement, Inc. since January 2023. During this time, Linnea has been included in the 30x30 Initiative meetings between WIFLE’s leadership and the Initiative’s Co-Founder and her dedicated team Additionally, she has taken on the long-term task of
updating WIFLE’s Transforming Law Enforcement by Changing the Face of Policing document published in 2016. Linnea Bodenhamer remains passionate about working alongside and supporting federal law enforcement in a non-sworn position where she can make meaningful contributions while maximizing her future career potential.
President, WIFLE Foundation, Inc. and Executive Director, Women in Federal Law Enforcement, Inc.
United States Secret Service (Retired)
Catrina retired from the United States Secret Service (USSS) with over 26 years of federal law enforcement experience. She began her career with the USSS in September 1996 and progressed steadily through the ranks, holding leadership positions with several government branches. As the first female deputy chief in Uniformed Division history, Catrina oversaw a diverse workforce of more than 700 law enforcement professionals and led the strategic development, implementation and management of security policies and daily operations for the White House Complex.
Catrina also oversaw the day to day administrative and operational functions of the Secret Service training facility and managed a $51M annual budget that supported agency priorities, facility enhancements, staffing, technology improvements, business opportunities, and strategic planning.
Catrina graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Liberty University. She also earned a Master of Arts degree in Human Services Counseling: Criminal Justice from Liberty University. Catrina is a graduate of the National Defense University, Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, where she earned a Master of Science degree in National Resource Strategy with an Ethics Concentration. Catrina participated in the Key Executive Leadership Certificate Program at American University and was the first Uniformed Division member to be accepted into the USSS SES Candidate Development Program.
Catrina is the President and Executive Director of WIFLE Foundation, Inc. and Women in Federal Law Enforcement, Inc. Catrina is motivated to support and advocate for all women in federal law enforcement through mentorship, research, training, and leadership development.
Stef Braun has been a paralegal for many years, in three states (Illinois, Missouri, and Minnesota), and a criminal paralegal since 2002. I have worked in both the Scott County Attorney’s Office (State of Minnesota v. John Michael Anderson “Craigslist murder”) and presently at the United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota. She has worked on cases ranging from human trafficking, child exploitation, multi-defendant drug conspiracies, white collar fraud conspiracy, and RICO. Stef was the paralegal assigned to the Bangkok Dark Nights investigation.
Deputy Commander, Sector Virginia
United States Coast Guard
CAPT Peggy M. Britton assumed duties as Deputy Commander, Sector Virginia in June 2022, leading 1,200 Coast Guardsman and Auxiliary personnel, among three cutters, six small boat stations, three aids to navigation teams, and a Sector Field Office conducting all Coast Guard missions in Virginia waters and offshore. She oversees all Captain of the Port, Officer in Charge of Marine Inspection, Federal On Scene Coordinator, Federal Maritime Security Coordinator, and Search and Rescue Mission Coordinator authorities in the region. Prior to her Deputy assignment, CAPT Britton served as Executive Assistant for the DHS Joint Task Force- East, serving Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection, and Homeland Security.
Investigations executive leadership. Her diverse operational assignments include Response Department Head at Sector Virginia where she lead over 300 Search and Rescue cases, a complex jet fuel spill, and multiple port/hurricane events; Command Duty Officer at the Joint Rescue Coordination Center in Honolulu, Hawaii; and afloat tours in USCGC ELM, USCCG KUKUI as Executive Officer, and USCGC WILLIAM TATE as Commanding Officer. She holds a 100-ton Master Captain’s license. Additionally, she has extensive experience in international engagement as the Chief of International Resident Training at Training Center Yorktown, and team leader for the International Training Division deploying to more than 32 partner nations worldwide.
CAPT Britton was a Rhodes Scholarship state finalist in 1999 and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Government from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in 2000. She holds a Master of International Policy and Practice degree from George Washington University in 2012, and was a distinguished graduate from the Joint Advanced Warfighting School (JAWS) Joint Forces Staff College
in 2020, earning a Master of Science degree in Joint Campaign Planning and Strategy. Her awards include two Meritorious Service Medals, four Commendation Medals, and the Captain Dorothy Stratton Inspirational Leadership award. In 2022, she participated as one of twelve NATO officers in the Peace with Women Fellowship as part of the Halifax International Security Forum.
CAPT Britton considers Poquoson, Virginia, home. She is married to Mr. Shawn Britton, a NASA engineer, and they have three wonderful children..
Chief of Police
METRO Police Department
Chief Vera Bumpers has been with the department for more than 35 years and has been a pioneer from the beginning. She is the first woman to lead MPD and is the first woman to have been promoted in every single rank. MPD is a full-time, full-service agency authorized 267 sworn Texas Peace Officers and more than 121 civilian staff members. Chief Bumpers and all the men and women of MPD are focused on keeping METRO’s transit system moving safely and securely for all customers. They are also committed to maintaining cooperative working relationships with all law enforcement agencies within the METRO service area.
Chief Bumpers has been widely recognized both locally and nationally for her leadership.
She is a past National President of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), has been featured in the African American Newspaper and Houston Women Magazine, and was honored as a 2016 Top 50 Black Professional and Entrepreneur and Top 30 Houston Influential Woman. She is also the recipient of the 2015 Trailblazer Award from the Women in Transportation Seminar. Recipient of the 2022 National Women Law Enforcement Executive of the Year Award from Motorola.
Professional Associations and Activities
Chair, Houston Community College Police Academy Advisory Board; Member, San Jacinto College Advisory Committee for Business Office Systems and Support (BOSS); Board member, International Association of Chiefs of Police; Board member, Caruth Police Institute; Member, Texas Police Chiefs Association; Member, Houston Area Police Chiefs Association; Member, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE); Member, National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives; Member, Latino Peace Officers Association; Member, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority; Member, The Links, Incorporated.
Education and Certifications:
M.S. Education, Prairie View A&M University, B.S. Criminal Justice, Texas State University, Graduate, 230th session FBI National Academy, Quantico, Virginia
Julie S. Cabus Deputy Assistant Secretary Assistant Director for Training Diplomatic Security ServiceU.S. Department of State
Julie S. Cabus is a Supervisory Special Agent (SSA) with the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) and a member of the Senior Foreign Service. Currently, she serves as the Deputy Assistant Secretary and Assistant Director to the Training Directorate. In this capacity, she advises the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Diplomatic Security and Director of the Diplomatic Security Service (DS/DSS) on the formulation and implementation of all security and law enforcement training programs and policies for DS. She manages a Directorate comprised of the Office of Anti-Terrorism Assistance (DS/T/ATA), the Office of Foreign Affairs Security Training Center (DS/T/ FASTC), the Office of Mobile Security Deployments (DS/T/MSD), and the Office of Technical Security Engineering (DS/T/TSE).
In her previous assignment, she served as the Acting Assistant Director for the Threat Investigations and Analysis Directorate (DS/TIA), and the Deputy Assistant Director for the Office of Intelligence and Threat Analysis (DS/TIA/ITA). In this capacity, she managed the Diplomatic Security programs that analyze, assess, generate, investigate, and disseminate information on threats directed against U.S. diplomatic personnel overseas and domestically.
Ms. Cabus joined the United States Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Diplomatic Security Service in March 1999. Ms. Cabus served overseas at the following Diplomatic Missions; Assistant Regional Security Officer, Kinshasa, DRSC, Regional Security Officer, Niamey, Niger, Regional Security Officer, Peshawar, Pakistan, Regional Security Officer, Algiers Algeria, Senior Regional Security Officer, United States Mission to Australia, Canberra, Australia, Deputy Regional Security Officer, Kabul, Afghanistan, and Senior Regional Security Officer, United States Mission to Iraq.
In addition to her overseas assignments, Ms. Cabus served in the Diplomatic Security Service Washington Field Office, Bureau Security Officer, Office of the Secretary of State, and as Division Chief for Defensive Equipment and Armored Vehicles, Dignitary Protection, and Worldwide Protective Services (WPS).
Ms. Cabus holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania
and a Master’s of Military Studies from Marine Command and Staff College, Quantico, Virginia.
Ms. Cabus is native to Manchester, Connecticut and currently lives in West Springfield, Virginia. She is married to Edward A. Cabus with three children
Assistant Port Director (Tactical) Area Port of Buffalo
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Dawn Caltagirone serves as the Assistant Port Director (Tactical), Area Port of Buffalo, which is comprised of over 700 Customs and Border Protection (CBP) employees and is one of the busiest ports of entry on the northern border. Ms. Caltagirone oversees the Area Port of Buffalo’s Incident Management Division, Tactical Terrorist Response Team, Emergency Medical Technician Team, Mobile Field Force and Emergency Response Teams and Workforce Resiliency Programs.
Ms. Caltagirone has over 32 years of services as a Federal Law Enforcement Officer and began her career in 1990 as a correction officer for the Federal Bureau of Prisons before transferring to the U.S. Customs Service in 1996. Ms. Caltagirone’ s experience spans from the southern to northern border and CBP Headquarters as part of the Leadership, Innovation and Field Transformation initiative.
Ms. Caltagirone is a core member for the CBP/OFO Task Force for Women and is passionate about the future for women in Law Enforcement. Ms. Caltagirone is a driving force in CBP’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts to attract a diverse workforce and foster an inclusive environment of increased respect, expand social understanding, and celebrate differences through employee engagement and community outreach.
Special Agent, Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, (HHS-OIG-OI) Roanoke Field Office
Collette Canady started her career in law enforcement in 2005 employed with Virginia Beach Probation and Parole. In 2007, she was hired as a Deputy Sheriff, with the Norfolk, Virginia Sheriff’s Office, where she worked for approximately two years in the Booking Division.
In 2010, she was hired by the Newport News Police Department as a patrol officer and was subsequently promoted to Detective. As part of her duties as a Detective with the Newport News Police Department, she led multiple long term, high-profile investigations that spanned multiple jurisdictions and required the management of confidential informants as well as other officers and detectives assisting with these complex cases. She also
personally conducted and participated in numerous covert surveillance operations. During her tenure with NNPD, she was awarded several commendations for her work as lead investigator on several high-profile cases, as well as obtaining her bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice through Saint Leo University.
In 2018, she was employed with the Virginia State Attorney General’s Office, where she served as a MFCU (Medicaid Fraud Control Unit) Fraud Investigator for three years. She was hired as a Special Agent with the Office of Investigations (OI), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (OIG) in August of 2021. SA Canady is currently assigned to the Richmond, Virginia field office.
Program Analyst (Human Resource Liaison)
Office of Strategic Management
Transportation Security Administration (Retired) Board Member, WIFLE Foundation, Inc. and Women in Federal Law Enforcement, Inc.
Elizabeth Casey began her career with the federal government in October 1973, with the United States Secret Service (USSS) Personnel Division. While working in the Staffing/Recruitment & Employee Relations Branches, she served as the Federal Woman’s Program Manager and became involved with the then-titled Interagency Committee on Women in Federal Law Enforcement. She served as Conference CoChair for two annual training conferences, as well as the Department of Treasury Chair for the Committee. Over the years, Ms. Casey served in various positions/assignments at the USSS and in May 2001, was selected/reassigned as the Staff Assistant, Assistant Director, Office of Human Resources & Training. In March 2002, she transferred to the newly formed Transportation Security Administration in the Office of Strategic Management and Analysis. She retired from federal service in February 2006, but in April 2007, returned to work as a contractor (Senior Security Analyst), with the Department of Homeland Security, Office of the Chief Security Officer, until August 2018. Ms. Casey holds a B.A. in Business Administration (Management) from Mount Vernon College (now George Washington University) in Washington, DC. She currently serves as coeditor of the quarterly WIFLE E-news.
Director
United States Secret Service
Kimberly Cheatle is the 27th Director of the U.S. Secret Service, sworn in to office September 17, 2022. She is responsible for successfully executing the agency’s integrated mission of protection and investigations by leading a diverse workforce composed of more than
7,800 Special Agents, Uniformed Division Officers, Technical Law Enforcement Officers, and Administrative, Professional, and Technical personnel.
Prior to her appointment, Ms. Cheatle served as Senior Director in Global Security at PepsiCo, where she was responsible for directing and implementing security protocols for the company’s facilities in North America. Her role at PepsiCo involved developing risk management assessment and risk mitigation strategies. Before joining PepsiCo, she served with distinction for 27 years in the U.S. Secret Service, most recently as Assistant Director of the Office of Protective Operations. In this position, Ms. Cheatle managed a $133.5M budget and collaborated with ten operational divisions and the Technical Security Division to research, develop, and deploy technologies that reduce risks to protectees, protected facilities, and protected events.
Prior to serving as Assistant Director, Ms. Cheatle was the Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Office, providing oversight for all mission related investigations, protective intelligence and protective visits in the state of Georgia.
Ms. Cheatle was appointed to the Senior Executive Service (SES) in February 2016 as the Special Agent in Charge of the James J. Rowley Training Center (RTC). There she directed and coordinated all aspects of training and career development for the organization, later serving as the Deputy Assistant Director for the Office of Training.
Prior to her SES appointment, Ms. Cheatle was the Special Agent in Charge, Office of Stragetic Planning and Policy, where she developed and deployed an innovative web-based communication platform designed to promote open and transparent communication within the organization.
Director – Employee Engagement and Organizational Culture Division
U.S. Customs and Border Protection - Office of Field Operations
Tinesha Cherry is the Director of the newly established Employee Engagement and Organizational Culture (EEOC) Division, with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (OFO). In this capacity, Director Cherry is responsible for promoting a workplace culture where respect, fairness, trust, transparency, teamwork, accountability, empowerment, and effective communication are the driving force behind agency actions. The EEOC Division reinforces OFOs commitment to promoting a workplace culture where growth opportunities are afforded to all employees regardless of position, sexual identity, race, or tenure.
Since joining CBP as a Customs Officer in 1995, Director Cherry has served in various leadership positions, to include, Assistant Director of Field Operations-Trade, Director of the Automotive and Aerospace Center of Excellence and Expertise and Assistant Port DirectorPassenger Operations.
In her most recent role as the Assistant Director Trade, Director Cherry oversaw commercial operations at all ports of entry in Michigan. Her many responsibilities included manifest and entry processing, cargo inspections, agriculture quarantines, import safety, seizures and penalties, duty collection, intellectual property rights enforcement, and free trade agreements.
Director Cherry’s multifaceted personality extends beyond CBP. In addition to her 27-year career with CBP, Director Cherry is also a renowned author, poet, award winning international speaker and entrepreneur, who has been involved in mentoring, leading, empowering and influencing audiences for more than 26 years.
Director Cherry is the recipient of several awards and acknowledgements for her work within CBP. Further, her personal work has been featured in several local and national publications and she is the recipient of numerous awards and acknowledgements for her efforts in the community.
Supervisory Task Force Officer
Homeland Security Investigations
Border Enforcement Security Task Force
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Lora Cicciarelli is currently a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Supervisory Task Force Officer assigned to the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Border Enforcement Security Taskforce (BEST). BEST consists of State, Local, Federal and Foreign Law Enforcement agencies working together to combat emerging and existing Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCO).
Ms. Cicciarelli started her career in 2005 where she was quickly assigned to the Anti-Terrorist Contraband Enforcement Team (A-TCET). She then created a formalized targeting and intelligence process for the Advanced Targeting Unit (ATU) for the Port of Buffalo that is still implemented today.
In 2014 Ms. Cicciarelli was selected as a supervisor and was responsible for managing Tactical Operations. During her tenure as a Tactical Supervisor, approximately 65,000 pounds of bulk marijuana were seized, which was unprecedented for the Area Port of Buffalo.
Ms. Cicciarelli has held various temporary roles in CBP to include Professionalism Service Manager, Supervisor of the Trusted Traveler Enrollment Centers, Chief of Staff to the
Area Port Director, and Chief CBP Officer responsible for managing the multi-million-dollar facility construction project of the new Lewiston Complex, Niagara Falls, New York.
Special Agent in Charge
Healthcare Fraud Division
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General
Latisha R. Cleveland is a Supervisory Special Agent with over 20 years of federal investigative experience. She began her career as a Special Agent with U.S. Department of Health and Human Service (HHS), Office of Inspector General investigating allegations of health care fraud, grant fraud, and misconduct by Federal employees and contractors. Latisha’s work has resulted in numerous successful administrative proceedings, civil settlements, over 40 criminal convictions, and over $80 million in restitution to Medicare and Medicaid, including the largest Medicaid provider attendant services case charged in Texas history, recognized with an HHS Inspector General’s Award for Fighting Fraud, Waste, and Abuse. From 2018–2021, she served as an Assistant Special Agent in Charge overseeing investigative personnel across Texas; coordinating regional efforts for national health care fraud enforcement actions; and diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility efforts. In 2021, she was awarded the HHS Inspector General’s Bronze Medal for Outstanding Employee of the Year and HHS Inspector General’s Honor Award for Advancing Excellence and Innovation.
She was selected as the Special Agent in Charge for the Healthcare Fraud Division of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General (VA OIG) in August 2021. Leveraging a multidisciplinary team, this investigative development division primarily focuses on supporting VA OIG personnel in identifying, preventing, and investigating healthcare fraud within the VA’s community-based healthcare delivery programs. Under her leadership, the division has developed over 60 case referrals with an estimated exposure of over $100 million; conducted internal and external fraud awareness briefings; and published healthcare fraud alerts for veterans and VA clinicians.
Latisha is passionate about attracting the next generation of diverse talent to federal government and has developed relationships with numerous charter schools, colleges, and universities. The University of Texas at Dallas named her the 2021 “Employer of the Year.”
Latisha is a member of Women in Federal Law Enforcement, National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives, North Texas Chapter of the International Association of Special Investigations Units, Texas Inspector General Counsel, and the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives.
Latisha is also a member of the Dallas-Fort Worth Federal Executive Board and was recognized with the inaugural Public Service Award for Law Enforcement in 2020.
Special Agent
Threat Management Team
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Tam Dao is currently a Special Agent for the FBI Houston Threat Management Team. Prior to this position, he was a Supervisory Special Agent for the Counterintelligence Task Force. Tam is a licensed psychologist for the State of Texas and serves as a subject matter expert for counterintelligence-related matters and personality assessment for the FBI. He was certified as an FBI negotiator in 2014. Before joining the FBI, he was a tenure-track professor at the University of Houston where he received the Klopfer Award for distinguished contribution to the literature in personality assessment and the University of Houston Faculty Research Excellence Award for excellence in research and scholarship. He has been awarded federal and state grants for his research and has published more than 50 scientific articles. Tam holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Texas at Austin; a master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania; and a Ph.D. degree from Florida State University.
Marymount University
Forensic and Legal Psychology Program
Women in Federal Law Enforcement, Inc. (Intern)
Sydney Darnell, who is currently in Marymount University’s Forensic and Legal Psychology master’s program, also serves as an Intern with Women in Federal Law Enforcement, Inc. She received her undergraduate degree in psychology and addictions counseling while minoring in criminal justice at Indiana Wesleyan University. After attaining her master’s degree in May 2024, Ms. Darnell hopes to pursue a career in federal law enforcement.
Chief of Police
Memphis Police Department
Police Chief Cerelyn Davis has over 37 years of law enforcement experience. Beginning her career with the Atlanta Police Department Chief Davis learned early on the importance of forging relationships with Atlanta’s diverse community and quickly moved through the ranks. As a Commander Chief Davis led various Specialized Operations to include SWAT, Motors, Vice & Narcotics before being promoted to Deputy Chief.
Chief Davis retired in June 2016 to accept the position of Chief of Police for the City of Durham, North Carolina. As the Chief of Police, Davis made great strides towards improving the outreach and crime reduction efforts of the city by building the trust of citizens, law enforcement and key stakeholders.
In April of 2021, Chief Davis was selected as the first female police chief for the Memphis Police Department.
Chief Davis is a graduate of the 225th Session of the National FBI Academy and the Police Executive Research Forum. Her experience also includes training opportunities abroad at the Emergency Preparedness College in York, England, and leadership exchange session with the Israel National Police. She is a past President of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, and recently testified before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on the matter of Police Reform.
Throughout her career, she has received numerous awards to include Atlanta Police Supervisor of the Year and winner of the “Women Rule” competition featured in ‘O’ Magazine. In 2013, she was recognized as one of Georgia’s 100 Most Influential Women
The Honorable Ronald L. Davis was nominated by President Joseph R. Biden to lead the United States Marshals Service on April 12, 2021. The United States Senate confirmed his nomination on September 22, 2021, and Mr. Davis was sworn in as the 12th Director of the Marshals Service on September 27, 2021. As the leader of America’s oldest federal law enforcement agency, Mr. Davis leads more than 5,000 operational and administrative employees, spanning 94 judicial districts, 218 domestic offices, and four foreign field offices. Mr. Davis is also responsible for federal judicial security (including oversight of more than 5,000 contract court security officers), fugitive apprehension, witness security, asset forfeiture, and prisoner operations.
From 2013 to 2017, Mr. Davis served in the Obama Administration as the Director of the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS). In this capacity, Mr. Davis was responsible for working with the over 16,000 local, state, and tribal law enforcement agencies in the United States to advance community policing. In December 2014, President Barack Obama appointed Mr. Davis to serve as the Executive Director of the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing charged with developing concrete recommendations to improve community trust in the police while enhancing public safety.
Mr. Davis has served more than 28 years in law enforcement starting in 1985 with the Oakland, California Police Department. In Oakland, Mr. Davis worked in various assignments including specialized enforcement units, SWAT team leader, police academy director, criminal investigations commander, Area commander, and Inspector General of the Department. Mr. Davis became Police Chief for the City of East Palo Alto, California, in 2005, and held that position for more than eight years. As Police Chief, Mr. Davis worked collaboratively with the community to improve public trust, enhance organizational accountability, and dramatically reduce crime and violence in a city once named the murder capital of the United States.
Mr. Davis possesses a bachelor’s degree from Southern Illinois University and has completed the Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program at Harvard University Kennedy School of Government.
Program Manager for Strategy Division
Office of Field Operations
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Ms. Martina Dent has over 12 years federal government experience strategic planning; improving processes; investigating civil rights issues; and implementing national and economic security initiatives. Ms. Dent currently serves as the Program Manager for the Strategy Division in the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Office of Field Operations (OFO). In this role, she plans, develops, and coordinates strategies and strategic performance management efforts impacting national security priorities.
Ms. Dent has a strong passion for diversity, equity, and inclusion, and has used her strategic planning and communication skills to support the creation and serve in leadership roles in the CBP Task Force for Women and the CBP PRIDE Chapter. Since 2020, she serves as a co-founder and co-lead for the grassroots CBP TFW with a mission to promote a culture of gender diversity, equity, and inclusion for all employees through unified initiatives that foster an environment that is safe, prosperous and mission ready. She has lead engagements reaching over 3,500 CBP employees on topics of recruitment, mentorship, resiliency, domestic abuse, unconscious bias, and career development. For the CBP PRIDE Chapter, founded in 2022, she serves as the Co-Vice President on the Board with a mission to celebrate LGBTQIA+ employees, and champion policy and resources for diversity, equity, and inclusion of all.
Prior to her appointment at OFO, she has six years of strategy and analysis experience in positions throughout CBP, to include Air and Marine Operations, Office of Trade, and Operations Support. Ms. Dent led the
development, analysis, and implementation of over 50 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and CBP plans through collaborative interagency and intra-agency work groups. Her leadership in strategic planning and diversity was recognized in 2020 with the receipt of the AMO Executive Assistant Commissioner Award for Excellence in Operational Support.
Ms. Dent obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from Elon University with an International Studies major, Asian concentration, and Political Science minor. She is a graduate of George Mason University, Public Policy master’s program.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
Steven M. Dettelbach was appointed by the President and sworn in as the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) on July 13, 2022. Mr. Dettelbach is responsible for leading an agency of men and women charged with protecting the public by enforcing laws and regulations related to firearms, explosives, arson, and alcohol and tobacco trafficking. From 2009 to 2016, Mr. Dettelbach served as the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio. As U.S. Attorney, he oversaw high-profile investigations and both managed and personally handled large-scale, crisis-level litigations. He also supervised a broad docket of complex affirmative and defensive civil matters. After Clerking for the Hon. Stanley Sporkin, Mr. Dettelbach served from 1992 to 2006 as a career federal prosecutor in the Civil Rights Division at three United States Attorneys’ Offices. He was also detailed as counsel to the United States Senate Judiciary Committee shortly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Most recently, Mr. Dettelbach was a partner and litigation group leader at a major national law firm.
In this 30-year career, Mr. Dettelbach has been involved in nearly every type of criminal, civil, or regulatory investigation. He has also served in senior policy roles at the Department of Justice, having been appointed by two Attorneys General to the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (AGAC). Mr. Dettelbach was also appointed to Chair the AGAC Civil Rights Subcommittee by both Attorneys General Holder and Lynch, and he was the longest serving Chair in the Obama Administration.
Mr. Dettelbach received his J.D. from Harvard University in 1991 and his B.A. from Dartmouth College in 1988. He is married with two children.
Co-Founder – Wayfinder Consulting, LLC
Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office (Retired)
Col. Brenda Dietzman (Ret) has 28 years of law enforcement and corrections experience. In 2019, she retired from the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office in Wichita, Kansas as the undersheriff in charge of jail operations. She oversaw two facilities with a total population of 1400+ inmates, 300+ employees and a $40 million budget. During her time in law enforcement, she also served as the captain in charge of the Patrol Division and the Judicial Division, a lieutenant in both the Patrol Division and the Special Project Unit, a Community Policing sergeant, detective, and a road patrol deputy. She now provides evidence-based training and has presented at numerous national, state and local events as well as for international audiences. She is an internationally certified IADLEST instructor.
She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Administration of Justice from Wichita State University. She enjoys traveling, photography, mountain biking, meditation and reading. She is married and has three rescue dogs.
Special Agent in Charge
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations
Maureen Dixon is currently assigned as the Special Agent in Charge (SAC) for the Philadelphia Regional Office, Office of Investigations (OI), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (OIG). SAC Dixon’s responsibilities include managing all OI operations in region 3, which covers the States of Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, Delaware, and the District of Columbia Field Office. SAC Dixon began her career in public service as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) while attending college at Syracuse University. SAC Dixon has 21 years of federal law enforcement experience serving as a Special Agent with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and HHS-OIG, investigating, leading, and supervising a wide variety of offenses, to include health care fraud, drug diversion, organized crime, smuggling, money laundering, contract fraud, grant fraud and identity theft. SAC Dixon has personally conducted and supervised numerous covert surveillance operations, TIIIs, and long-term complex investigations which utilized undercover law enforcement officers and confidential informants. SAC Dixon is a certified Adjunct Instructor for the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency’s (CIGIE) Inspector General Criminal Investigator Academy and facilitates at the IG Investigator and the IG Undercover Training Programs.
SAC Dixon is the recipient of numerous investigative awards from DOJ, DEA, HSI, and HHS-OIG. SAC Dixon holds a B.S. from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications.
Special Agent/National Program Manager
Continued Presence Program
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Homeland Security Investigations
Danica Dupuy, National Program Manager for the Continued Presence Program. SA Dupuy overseas all aspects of the program to include training and outreach; coordinating with multiple federal and state agencies; and approval of applications. SA Dupuy began her federal law enforcement career in 2009, as a Special Agent in New York with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). While in HSI New York, SA Dupuy was assigned to the Human Trafficking Unit, Human Smuggling Unit, Counterterrorism Criminal Exploitation Unit, and Bulk Cash Smuggling Unit.
Chief Uniformed Division
United States Secret Service (Retired)
On January 31, 2022, Alfonso M. Dyson, Sr., was sworn in by U.S. Secret Service Director James M. Murray to serve as the agency’s 21st Chief of the Uniformed Division (UD). Prior to this promotion, Chief Dyson served UD as assistant chief, a position he held from March 2019 to January 2022.
Chief Dyson began his federal career as a federal police officer with the Secret Service Uniformed Division in February 1990. Following his training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center and the James J. Rowley Training Center, he was assigned to the White House Branch. In February 1997, Officer Dyson was promoted to the rank of sergeant and served at the White House Branch. In February 2000, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant and remained at the White House for a brief period before his reassignment to Secret Service Headquarters, where he served in the Office of Chief as the vehicle fleet coordinator and administrative special projects coordinator. During his tenure as a lieutenant, Dyson served as the ranking member in charge of the Uniformed Division’s Recruitment Division and Honor Guard program.
Subsequent promotions to captain and inspector led Chief Dyson to a variety of leadership roles throughout the agency, including positions with the Secret Service’s Foreign Missions Branch (FMB), the FMB Office of the Deputy Chief and the Office of Government and Public Affairs. While there, he was detailed to the U.S. Capitol
and worked closely with members of Congress, the House Sergeant-At-Arms, the Senate Sergeant-At-Arms, as well as ranking members of the U.S. Capitol Police. In January 2013, Inspector Dyson was transferred to the Secret Service Office of Professional Responsibility, Inspection Division, where he served until his promotion to deputy chief in January 2015 and assumed the high profile leadership position of branch commander for the White House Branch.
Over the course of his 33-year career, Chief Dyson has been the recipient of numerous performance awards and commendations. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, the FBI National Executive Institute, and a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police. Chief Dyson is also the recipient of the Director’s Valor Award and the DHS Secretary’s Award for Excellence.
Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer
Diversity and Inclusion Program Office
Naval Criminal Investigative Service
Special Agent Kay Een serves as the Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer (CDIO) for the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Diversity and Inclusion Program Office (DIPO). She is the full-time staff to the DIPO which is tasked to synchronize diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts across the agency and collectively support initiatives to implement the best business practices, encourage collaboration, and deliver proven solutions to nurture a more ready, resilient, and globally engaged workforce.
Special Agent Een started her career with NCIS in her home state of Hawaii in 2003. As an Agent, she has worked across the spectrum of criminal investigations, to include specializing in Internet Crimes Against Children and Procurement Fraud investigations. Special Agent Een served in multiple offices to include Okinawa, Japan; Camp Pendleton, California; Washington D.C. and NCIS Headquarters Quantico, Virginia. Prior to her current assignment, SA Een was the Resident Agent in Charge of NCISRA Okinawa where she held direct operational command of NCIS’ Criminal Investigations and National Security mission in support of the Navy and Marine Corps across the Okinawa Prefecture, as well as, in MCAS Iwakuni and surrounding areas.
Special Agent Een holds a Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science from Chaminade University of Honolulu and is a Certified Coach for Leadership and Organization Well-Being. Prior to NCIS, Special Agent Een served honorably in the United States Navy as an Air Traffic Controller (Aviation Warfare) and Naval Air Crewman where she deployed in support of both Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM.
Director of Executive Secretariat
Transportation Security Administration (Retired) Board Member, WIFLE Foundation, Inc. and Women in Federal Law Enforcement, Inc.
Dorene F. Erhard began her federal career in New York, New York in 1970, with the then Treasury Department’s Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Division of the Internal Revenue Service (now the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives), and in 1972, relocated to the agency’s headquarters in Washington, D.C. Ms. Erhard transferred in 1987, to the position of Senior Advisor to the Director of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, charged with overseeing economic sanctions programs and freezing assets of hostile foreign countries, terrorist, and international narcotics traffickers. This national security and foreign policy-related position was followed in 1999 by service on the newly formed Office of Professional Responsibility assigned to Treasury’s Under Secretary for Enforcement.
In 2001, Ms. Erhard was appointed to act as the Chief of Staff to the Acting Under Secretary for Enforcement during the transition of Administrations. Shortly after the creation of the Transportation Security Administration, Ms. Erhard transferred to assist in the set-up of the new agency and remained until her retirement in 2005. In addition to her position of the WIFLE Board of Directors, since retirement, Ms. Erhard has served as Co-Editor of WIFLE E-News. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Hartwick College in Oneonta, New York.
Colonel Elizabeth Evans, Florida Army National Guard, is a career Engineer Officer. COL Evans was assigned to the Florida Army National Guard Headquarters as the J5, St. Augustine, Florida. In this role she led a joint and inter-agency staff responsible for the planning and coordination of Florida’s COVID-19 testing response. Her team developed the concept of drive-through mass testing at football stadiums, a concept that was later replicated across the nation. Her operational assignments have included Battalion Command, Regional Alignment of Forces Task Force Commander, and Company Commander (3 tours both CONUS and OCONUS). Her staff assignments have included Florida Army National Guard J35, Battalion S3, Executive Officer to the Deputy Commanding General USACE, and 53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team Brigade Engineer. She received her bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, her commission in 2000 from West Point, and her first master’s degree in business from Webster University in 2012. She earned a second master’s degree from the Joint Advanced
Warfighting School, Joint Forces Staff College, National Defense University in Norfolk, Virginia. COL Evans resides in Jacksonville Beach, Florida and serves as the CEO of E2 Design & Construction and VetCor of the First Coast.
Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Maryland Transit Administration
Kelly Fenner is a wife, mother, and a 26-year retired Captain from the Maryland Transit Administration Police Force in Baltimore, Maryland. She holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with a concentration in Emergency Management and Homeland Security, a master’s degree in management with a concentration in Organizational Leadership and Change, a certificate for Diversity and Inclusion in HR from Cornell University and completed the FBI’s – Law Enforcement Executive Development School. During her tenure in law enforcement, Kelly started the trend of excelling in her craft by graduating Valedictorian amongst her counterparts from the police academy and then being the first woman to earn the prestigious title of Officer of the Year. Kelly worked in every facet of the department, from patrol, recruitment, training, administration, Internal Affairs, Criminal Investigations, and Special Operations to Technical Services. After retiring, she became the first Chief Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) Officer for the Baltimore County Police Department. There Kelly focused on developing a strategy for a sustainable system of change to include restoring trust in the community and balancing inequities experienced by all underrepresented groups. After three years, she transitioned back to the state level.
Today, she continues the trailblazing trend by becoming the Maryland Department of Transportation/Maryland Transit Administration’s first Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, which incorporates the department from which she retired.
Crimes
Thomson Reuters Special Services, LLC
WIFLE Foundation, Inc. (Senior Advisor)
Heather C. Fischer is the senior advisor for human rights crimes at Thomson Reuters Special Services. Fischer currently serves on the Thomson Reuters Special Services Executive Leadership Team, informing its work on the intersection of national security and human rights crimes, including human trafficking and child exploitation. Additionally, she leads the company’s strategy to promote Women, Peace, and Security.
Prior to joining Thomson Reuters Special Services, Fischer most recently served as the U.S. Government’s
White House special advisor for human trafficking. In her capacity as the Human Trafficking Czar, she coordinated the Executive Office of the President and the 20 federal agencies on the President’s Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons.
Previously, Fischer also served as special advisor to the Ambassador-at-Large to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons at the U.S. State Department. Before her government roles, Fischer held advisory roles at the McCain Institute for International Leadership at Arizona State University and at Love146, a global nonprofit dedicated to combating child sex trafficking and exploitation.
Today, Fischer is an advisor to the United Nations Order of Malta and the Women in Federal Law Enforcement Foundation, Inc. She is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and serves as the board chairperson of the Freedom Collaborative and board member of RecollectiV.
Fischer is a recent recipient of the prestigious Eisenhower USA Fellowship. She is currently a candidate in the Executive Master of International Relations program at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University and the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, D.C. Fischer holds a bachelor’s in psychology from Liberty University.
Federal Benefits Specialist
National Institute of Transition Planning
Tammy Flanagan has been providing retirement planning assistance to federal employees since 1985 was a retirement benefits specialist at the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Her extensive knowledge of the federal benefits systems and her ability to explain difficult concepts in an easy-to-understand manner has made her a sought-after speaker and presenter at preretirement seminars, training conferences, and online training events. You can find individual retirement and pre-retirement counseling services and you may contact Tammy through her website at www.RetireFederal.com.
Ms. Flanagan is the Senior Benefits Director for the National Institute of Transition Planning, Inc. which has been conducting pre-retirement seminars and workshops throughout the Washington, D.C area and beyond since 1985. Since 2006, Tammy has authored the popular weekly “Retirement Planning” column for Government Executive online magazine. More than 250,000 subscribers have learned how to prepare for a smooth transition to retirement through this regular feature available at www.govexec.com.
In 2015, Ms. Flanagan became certified in long term care insurance and has conducted webinars and live
events for the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program. Her webinars can be found archived at www. ltcfeds.com. Tammy has developed relationships with certified financial planners, estate planning attorneys, and certified public accounts and has partnered with these professionals in coordinating individual retirement plans. Through her relationship with CFP Micah Shilanski, they have developed online training programs on a variety of topics that join Tammy’s benefit knowledge with Micah’s financial planning expertise and are available for individual enrollment at http://www.plan-your-federalretirement.com/.
Tammy was honored to have been selected as one of Money Magazine’s “Money Heroes” of 2012 for helping federal employees prepare for life after retirement.
Deputy Assistant Inspector General Investigative Operations
U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General Suzann Gallagher was sworn in as the Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Investigative Operations, Office of Investigations, Department of Labor, in January 2023. She assists the Assistant Inspector General for Investigations (AIGI) providing direction for the OIG’s nationwide investigative program and leading the Office of Investigations-Labor Racketeering and Fraud.
Gallagher previously served as USAID’s AIGI overseeing investigative operations promoting the integrity of agency personnel, programs, and operations and responding to allegations of fraud, theft, bribery, and senior official misconduct. She first joined USAID in 2018 as the Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Investigations and has advanced partnerships with oversight and law enforcement organizations across the globe.
Gallagher began her law enforcement career as a special agent with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), serving as the Special Agent in Charge of the Middle East Field Office, Assistant Special Agent in Charge at the Washington Field Office, and Supervisory Special Agent at NCISHQ and the Washington Field Office. Her experience with NCIS included conducting counterintelligence, counterterrorism, procurement fraud, and criminal investigations across several continents.
Gallagher began her federal career with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. She attended Cornell University earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in History. She also holds a Master’s in Arts in Education from Columbia University and a Master’s in Arts in Medieval Studies from the University of Notre Dame. Her awards include the Joint Civilian Service Commendation, Women in Federal Law Enforcement Leadership Award, Meritorious Unit Commendation for response to the Washington Navy Yard shooting, and a Department of Defense Counterintelligence Investigation Team Award
Dr. Reese was born in Annapolis, Maryland, and raised in Washington, D.C. She graduated from ODU in Norfolk, Virginia, with a B.S. in Criminal Justice. She later received an M.S. degree in Management from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. Finally, she received her Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership from the Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona.
Dr. Reese served with the FBI for 34 years. Thirty of those years were as a Special Agent. She served in leadership roles such as Program Manager/Program Coordinator, Supervisory Special Agent, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, and acting Senior Executive Service roles within the FBI.
Dr. Reese is a Life Member of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, where, from 2002 to 2022, she served as the Youth Committee Chairperson. impacting more than 3,700 youth. Dr. Reese is a member of WIFLE and the IACP, where she served on the Human and Civil Rights Committee. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Public Safety Cadets. Other membership organizations include being a Diamond Life member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, and a Life Member of the NCNW. Dr. Reese also serves on the Board of Directors for the Women’s Initiative Network at ODU and the International Black Women’s Public Policy Institute.
In September 2007, Dr. Reese was presented with the FBI Director’s Award for EEO. In September 2012, she was selected to participate in the prestigious Master’s Series for Distinguished Leaders through the Skinner Leadership Institute. In May 2017, Dr. Reese received an Honorary Doctorate in Humanitarian Services from the Lincoln College of New England, where she was the first female commencement day speaker in the 50-year history of the school. She also received the Johns Hopkins University 2018 Woodrow Wilson Award for Distinguished Government Service and serves on the Johns Hopkins University Alumni Council. Dr. Reese was honored by Success Magazine as one of 50 women selected as a “2022 Woman of Influence.” Dr. Reese is also a co-author of the best-selling book, “Dear Fear Volume 2:18 Powerful Lessons on Living Your Best Life on the Other Side of Fear.” She is also an international speaker.
Pentagon Force Protection Agency
Yowanda Godfrey joined the Department of Defense (DoD) Pentagon Force Protection Agency (PFPA) in January 2008. Currently, Ms. Godfrey holds two positions: Chief Diversity Officer (CDO) and Sr. Advisor to the PFPA Director.
As the CDO, Ms. Godfrey oversees all Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) initiatives and the development of programs aligned within the overarching PFPA C.A.R.E.S. program, which is an acronym for “Creating a Culture of Alliance Respect and Equity where all feel Safe.” Ms. Godfrey leads efforts to promote and reinforce a workplace culture where mutual respect, trust, accountability, innovation, empowerment, and communication are the foundations for producing and maintaining a healthy workforce climate; a climate where all employees, regardless of race, gender, age, position, or sexual identity are valued. Ms. Godfrey advises senior leadership and a team of DEIA Working Group members on workforce improvement recommendations, and employee and leadership engagement opportunities. Ms. Godfrey is responsible for ensuring that the DEIA strategic initiatives are embedded throughout the PFPA processes, practices, and procedures.
As Sr. Advisor to the PFPA Director, Ms. Godfrey analyzes management issues and develops recommendations and alternative solutions. She prepares briefings, issue papers, and discussion points on agency decisions and issues affecting the PFPA mission, which are reviewed by the Director for Administration and Management (DA&M), and often viewed by the Office of the Secretary of Defense. She participates in special task forces and process action teams, represents the Director in senior-level meetings, and is a liaison between internal and external partners.
Linda Gray is a Native Washingtonian with an extensive 30-year career in Human Resources in the federal government. She has served in various leadership roles in seven federal agencies to include FAA; TSA; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; IRS; DOD, and SBA. She is currently a senior executive at the Environmental Protection Agency where she serves as a human resources consultant, Workforce Development Executive in the Office of Land Emergency Management (OLEM).
Her human resources experience includes strategic leadership of all policy, planning, and oversight activities associated with human resources programs and policies. Some of her human resources highlights include transforming and streamlining the frontline hiring process; instituting process improvements in all areas of human resources through technology; traveling abroad to assess HR programs and processes in Kenya and Ghana; and standing up a benefits operations center. Ms. Gray served on a detail at Bowie State University where she mentored and led the next generation of federal employees and leaders. She taught various sessions on leveraging strengths and aligning majors to federal employment. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Broadcast Journalism with a minor in Justice from The American University. Ms. Gray is also a graduate of the Senior Managers in Government, Harvard Kennedy School. She holds certifications in Emotional Intelligence; MBTI; DISC; FourSight; Stephen Covey’s Leading Across Generations; The seven Habits of Effective Leaders; Leading at the Speed of Trust; Clifton Strengths and Executive Coaching. She also led the development of several leadership development sessions and workshops. Ms. Gray is the CEO and President of The “L” Group, LLC, a consultation service providing training, consulting, coaching, and leadership development. She is also a certified member of the John Maxwell Leadership Team.
Program Manager
Pentagon Force Protection Agency
Employee Engagement Group (Co-Lead)
Mrs. Carla Harris is the Program Manager for the Pentagon Force Protection Agency (PFPA) Military Construction Program. As Program Manager, Mrs. Harris is responsible for the initiation, planning, execution, management, and closeout of numerous PFPA Military Construction Projects. Mrs. Harris is also an active member of the Agency’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Working Group, a Team Lead for the Sustainment sub-group, and Co-Lead of the first Employee Engagement Group (EEG) “Women Leaning in for Excellence.”
Prior to joining the Pentagon Force Protection Agency, Mrs. Harris served eight years in the United States Army as a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Specialist and reached the rank of Staff Sergeant Promotable. While serving, Mrs. Harris completed the Primary Leadership Development Course, the Basic Non-Commissioned Officers Course, and the Biological Integrated Detection System course. Mrs. Harris is a war veteran with two tours to Iraq under her belt. After being honorably discharged in 2006, Mrs. Harris joined
the Pentagon Force Protection Agency as a contractor with the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive (CBRNE) Division. Eight months later, when an opportunity presented itself to work in the Operations Center as a Program Analyst, Mrs. Harris accepted the challenge. From there, she began working on construction projects for the Agency.
Mrs. Harris grew up in Roanoke, Virginia, is married, and has a six-year-old son and Jack Russell Terrier. Family is the most important aspect of her life. She believes in being a voice for the voiceless; integrity, empathy, compassion, and loyalty are values she lives by each day. She believes there is always a “yes” somewhere, and if you lead with the heart, you cannot go wrong.
Mrs. Harris earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maryland.
Physical Security Specialist
Electronic Security Systems Branch
Enterprise Security Directorate
Pentagon Force Protection Agency
Employee Engagement Group (Co-Lead)
Christine Harris currently is a Physical Security Specialist assigned to Electronic Security Systems (ESS) Branch, Enterprise Physical Security Directorate (EPSD), Pentagon Force Protection Agency (PFPA), Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia.
In July of 2018, Mrs. Harris began her career with PFPA as a Police Officer and was recognized by the Chief Management Officer as PFPA’s Officer of the Year, 2019. In August 2020, PFPA’s Chief of Staff asked her to serve as a sub-group member for the agency’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Working Group. She is currently co-leading her agency’s first Employee Engagement Group, “Women Leaning in for Excellence”.
Prior to joining the federal government as a civil servant, Mrs. Harris worked for a Global Fortune 500 company during Operation Inherent Resolve as a Security Manager in Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait. As the subject matter expert, she managed the interface operations among systems reporting derogatory data for persons of interest tied to acts of terrorism and/or affiliates. Additionally, she served as continuity for the installation Threat Working Group, authored program policy, trained military personnel, and acted as the liaison between U.S. military and Kuwaiti military counterparts.
Prior to working for a Global Fortune 500 company, Mrs. Harris enlisted in the United States Air Force and attended Basic Military Training at Lackland Air Force Base (AFB), Texas. Her first assignment was to Vogelweh Air Base, Germany as a Security Forces Member. She
ended her enlistment stationed at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland assigned to the Protective Service Detail assisting the United States Secret Services in support POTUS/VPOTUS and foreign dignitary security. During her six-year enlistment, she deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OIF) in 2006, 2009, and 2011.
Instructor - Leadership Institute
Federal Law Enforcement Training Center
Suzanne R. Hines was appointed as an instructor with the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC) Leadership Institute in November 2015. In this capacity, she has facilitated hundreds of leadership classes both in person and virtually in domestic and international environments including the International Law Enforcement Academies (ILEAs) and INTERPOL. She is a certified instructor in leadership theories, concepts, and practices. Courses taught include Leadership for Women in Law Enforcement, Leadership in a Crisis, Leadership Through Understanding Human Behavior, and Law Enforcement Supervisors Leadership Training Program. The curriculum includes, but is not limited to, conflict management, organizational change, critical thinking, collaboration, decision making, gender strengths, gender intelligence, and wellness in law enforcement.
Ms. Hines is also certified in three critical areasDISC, Motivators, and Emotional Intelligence. These certifications allow her to focus her instruction on human behavior and communication which are key to successful leadership. Her belief is that you must first know yourself and then know others. And when you couple that information with strong emotional intelligence, you can take your leadership to the next level. Leadership is a choice and she encourages participants to take the tools provided in the courses and use them to guide them in their leadership journey.
Ms. Hines’ law enforcement career includes over 32 years with the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CI) where she worked a myriad of tax and financial investigations. She held numerous collateral duties including Recruiter, On-the-Job Instructor, Public Information Officer, Physical Fitness Coordinator, member of the Use of Force Cadre, liaison for the Joint Terrorism Task Force and served on several Presidential Election Protection Details and the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. She was a mentor for both new hires and frontline managers. She was certified as an instructor/ facilitator for the IRS and facilitated the Frontline Leadership Training Program for IRS-CI new managers at the FLETC.
Her operational assignments, combined with her experience as an instructor/course developer brings over
39 years of law enforcement experience that focuses on leadership and application of real-life situations.
Suzanne graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in December 1984 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology/Pre-Law. She is married and has one son.
Executive
Office of Equity and Employee Support Services
United States Secret Service
Loucious Hires is the Executive of the Office of Equity and Employee Support Services at the United States Secret Service. Mr. Hires provides strategic advice, guidance, and direction on all matters pertaining to EEO, DEIA, as well as, managing the following critical programs: Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, the Employee Assistance Program, the Ombudsman Program, and the Chaplain Program.
Prior to the Secret Service, Mr. Hires was the EEO Director for the Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.
Mr. Hires served on the Huntsville YMCA and the Riley Center board. He co-led the first Diversity and Inclusion Symposium for the city of Huntsville and was a part of Leadership Huntsville class L31.
Mr. Hires proudly served in the United States Army, beginning his EEO career in 1996 as a senior equal opportunity advisor for the 7th Army Training Command in Grafenwoehr, Germany and retired in 2002.
Mr. Hires holds a bachelor’s degree in resource management and an associate degree in business administration from Troy University in Troy, Alabama. He graduated from the Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies in Strategic Diversity and Inclusion Management, and the Harvard Kennedy School of Executive Education with a certification in Promoting Racial Equity in the Workplace.
Mr. Hires was ordained a Deacon in 2010 at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church. He and his wife, Kim, are the proud parents of two sons, Kennon and Kevin, and a daughter and son-in-law, Ari and Brandon.
Department of Homeland Security
Mary Hogan has been the Community Relations Officer for the Department of Homeland Security since September 2016. While this formal program is new to this agency; it has been long understood that community engagement is necessary in building trust between law
enforcement and the communities where they serve. This position essentially solidifies that understanding and weaves it into the basic structure of the agency. Mary currently covers the states of Minnesota, The Dakotas, Iowa, and Nebraska.
Prior to this Community Relations position, Mary worked in Victim/Witness services for almost twenty years. She served on the local Board of Education for twelve years as both a member and Vice-president. Mary is a former Federal Correctional Officer with the U.S. Department of Justice and is also a veteran of the U.S. Army Military Police. She met her husband while they were both serving in West Berlin as part of the Berlin Brigade.
As a Community Relations Officer, Mary represents the agency to the public as well as community leaders and organizations. She provides information and education in the various responsibilities of the agency and her goal is to create and maintain strong partnerships with a variety of stakeholders.
Special Agent in Charge
Homeland Security Investigations
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Jamie Holt is currently the Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the principal investigative component of the Department of Homeland Security. HSI investigates, disrupts, and dismantles transnational criminal organizations and terrorist networks that threaten or seek to exploit the customs and immigration laws of the United States.
Prior to this assignment, Ms. Holt served as the Deputy Special Agent in Charge for HSI St. Paul where she oversaw law enforcement operations in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. In 2017, Ms. Holt served as the Assistant Special Agent in Charge for the HSI Philadelphia office, where she oversaw a diverse group of investigative teams including national security and child exploitation, as well as the expansion of outlying offices throughout the state of Pennsylvania.
Ms. Holt has held several key leadership positions within HSI, and led the development and transformation of the national cyber-crime program at the HSI Cyber Crimes Center in Washington, D.C. During her career, Ms. Holt served as the Acting Chief of Staff for the Assistant Director of Intelligence, and as the Acting Chief Intelligence Officer for the HSI Los Angeles field office. Ms. Holt started her HSI career in the Los Angeles field office where she held a variety of positions before promoting to a supervisor. In 2000, Ms. Holt started her federal law enforcement career as a Border Patrol Agent assigned to Nogales, Arizona.
Ms. Holt holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice and Spanish from Central Michigan University and a Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Wisconsin, Platteville.
Author, Speaker, and Self-Esteem Mentor
Dr. Mary Beth Janke has over 30 years of psychology, security, and investigative experience. She has had a varied career that included being a Special Agent in the Washington Field Office the United States Secret Service. She went on to become a protection agent on numerous government contracts and was the only female to ever officially protect a foreign president outside of the United States. As part The Investigative Group in Washington D.C., Dr. Janke lead an inquiry during the “Iraqgate” investigation and an investigation for 60 Minutes news magazine show on the Duke Lacrosse scandal. She also served as a counselor in the Stalking Unit of Victim Services in Queens, New York. Dr. Janke holds a Doctoral Degree in Clinical Psychology from Widener University, a master’s degree in forensic psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Indiana University. Dr. Janke currently works as a consultant in the fields of forensic and clinical psychology, threat assessment, and protective security. She also taught Abnormal Psychology and the Psychology of Crime and Violence at the George Washington University in Washington, D.C. for four years. In April of 2020, Dr. Janke’s book, ‘The Protector: A Woman’s Journey from the Secret Service to Protecting VIPs in the World’s Most Dangerous Places’ was published. It is a memoir of her life as told through the exciting and dangerous missions she accepted as one of the few females in the world of international executive protection agent.
Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Investigations Government of the District of Columbia, Office of the Inspector General
Dr. Kathryn Jones was born in Washington, D.C, and grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland, where she graduated from Montgomery Blair High School. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Criminology from the University of Maryland, College Park – Go Terps!! She also holds a Master’s degree from Central Michigan University. Kathryn began her career in law enforcement investigating white-collar crime in 1990 as a U.S. Secret Service Special Agent assigned to the Washington Field Office. From 1997-2000, she served on the Vice-Presidential Protective Detail. Kathryn spent the remainder of her 26-year federal government career with the National Labor Relations Board and U.S. Department
of Transportation (DOT), Offices of Inspector General (OIG), as a Special Agent, Special Agent in-Charge of the Washington Regional Field Office, and as the Director of Strategic Programs and Training in Headquarters. While at the DOT OIG, she managed a team who successfully investigated and prosecuted the Toyota Motor Corporation for faulty vehicle equipment, resulting in a $1.2 billion civil forfeiture. Her team was awarded the CIGIE Gaston L. Gianni, Jr. Better Government Award. After retirement from DOT OIG in 2016, Kathryn has served as a Security Representative Consultant for the Washington Mystics and the Washington Wizards, worked with TSA as an Armed Security Officer, and acted as a Subject Matter Expert for Tyler Technologies to manage software products and accounts for investigative agencies. She is an ACFE Certified Fraud Examiner and the Deputy Inspector General for Investigations at the D.C. Department of the Inspector General.
Office of Counsel
Inspector Attorney
Labor and Litigation Group
U.S. Postal Inspection Service
Vice President – Women in Federal Law Enforcement, Inc. Executive Committee
Amber Jordan, a graduate of the University of Virginia and Saint Louis University School of Law, began her career as a United States Postal Inspector in New York where she performed investigations to deter workplace violence and security fraud related incidents. In this capacity, Amber effectuated numerous federal arrests resulting in federal prosecutions, convictions, and the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals upholding two convictions.
In 2017 and 2018, Amber won WIFLE Awards for Outstanding Federal Law Enforcement Employee and Outstanding Advocate for Women in Law Enforcement. In 2019, Amber was promoted to the position of Inspector Attorney. Additionally, Amber has held several leadership roles by serving as Acting Deputy Chief Counsel and as an Acting Team Leader.
Amber has also participated in several projects including but not limited to developing and administering an African American Cultural Awareness Training, leading recruitment initiatives, serving as the Lead for a project dedicated to updating policies and procedures, assisting with Fair and Impartial Policing Implicit Bias Trainings, developing a legal case management system, and serving as the Agency’s representative for WIFLE.
Prior to joining the Agency, Amber practiced various areas of law as an Assistant Attorney General and as a Senior Attorney. Throughout her career, Amber has demonstrated a dedication to effectuating positive change to increase diversity and equity.
In 2022, Amber Jordan was appointed to serve as the Secretary of the WIFLE, Inc., Executive Committee and she currently serves as the Vice President of the WIFLE, Inc., Executive Committee.
Jean Kanokogi, Ph.D. is Senior Special Agent (ret.) for the U.S. Government with extensive experience in conducting a myriad of investigations, including several high-profile cases. She is a sought-after speaker and presenter in corporate, law enforcement, and mental health arenas as she connects with people through her expertise in resilience, emotional intelligence, interviewing skills, firearms/martial arts tactics, and humor – she keeps it real.
She authored numerous mental health and law enforcement-related articles for professional journals. She holds a B.S./M.S. in Criminal Justice/Protection Management and a PhD in Psychology. She is the coauthor of the award-winning best seller, “Get Up & FightThe Memoir of Rusty Kanokogi” and tells the story of how one ordinary woman changed the world for so many.
Jean is the Director of Mental Health and Peer Support Services for the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association. She works daily to bridge the gap between law enforcement and mental wellness and in support of that, she worked on legislation that was signed into Public Law. She is a 9/11 first responder and uses her experience to help others. She is a Department of Homeland Security Senior Instructor on all behavioral science topics and has worked with the High Value Detainee Interrogation Group.
Apart from her work in mental health and law enforcement, Jean is a 6th degree black belt in judo and was a member of the U.S. National Judo Team. Her unique combination of skills and experience has made her a well-respected professional in her field.
Rebecca is an educator and diversity consultant with over 20 years of experience. Earlier in her career, Rebecca was a teacher for ten years, working in classrooms in rural North Carolina and New York City. While in NYC, she was as a founding staff member of a small high school in Brooklyn and served as an administrator across NYC schools, coaching school leaders and teachers. Currently, Rebecca facilitates anti-bias trainings for schools, hospitals, community organizations and law enforcement for the Anti-Defamation League, Holocaust
education programs with Echoes & Reflections, and, working with K-12 school architecture firms, supports educators in analyzing their use of space within the context of their curriculum. In addition, Rebecca is the Project Coordinator for the Willesden READS program, a partnership between USC Shoah Foundation and Hold On To Your Music. She works with school leaders, cultural and historical institutions to plan and implement the Willesden READ program, bringing it to thousands of students around the world.
Rebecca holds a B.A. in Sociology from the University of North Carolina Asheville, focusing on the intersection of race and poverty, an M.S. Ed. in School Leadership from Baruch College, and an M.S. in Interior Design from Pratt Institute, with a focus on K-12 school architecture.
Rebecca’s passion is to create space - physical and interpersonal - in communities, schools, and organizations that inspire the better humanity in each of us. She currently resides in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Assistant Special Agent in Charge
Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Office of the Inspector General
Erika Keyes serves as the Assistant Special Agent Charge (ASAC) at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Defense Nuclear Facility Safety Board Office of the Inspector General (NRC and DNFSB OIG). Ms. Keyes has spent the last 17 years with the OIG, having grown in education, experience, and responsibility from a Special Agent to a Senior Special Agent, and now as an ASAC. In this role, Ms. Keyes manages and oversees high profile complex technical investigations as well as employee misconduct, theft, and suspected fraud, waste and abuse related to programs and operations of NRC and DNFSB OIG. A high-energy problem solver, Ms. Keyes uses her experience to provide effective leadership, guidance, direction, and training to a staff of diverse personnel, while promoting an open and collaborative work environment.
Prior to becoming a Special Agent at the NRC and DNFSB OIG, Ms. Keyes held various roles at the U.S. Department of the Treasury/Bureau of Engraving and Printing, where she served as a Police Officer, a Supervisory Police Officer, and then an Investigator. With more than 25 years of law enforcement experience, Ms. Keyes continues to be highly regarded and knowledgeable law enforcement professional. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland College Park in Criminal Justice and Criminology. Also, she is a member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners and is currently working towards receiving her CFE Certification.
On the personal side, Ms. Keyes enjoys physical fitness, the theatre, and dance. Further, she considers herself a foodie and enjoys new taste experiences, and she credits her faith as what helps her through life’s challenges.
Assistant Special Agent in Charge
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Homeland Security Investigations
Monica Laguna is currently an Assistant Special Agent in Charge (ASAC) with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Calexico and has oversight of over 100 Special Agents, task force officer, and administrative personnel. MS. Laguna manages and directs all. investigative operations, administrative activities and represents HSI within the Imperial Valley, California. Ms. Laguna has oversight of eight GS-14 group supervisors and two Program Managers and is responsible for servicing three ports of entry that are situated on the Mexicali, Mexico- Imperial Valley, California border. The Mexicali-Imperial Valley is a significant, lucrative drug and alien smuggling corridor which extends approximately 4,600 square miles bordering Mexico, Yuma County, Arizona, and San Diego County. ASAC Laguna serves as a member of the Executive Board of the Imperial Valley Drug Coalition.
Ms. Laguna began her career in 2002 in San Luis, Arizona where she was assigned as an inspector with the U.S. Customs Service. In this capacity, she enforced laws pertaining to Immigration and Nationality and the importation/exportation of commercial goods into the country. In 2007, Ms. Laguna joined U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as a Special Agent assigned to ASAC Yuma, where she conducted criminal investigations across a multitude of programmatic areas.
In 2014, Ms. Laguna was assigned to the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) in Calexico, California as a Senior Special Agent, where she investigated allegations of employee criminal conduct and malfeasance. In 2017, Ms. Laguna was promoted to Group Supervisor in HSI Calexico and oversaw the Investigative Services program. She was later reassigned to HSI Yuma, where she supervised the HSI Yuma Border Enforcement Security Task Force (BEST) / Joint Port Enforcement Group.
In 2018, Ms. Laguna served as the HSI Headquarters Domestic Operations National Program Manager for HSI Detroit, HSI Kansas City, HSI Philadelphia, and HSI St. Paul, where she provided critical operational and strategic support for major investigative endeavors. She later served as Acting Operations Chief for the Southeast and Islands regions within Domestic Operations, where she served immediately prior to joining SAC Charlotte.
In 2020, Ms. Laguna was promoted to ASAC and assigned to HSI Charlotte as the administrative ASAC during which she managed all of HSI Charlotte’s administrative disciplines, including the Asset Forfeiture Program, Technical Operations, State and Local Overtime (SLOT), Congressional Relations, Significant Public Benefit Parole (SPBP), Firearms, and Victim Assistance programs.
Niagara Falls Facilities Chief
Port of Buffalo, New York
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Nicole Landen currently serves as the Niagara Falls Facilities Chief in the Port of Buffalo, New York. In this role, Ms. Landen has oversight of facilities and operations of the Rainbow and Whirlpool Bridge Ports of Entry, to include the Niagara Falls Nexus Enrollment Center and the Amtrak Processing station.
Ms. Landen previously served as the Port of Buffalo’s Training Chief, having direct oversight of the Field Training and Use of Force Training Units; together these programs are responsible for ensuring 650 Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officers and Agricultural Specialists at the busiest port of entry on the northern border are trained in the most recent and relevant federal laws and policies, firearms proficiency, and less lethal defensive techniques.
Ms. Landen began her Federal Law Enforcement career over 20 years ago with the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service as an Immigration Inspector. After transitioning to a Customs and Border Protection Officer with the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, she was promoted to a Supervisory Officer in 2008 and then achieved her current rank of Chief CBP Officer in 2015.
Ms. Landen serves as a Lead Instructor for CBP’s Essential Supervisory Skills (ESS) course that administers front-line, OFO-specific training to newly promoted supervisors to accelerate their transition to leadership by focusing on the skills needed to apply operation-specific tactical command policies, procedures, and decision-making processes. She served as a vital member of the ESS virtual-transition team in 2020 when the course became 100% web-based due to the pandemic, leading the industry with a successful no-cost delivery.
Ms. Landen is a founding Field Champion for the Buffalo Field Office’s Law Enforcement, Leadership, Legacy (3L) Alliance Program that was designed to build an OFO-specific program to assist in recruiting, developing, and retaining female officers by promoting mentorship, support systems, and empathetic leadership to foster a more inclusive workforce culture.
Chief Landen holds a master’s degree in public administration with a concentration in Justice Administration from Columbus State University.
On January 8, 1979, Jessie Lane began her career with the U.S. Secret Service as a Stay-in-School clerk with the Richmond Field Office. A native of Richmond, Virginia, she attended Virginia Commonwealth University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communications in 1982. In 1985, she accepted the position of Writer/Editor in the Office of Government Liaison and Public Affairs, where she wrote speeches and press releases on behalf of the agency’s director and his executive staff.
In 2002, Ms. Lane was selected to serve as the agency’s first Diversity Program Manager. She constructed an inclusive strategy that validated the mission-related benefits derived from employing people with diverse backgrounds. In 2007, she received a Master of Science in Management from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD. Ms. Lane served as the 2011 Woman in Federal Law Enforcement, Inc. President and was the first woman to hold that position from the non-sworn ranks of women working in the federal law enforcement agencies.
In February 2020, Jessie became the Vice President of WIFLE Foundation, Inc., and Deputy Executive Director of Women in Federal Law Enforcement, Inc. In January 2021, Ms. Lane was appointed to serve as the Acting Executive for the U.S. Secret Service’s Office of Equity and Employee Support Services. During this assignment, she managed the daily operations of the following major programs: Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Program, the Employee Assistance Program, the Ombudsman Program, and the Chaplain Program.
General Counsel, WIFLE Foundation, Inc. and Women in Federal Law Enforcement, Inc.
Barbara D. Linney, based in Washington D.C., is a partner and co-lead of the international trade practice team at the law firm of BakerHostetler. She has been advising both U.S. and global clients on international trade and business issues for more than 25 years, including on matters such as export controls and economic sanctions, defense security and foreign investment, and anticorruption compliance.
Ms. Linney serves clients across a broad spectrum of industries, with particular focus on the defense, aerospace, oil and gas, maritime, and medical device industries. Her practice involves representing clients before various federal agencies, including the U.S.
Departments of Commerce (BIS), Defense (DSS), and State (DDTC), as well as the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). She is admitted to practice in Alberta, Canada, England & Wales, New York, and Washington, D.C.
Ms. Linney serves as an Adjunct Professor at the Georgetown University Law Center, frequently is invited to speak on international trade and business issues at national and international conferences, and is the author of numerous articles on international trade and business issues. She is a member of the American Bar Association’s Section of International Law (SIL) and currently serves as a Vice Chair of the SIL’s National Security Committee and Women’s Interest Network (WIN).
Ms. Linney also is a member, a Past President, and pro bono General Counsel of The Association of Women in International Trade (WIIT) as well as a recipient of the WIIT Lifetime Achievement Award. In addition, she is a founding member of WIFLE and a past recipient of WIFLE’s Executive Committee Award for her contributions to WIFLE as pro bono General Counsel, a position in which she has served for over twenty years.
Special Agent
National Program Manager
Center for Countering Human Trafficking
Department of Homeland Security
Since May of 2022, Special Agent June Liu is assigned to the DHS Center for Countering Human Trafficking as a National Program Manager for the Forced Labor in the Supply Chain Section.
Agent Liu joined DHS/ICE in 2002 as an Immigration Enforcement Agent in the San Francisco office, and in 2006 became a Special Agent with Homeland Security Investigations in the Los Angeles office and worked various cases involving transnational crimes and public safety. In 2015, Agent Liu was assigned to the Joint Terrorism Task Force in Los Angeles and in 2016-2021 was an ICE/HSI Representative in Beijing, China. In 2021-2022, Agent Liu was to the HSI Las Vegas Human Trafficking Task Force.
Agent Liu graduated from the University of Kansas, majoring in Business Administration.
Patrol Agent in Charge
United States Border Patrol, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (Retired) Secretary, WIFLE Foundation, Inc.
Melissa Ann Lucio retired from the Department of Homeland Security where she worked for over 28 plus
years. As a United States Border Patrol, Patrol Agent in Charge, she led hundreds of agents in the security of the United States. Mrs. Lucio served as a seasoned government professional in diverse law enforcement operational and government administrative positions and met challenges in complex environments with proven leadership, and professional competence. She is skilled in human capital investment; strategic and operational planning; crisis management; threat management; risk mitigation; national and border security; law enforcement; emergency management; intelligence analysis; government and policing. She continues to forge strong relationships and coalitions across the public and private sectors.
Mrs. Lucio graduated from the University of Phoenix with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business-Organizational Innovation and an associate degree in the Foundations of Business. She is a 2014 graduate of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Leadership Institute, a 2016 graduate of the Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior Management Institute for Police, and a 2018 graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigations National Academy Session 273. In 2018, she successfully completed and was issued a Graduate Certificate of Achievement from the University of Virginia School of Continuing and Professional Studies in Criminal Justice Education.
Mrs. Lucio has been married to Rick Lucio for 39 years and is the proud mother of five magnificent sons: Daniel, David, Derek, Dario and Duran; has two lovely daughtersin-law, Josie and Wendy, and four extraordinary grandchildren, Lily, Sadie, Daario Milo, and Fox Waller.
Vice President, Corporate Security
BristolMyers Squibb
Board Member, WIFLE Foundation, Inc. and Women in Federal Law Enforcement, Inc.
Assistant Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation
(Retired)
In her current position as Vice President of Corporate Security for Bristol-Myers Squibb, Ms. Lyons has global responsibility for identifying and mitigating security risks to the company. Ms. Lyons retired from the Federal Bureau of Investigation as the Assistant Director of the Inspection Division following her role as Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Baltimore Division. Early in her career, Ms. Lyons was a Special Agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration. She received a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of South Carolina and a Master’s Degree in Psychology from Ball State University. Ms. Lyons was the 2009 President for WIFLE, Inc. and continues to serve as a WIFLE Board Member.
Chief of Strategic Initiatives for the Policing Project
New York University School of Law
Co-Founder, 30x30 Initiative
Maureen Q. McGough is the Chief of Strategic Initiatives for the Policing Project at NYU Law, where she oversees national efforts to improve accountability and transparency in policing. She joined the Policing Project from the National Police Foundation (now the National Policing Institute), where she led the non-profit’s research, training, and technical assistance efforts as Director of National Programs.
Prior to joining the National Policing Institute, Maureen spent a decade with the federal government in various roles with the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of State. She served as Senior Police Advisor to the Director of the National Institute of Justice – the USDOJ’s research, development and evaluation agency – where she led agency efforts to advance evidence-based policing, improve the representation of women in policing, and implement systems-level criminal justice reform initiatives.
Maureen is a member of the FBI’s Law Enforcement Education and Training Council, an executive board member for the American Society of Evidence-Based Policing, and is a recent public leadership executive fellow with the Brookings Institution. Maureen is an attorney and earned her J.D. from the George Washington University Law School.
Stephanie McGuigan is a U.S. Postal Inspector in Columbia, South Carolina, where she primarily investigates mail fraud, organized financial crimes, and violent crimes. Stephanie is a Firearms Instructor, Defensive Tactics Instructor, and First/AID CPR Instructor. Stephanie started her career with USPIS in 2016, as a Postal Inspector in Laredo, Texas.
Stephanie began her career in federal law enforcement as a U.S. Border Patrol Agent assigned to Laredo. During her time as Border Patrol Agent, Stephanie patrolled drug and human smuggling routes and tracked lost migrants across the South Texas dessert. In addition to field work, Stephanie was assigned to the Public Affairs Unit, and the Laredo Sector Special Operations Detachment as a physical fitness instructor to Border Patrol and other law enforcement agents. Stephanie graduated from the University of Central Florida with her Bachelor of Arts in 2010.
Owner, ASK-Coaching-Training-Consulting, The Power of 3, LLC
Office of Equity and Employee Support Services
Executive – U.S. Secret Service (Retired)
Carolyn Jean McMillon, a graduate of the Georgetown University Transformational Executive Leadership Coaching Program, is a leadership coach who partners with current and future leaders seeking to enhance their leadership capabilities and reach their greatest potential. She is also a professional trainer and consulting in the field of Diversity and Inclusion, Equity, and Equal Employment Opportunity. She is the owner and operator of ASK-Coaching-Training-Consulting, The Power of 3 , LLC which she launched upon retiring from the United States Secret Service. Prior to her retirement from the Federal government, Ms. McMillon served as the U.S. Secret Service’s first Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Director to rise to the Senior Executive Service (SES) ranks where she held a dual-hatted position as both, Executive of the Office of Equity and Employee Support Services (EES) and the Equal Employment Opportunity Director. Not only is Ms. McMillon a Leadership Coach, she also holds credentials as an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) with the International Coaching Federation (ICF). In addition, Ms. McMillon possesses a Master of Arts Degree in Human Resources and Development and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Gerontology. McMillon is also a published author: “Askers, Seekers, and Knockers: I Asked--Turning Challenges into Triumphs.”
trafficking into the U.S. and advised U.S. Ambassadors on conducting diplomacy in active combat zones. Jessica served three years on the Foreign Service Journal Editorial Board and just completed a Master of Science at the prestigious U.S. Department of Defense Advanced Warfighting School, where her thesis focused on space diplomacy and electromagnetic pulse weapons in the space warfighting domain.
Prior to joining the Department of State, Jessica worked for the World Bank in Washington, D.C., and for a multinational risk management corporation in Houston. Jessica has a B.A. in International Studies from DePaul University, where she was recognized by the School of Political Science as a Distinguished Alum in 2022.
Jessica’s next tour will be in China.
Special Agent in Charge
Atlanta Regional Office
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of the Inspector General
https://youtu.be/iAi5Rg0iH30.
Supervisory Special Agent
Diplomatic Security Service
U.S. Department of State President, Women in Federal Law Enforcement, Inc. Executive Committee
Special Agent Jessica McTigue’s 17-year career with the Diplomatic Security Service of the U.S. Department of State spans 15 countries across the globe. Her notable experiences include working in Baghdad during the transition of the U.S. presence in Iraq after the UN Multinational Forces Iraq mandate expired. She received a Department of State award for heroism while serving in Sana’a, Yemen during the civil war. She was knighted by the President of Chad for assisting Chad in building its counterterrorism capabilities following the first-ever terrorist suicide bombing in the capital. Jessica also served as a State Department fellow in the U.S. Senate where she ensured responsible provisions were included in several bills that became law.
Jessica led criminal investigations into passport and visa fraud to stem the flow of weapons, drugs, and human
Tamala E. Miles is currently the Special Agent-in-Charge (SAC) of the Atlanta Regional Office for HHS-OIG where she is responsible for operations throughout seven states: Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Kentucky. Tamala began her Federal Career with the U.S. Postal Service in 1988 and transitioned into law enforcement as a Postal Police Officer in 1995. In 2000, Tamala joined HHS-OIG as a Special Agent in the Philadelphia Regional Office where she worked investigating a wide variety of federal and state violations to include, allegations of health care fraud – including prescription fraud, identity theft, and drug diversion; internal government employee investigations; and contract and grant fraud – that resulted in numerous successful civil settlements and criminal convictions. In 2017, Tamala was promoted to Assistant Special Agent in Charge (ASAC) in the Philadelphia Regional Office, Washington Field Office where she provided leadership and direction to Criminal Investigators/Special Agents and support staff throughout the Maryland and D.C. Field Offices. Tamala is currently a firearms instructor, UC instructor, member of the Peer Support Response Team, and the Diversity & Inclusion committee. Tamala continuously represents the department at speaking engagements, recruitment fairs, as well as serves as an adjunct training instructor at HHS-OIG National Training Operations Branch and the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC). During her career, Tamala has participated in, taught, and managed Undercover Operations for over 15 years. Tamala holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in criminal justice from Coppin State University.
Acting Commissioner
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
Troy A. Miller is the Acting Commissioner for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). In this role, he leads more than 60,000 employees and ensures the advancement of the agency’s mission, strategic objectives, and related Administration priorities. He directs CBP’s three core missions of counterterrorism, border security, and trade enforcement, while facilitating $4 trillion in trade and facilitating travel of over 410 million people through ports of entry.
Acting Commissioner Miller also served in this role from January to December 2021. During his prior Acting role, Mr. Miller led the agency through a myriad of challenges, to include the COVID-19 pandemic, surges of migration along the Southwest border, hurricane relief efforts, and Operation Allies Welcome – the substantive effort to process refugees fleeing Afghanistan. Mr. Miller also made workforce resiliency a top priority during his initial tenure as Acting Commissioner of the nation’s largest law enforcement agency.
Between December 2021 and November 2022, Acting Commissioner Miller served as CBP’s Deputy Commissioner. In this role, he was the agency’s senior career official, overseeing the daily operations of CBP’s expansive mission, including matters relating to trade, travel, and national security.
Acting Commissioner Miller also previously served as the Director, Field Operations for CBP’s New York Field Office. As the DFO, he directed the activities of almost 3,000 CBP employees and an area with: two of the country’s busiest international airports, John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR); the east coast’s largest container seaport (New York/Newark); and the Pharmaceutical, Health and Chemicals Center of Excellence and Expertise (PHC Center). Mr. Miller oversaw CBP’s national security and anti-terrorism operations; immigration and agriculture inspections; and the agency’s trade enforcement efforts throughout the New York metropolitan area.
Prior to his role as DFO, Mr. Miller also served as the Executive Director, National Targeting Center (NTC), where he directed over 800 employees and was responsible for providing advance targeting, research, analysis, and coordination among numerous law enforcement and intelligence agencies in support of CBP anti-terrorism mission on a 24/7 basis. The NTC is the principal organization responsible for developing and implementing CBP’s counterterrorism strategy. Mr. Miller implemented several intelligence and targeting units that support CBP’s primary mission to secure America’s
borders, and he oversaw staff that use a multi-layered risk-based approach, which included collecting and analyzing advance traveler and cargo information.
From 2013 to 2015, Acting Commissioner Miller served as the Acting Assistant Commissioner, Office of Intelligence and Investigative Liaison, where he initiated an organizational restructuring in direct support of field components and border enforcement entities that partner with them and promoted initiatives to transcend physical borders. In addition, he has held numerous leadership positions including Assistant Port Director, Seattle; Director of Targeting and Analysis, Office of Intelligence and Operations Coordination; and Director of the National Targeting Center-Passenger.
Mr. Miller began his federal career with the U.S. Customs Service in 1993 as a Customs Inspector. Most recently, he was awarded the Meritorious Executive Presidential Rank Award in 2021, and he is a prior recipient of the Distinguished Executive Presidential Rank Award in 2016. Mr. Miller holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science degrees from Bemidji State University. He is also a graduate of the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government’s Senior Executive Fellows program.
Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (Retired) Chair, Board of Directors, Women in Federal Law Enforcement, Inc.
In 2021, Sheree L. Mixell was selected as the Chair of the Board of Directors, WIFLE Foundation, Inc., and WIFLE, Inc. Ms. Mixell previously served as Vice President/Deputy Executive Director of the WIFLE Foundation, Inc. and WIFLE, Inc. respectfully. After 25 years of distinguished law enforcement service, Ms. Mixell retired January 31, 2013, as the ATF Special Agent in Charge of the Philadelphia Field Division. As the SAC, she directed ATF’s law enforcement operations and industry regulation activities of special agents, industry operations investigators, task force officers, and administrative staff, throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Ms. Mixell also served on ATF’s Director’s Advisory Committee that advises on policy, management and operational issues impacting ATF offices around the country. In 2007, Ms. Mixell was selected to participate in ATF’s Senior Executive Service (SES) program. Ms. Mixell has attended executive development programs at the University of Virginia, Treasury Executive Institute, Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) Executive Leadership Program, and the White House Offices of Cabinet Affairs and Presidential Personnel. Ms. Mixell has been a member of the federal Senior Executive Service since 2009, when she earned her OPM SES Certification.
In December of 2011, she was promoted to Special Agent in Charge, Philadelphia Field Division.
She began her career in law enforcement with the United States Secret Service in Washington, D.C. In 1990, she became an agent with ATF. In 1997, she was promoted to ATF Headquarters as a Program Manager in the Office of Liaison and Public Information. She also served as the Group Supervisor for the Washington Field Division Intelligence Group and Regional Crime Gun Center. In this capacity, she coordinated ATF support to major events and investigations, which included the 2001 Presidential Inauguration, the International Monetary Fund (IMF)/World Bank events and the Pentagon investigation on September 11, 2001. She was later promoted to the Chief of the Office of Public Affairs at ATF’s National Headquarters serving as the agency’s national spokesperson. She also served as the Assistant Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Baltimore Field Division.
Ms. Mixell received numerous Department of Treasury and Department of Justice Special Act and Service Awards and was named a Woman of Distinction by the Philadelphia Business Journal. She has served as the Vice President and President of the WIFLE Executive Committee and is a founding and lifetime member of the organization. She is a graduate of Indiana University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.
Upon taking office in 2019, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, appointed Candace Moore to serve as the City’s first Chief Equity Officer. Charged with leading the new Office of Equity and Racial Justice (OERJ), Candace was tasked with advancing policies and practices that promote equitable outcomes across Chicago.
Under Candace’s leadership, OERJ’s early wins included organizing city departments to create and be accountable to Racial Equity Action Plans, advancing a Community Wealth Building agenda with a $15 million investment, and leading the Together We Heal initiative that resulted in $5 million for community-led healing projects. In 2022, both OERJ and the role of the Chief Equity Officer were codified into municipal law ensuring sustainability for future work.
Candace often says, “There is no finish line when it comes to advancing racial equity – instead, our goal is to strengthen a ‘muscle’ for equity strong enough to build a more fair and just Chicago.”
Founder, Women in Federal Law Enforcement, Inc. Deputy Assistant Director, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (Retired)
Chair, Board of Directors, WIFLE Foundation, Inc.
Margaret Moore began her law enforcement career in New York City in 1973. While serving as an undercover narcotics police officer in the Organized Crime Control Bureau of the New York City Police Department, she received a Commendation from NYPD for her heroic accomplishments. In June 1976, she was appointed as a special agent for Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), and was assigned to the New York Office. ATF. Ms. Moore went on to join other experienced undercover agents at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center to develop an undercover training course for new ATF agents, which still remains in the curriculum today. With continued success came assignments of increased responsibility, including the command and control of two highly successful task forces for the Bureau in 1989 and 1991, in Washington, D.C. Both of these operations earned ATF high visibility among other agencies and in the media for its concentrated attack on violent crime. Ms. Moore was again promoted, earning her the title of the agency’s first woman Special Agent in Charge (SAC). She served as the SAC for both the Baltimore and Seattle Field Divisions and, as the Deputy Assistant Director for Science, was the highest-ranking woman agent in the agency. In 1999, after 23 years of federal service and many decorations for distinguished service, including the Treasury Department’s highest honor, Ms. Moore retired.
In June 1999, Ms. Moore incorporated WIFLE, Inc., a non-profit organization that she founded, along with several other founding mothers. By September of 1999, while serving as WIFLE’s Executive Director, Ms. Moore joined the ranks at Feminist Majority Foundation, a notfor-profit organization where she served as the chief point of contact to federal, state, and local law enforcement for the National Center for Women and Policing (NCWP). Later, as Director of the NCWP, Ms. Moore conducted annual leadership training conferences with a focus on women and leadership, police reforms, and strategies to increase the numbers of women in policing and effectively address violence against women. In March 2006, Ms. Moore incorporated and founded the WIFLE Foundation, Inc., serving as President. Most recently, she founded the WIFLE Executive Leadership Institute. After 13 years of leadership within the WIFLE organizations, Ms. Moore officially retired from both WIFLE and the Feminist Majority on December 31, 2012. In her retirement, she continues to serve as an Advisor to the Feminist Majority and as the Chair of the Board for WIFLE.
Qiana’s law enforcement career began in 2001 as a police officer in Indiana. She transitioned to Northwestern University Police Department working patrol while studying for her master’s degree.
Her federal service began in 2007 with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service working in Chicago and Las Vegas; conducting mail theft, mail fraud, and narcotics investigations while serving as the national diversity committee chair. This is where her interest and skills in personal development, Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DE&I), coaching, and mentorship were honed.
In 2018, Qiana joined the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General in Atlanta, conducting mail theft and narcotics investigations. Within a year, she was mentoring others and putting her passion, knowledge, and experience in DE&I to use. She earned her DE&I certification from Northwestern University and helped the agency establish many “firsts” in that space.
In 2022, Qiana was promoted to Assistant Special Agent in Charge (ASAC) leading a team in Miami and West Palm Beach, while still leading DE&I efforts nationally.
Qiana’s vision for women’s wellness and personal development led her to launch Wholelistic for her LLC (Whole-Lis-Tic). With over 1,100 members worldwide, Wholelistic’s focus is women’s self-care and empowerment; encouraging them to connect, find balance, and exceed their goals. Qiana has a professional coaching certification in life, goal setting, career, and happiness and she offers individual and group coaching, wellness retreats and other services, all rooted in empowering women.
When she’s not working or traveling the world with her husband of eight years, you will probably find her hanging out with her puppy on the beaches of Florida!
As Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Investigations, Ms. Ocampo supervises the day-to-day investigative activities of 115 personnel in Headquarters and five Regional Offices. DOT OIG conducts investigations related to DOT’s programs, operations, and personnel, ensuring the safety of the traveling public and combatting fraud of the roughly $50 billion granted annually for transportation-related work across the country.
Ms. Ocampo began her law enforcement career as a military Special Agent with the U.S. Air Force Office
of Special Investigations (AFOSI), where she worked a variety of criminal and civil investigations. After the September 11, 2001, attacks, she turned her attention to counterintelligence and counterterrorism and supported high-risk deployment operations.
In 2004, Ms. Ocampo became a civilian Supervisory Special Agent and then Director of Operations for AFOSI’s Region 4 in San Antonio, Texas. She provided oversight of criminal, civil, and counterintelligence investigations for 14 offices across eight states.
Ms. Ocampo moved to the DoD OIG’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service in Alexandria, Virginia, in 2008. In a variety of progressively impactful roles, she supported Federal fraud investigations around the world. She also ensured the integrity and reliability of the agency’s reports to DoD, Congress, the media, and the general public.
In 2016, Ms. Ocampo joined DOT OIG as the Special Agent-in-Charge of Headquarters Operations, Washington, D.C. She implemented an innovative Regional Desk Officer detail and improved DOT OIG’s relationships with key partners. She was selected for the Senior Executive Service in 2019.
Ms. Ocampo holds a B.S. in Political Science from the U.S. Air Force Academy, and an M.A. in Public Policy Management from Georgetown University. Her contributions have been recognized with multiple awards from the offices of inspector general of the Air Force, DoD, and DOT.
Public Health - Law Enforcement Advisor/Instructor Enforcement and Removal Operations Training Division
Federal Law Enforcement Training Center
CAPT Osborne is commissioned in the U.S. Public Health Service detailed to the ERO Basic Training Unit at FLETC, Glynco, Georgia where she provides public health instruction on access to care and medicolegal implications for individuals in custody; infectious disease prevention; emergency and disaster response; and occupational health during international travel. On an ad hoc basis, she provides Trauma Informed Care training for ICE investigators of sexual assault allegations. She is also a faculty member at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (the military’s medical school) in Bethesda, Maryland for the tactical medical battlefield practica.
CAPT Osborne is a former U.S. Army nurse who gained broad medical-surgical experience before progressing to Chief of Medical Education and Staff Development with the Army Medical Department (AMEDD). She joined ICE in 2003 and the USPHS later that year as a health systems consultant. She was promoted to the role of
Executive Officer and served in that capacity during Operation Crescent City Relief. In 2005, CAPT Osborne became the Associate Director for Management with Immigration Health and began an ancillary position with the ERO Academy.
She has been certified in Combat Casualty Care, Trauma Nursing, Advanced Trauma Life Support, and Instructional Systems Design. She holds a Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. and graduated from the AMEDD Advanced Leadership Academy in San Antonio, Texas.
Alisa Petrakis Chief Engagement OfficerExecutive Director for Strategic Talent Recruitment, Inclusive Diversity and Engagement
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Alisa has been with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) since inception, March 2003, when she transitioned into DHS from the General Services Administration, Federal Computer Incident Response Center (FedCIRC) which was one of the Department’s 22 legacy organizations.
She currently serves in the Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer (OCHCO), Strategic Talent Recruitment, Inclusive Diversity & Engagement (STRIDE) Division as the Program Manager for both our DHS Employee Association (EA) Program and our Department-wide Joint Recruiting and Hiring.
In her role as the DHS, EA Program Manager, Alisa works with Leadership and both our department-wide and component level EA’s to continue building a culture of inclusiveness and support for our employees across the Department.
As part of her role as the Program Manager for our department-wide recruiting and outreach, she serves as the Department lead for the DHS, Women in Law Enforcement 30x23 Initiative which aims to increase the representation of women in law enforcement new hires to 30 percent by 2023 in addition to ensuring the hiring, retention, and career advancement of our current women in law enforcement is a top priority across the Department. Alisa has been in Federal service for 33 years and spends her free time volunteering at her local church/food pantry, golfing, and most importantly, spending time with family.
Homeland Security Investigations
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Tonya Price is an HSI Supervisory Special Agent over the human trafficking and child exploitation group, currently
on detail to represent HSI in Congress. Tonya is a subject matter expert in human trafficking, having investigated over 70 trafficking investigations. She is the lead case on Bangkok Dark Nights. She is also a Peer Support Member, Recruiter, and worked as a certified undercover agent for 10 years.
Special Agent in Charge
U.S. Department of Justice
Drug Enforcement Administration (Miami Field Division)
Ms. Deanne L. Reuter, a 25-year veteran of the Drug Enforcement Administration, reported as the Special Agent in Charge of the Miami Field Division in November 2021. Prior to this assignment, she was promoted to the Senior Executive Service in October 2019, as the Special Agent in Charge of the Denver Field Division.
Ms. Reuter earned Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Utica College of Syracuse University and entered the United States Army as a Second Lieutenant in the Ordinance branch in 1992. She served on active duty for over four years and obtained the rank of Captain. Ms. Reuter began her law enforcement career in 1996, as a Police Officer with the Seattle Police Department.
Ms. Reuter joined the DEA as a Special Agent in July 1997, in Seattle, Washington. Soon after, she was assigned to the Los Angeles Field Division where she worked as a field Special Agent until she was promoted to a Supervisory Special Agent position at the Los Angeles Field Division in January 2009. During this time, she led a busy enforcement group comprised of DEA Special Agents and deputized state and local Officers, working Israeli organized crime, marijuana eradication/ enforcement efforts, and regional drug investigations.
In July 2015, Ms. Reuter reported to DEA Headquarters as an Inspector in the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR), where she investigated allegations of misconduct levied against DEA employees. In June 2016, she was promoted to Senior Inspector in OPR, and in December 2016, she was again promoted to Associate Deputy Chief Inspector in OPR.
Ms. Reuter reported to the Denver Field Division in December 2017, as an Assistant Special Agent in Charge responsible for seven active enforcement groups and several Tactical Diversion Squads in Colorado and Montana. In October 2019, she was promoted in place to the position of Special Agent in Charge, where she oversaw a staff of over 300 personnel in 13 offices in Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and Montana.
As the Special Agent in Charge of the Miami Field Division, Ms. Reuter has oversight responsibility of the
investigative, enforcement, intelligence and regulatory strategies of the entire state of Florida, in efforts to target the highest echelon of international drug traffickers, transnational criminal organizations, and violent offenders and gangs, while simultaneously dismantling local distributors impacting communities. She oversees a staff of over 700 personnel including Special Agents, Diversion Investigators, Intelligence Analysts, Task Force Officers, Professional Staff, and Contractors in 15 offices covering the state of Florida.
Corina Rice, Ph.D., is a Senior Consultant on the People Insights team at BetterUp, where she works to advance the science and practice of evidence-based coaching to help transform workplace behavior. She earned her Ph.D., in Experimental Research in Psychology from the University of Memphis. Corina is an industrialorganizational psychologist by training with nearly 20 years of experience, specializing in the selection and development of talent.
Prior to BetterUp, Corina has spent time in a variety of SME roles, including at PSI Services where she designed executive assessments and leadership development programs for clients in both public and private organizations; Amazon, where she served as the Manager of Talent Assessment for Worldwide Operations; and for the U.S. Navy, during which time she developed and implemented a mental resilience assessment to determine Navy SEAL recruits’ likelihood of success in special warfare training.
Assistant Inspector General for Investigations
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Office of Inspector General
Shimon Richmond serves as the Assistant Inspector General for Investigations (AIGI). He is responsible for leading a comprehensive nationwide program for the prevention, deterrence, detection, and investigation of criminal, civil, and administrative misconduct impacting FDIC programs and operations. His office conducts criminal investigations and law enforcement operations throughout the United States and internationally. The matters investigated by OIG’s Special Agents involve complex multi-million-dollar schemes of bank fraud, obstruction of bank examinations, theft, embezzlement, money laundering, contract/cyber frauds, and other crimes. Richmond and his staff routinely work in partnership with the Department of Justice, United States Attorney’s Offices, the FBI, the U.S. Secret Service, the
IRS–Criminal Investigation Division, other OIGs, and state and local law enforcement entities.
Before joining the FDIC OIG, Richmond was an AIGI for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG). In that role, Richmond provided executive leadership and oversight to criminal investigators, analysts, and IT forensic examiners, who carried out the mission of protecting the integrity of HHS programs and the health and welfare of program beneficiaries.
Richmond previously served as the Special Agent in Charge of HHS OIG’s Miami Region, as a headquarters supervisor with coordination and oversight responsibilities for HHS OIG’s investigative operations, as a supervisor in the National Training & Emergency Operations Branch, and as a member of the Department of Justice’s Medicare Fraud Strike Force. Before joining HHS OIG, Richmond worked for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and as a police officer.
Richmond is a Senior Fellow with the Partnership for Public Service’s Excellence in Government Fellows program, a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist, and holds several other certifications. He has received numerous awards during his career, including a Department of Justice leadership award. He is a graduate of Champlain College and the ABA Stonier Graduate School of Banking at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where he also received a Wharton Leadership Certificate.
Employee Assistance Program Counselor
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Dr. Ginnette Rivera Hernández is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist with over 21 years of experience in the mental health field. She is certified in Level I & II Trauma Inform Care and has extensive experience working with a wide range of needs including trauma/PTSD, anxiety, depression, and grief, as well as relationship conflicts and high-profile cases. Her professional experience also includes conducting psychological and psychometric evaluations. She currently serves the FBI as an Employee Assistance Counselor within the Employee Assistance Unit at the Headquarters office.
For the past six years, Dr. Rivera has been the Program Manager of the FBI’s Post-Critical Incident Seminars (PCIS) and the Victim Service Resiliency Seminar (VSRS), where she manages quality, performance, processes, and the clinical agenda, and is also responsible for providing clinical support to all Bureau employees involved with and exposed to critical incidents based on their work. Dr. Rivera has authored several articles on wellness, resiliency, chronic stress, and
human trafficking published in the FBI EAP Newsletter, and has worked on various research studies including psychological interventions, and group therapy programs. Her most recent and ongoing study is “FBI Post Critical Incident Seminar (PCIS): Assessing the Impact of the PCIS on FBI Employees Exposed to Critical Incidents.”
When not working, she loves being with her husband and four daughters doing outdoors and fun activities. She is a former professional volleyball player who enjoys teaching her daughters about the game.
Associate Director for Training Operations
Federal Law Enforcement Training Center
Ariana M. Roddini serves as the Associate Director for Training Operations (ADT) for the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC), overseeing all training operations at FLETC training sites in Georgia, New Mexico, South Carolina, and Maryland, as well as international, state, local, tribal, and territorial training throughout the United States and the world.
Ms. Roddini began her law enforcement career as a fraud investigator for the New York City Department of Health and Human Services in 1994, where she was responsible for the investigation of fraud, waste, and abuse in the welfare system. In 1996, she joined the United States Secret Service (USSS) as a Special Agent. During her tenure with the USSS, she was assigned to the Office of Investigations, Office of Training, and Office of Protective Research. Ms. Roddini served as a member of the New York City Police Department Asian Organized Crime Task Force and the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. In 2006, Ms. Roddini transferred as a Senior Instructor to the FLETC in Glynco, GA. She performed instructional duties in the Enforcement Operations Division and the Investigative Operations Division. In 2007, Ms. Roddini was promoted to a leadership position and served on FLETC’s leadership cadre in various divisions or directorates throughout the organization. Ms. Roddini is a graduate of the Senior Executive Service Candidacy Development Program and was executive certified by the Office of Personnel Management. Ms. Roddini’s formal education includes a master’s degree in educational leadership and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.
Uniformed Division
United States Secret Service
Maria Ruano is an Inspector with the Uniformed Division of United States Secret Service. Sworn in as a federal police officer with the Secret Service Uniformed Division in September 2006, she has more than 15 years of federal law enforcement experience. At the conclusion
of training from the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia, and at the James J. Rowley Training Center in Laurel, Maryland, she was assigned to the Secret Service Uniformed Division White House Branch in support of the Presidential Protective Division. In January 2014, she was promoted to the rank of sergeant and remained assigned to the White House Branch as an operational supervisor. During her tenure as sergeant, she was assigned to the White House Branch Deputy Chief’s staff as the administrative sergeant. Sergeant Ruano was also assigned to the James J. Rowley Training Center from 2015 through 2017, where she served as a class coordinator and instructor for all Uniformed Division recruits attending basic training. As a physical fitness coordinator with the Secret Service, she helped recruits reach their fitness goals. In January 2017, Sergeant Ruano was promoted to the rank of lieutenant and was reassigned to the White House Branch as an operational lieutenant where she had responsibility of managing officers and officials. She was also tasked with ensuring the protection of the White House Complex and the first family. In August 2019, she was selected for and reassigned to the Secret Service’s Special Operations Division Canine Unit where she managed Uniformed Division officers and explosive detection and mitigation canines.
Lieutenant Ruano was promoted to the rank of captain in March of 2022 and was reassigned to White House Branch in support of the Presidential Protective Division. She was responsible for the oversight of all officers, sergeants, and lieutenants assigned to the day work shift and ensures compliance with all White House policies and SOPs. Captain Ruano was selected to establish the Uniformed Division Women’s Council (UDWC) in March 2022. As the chairperson, she oversees the first female employee resource group within the Secret Service. Her efforts have assisted in identifying areas of focus to help rectify ongoing concerns as it relates to the women in law enforcement. The UDWC, led by Captain Ruano advocates for changes in policy as it relates to female employees. She has conducted several roundtable discussions with outside agencies and USSS leadership that focus on retaining and recruiting women in law enforcement. She has also increased awareness on the many contributions the women assigned to the Uniformed Division are making daily.
In May 2023, Captain Ruano was promoted to the rank of Inspector.
Claire Russo Senior Advisor Bureau for Conflict Prevention and StabilizationU.S. Agency for International Development
Claire Russo serves as a Senior Advisor with the Biden Harris Administration at USAID in the Bureau for Conflict
Prevention and Stabilization. Claire started her career in the Marine Corps as an intelligence officer. During her time in the Marines, she served with the First Marine Expeditionary Force, First Marine Air Wing, and First Intelligence Battalion. In Fallujah, Russo led a team of Marines in targeting critical nodes of insurgent networks across Anbar Province. Following her deployment, Russo worked with the Joint Task Force for Sexual Assault Prevention and Response, assisting in the writing of the first ever Department of Defense (DoD) wide assault prevention and response policy. After leaving the Marines, Russo took a position with the Department of Army as a civilian advisor to infantry brigades operating in Afghanistan. Claire spent over a year in Afghanistan building the Female Engagement Team program for the Army and increasing women’s participation in the counter insurgency campaign. After a year in Eastern Afghanistan, she moved to Kabul to serve as a special advisor to General Petraeus. She advised on the employment of women in counter insurgency and the training of female teams to support special operations. Upon her return from Afghanistan, Claire served at the Council on Foreign Relations as an International Affairs Fellow. During her fellowship, she studied the role of women in combat and conflict and assisted in writing the policy to integrate women into combat roles in the U.S. Military. Continuing her work in defense policy, Claire served as a consultant to several implementing partners of the United States Government. In 2019, Claire ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in Virginia’s 5th District. Following the campaign, Claire served as Chief of Staff for Veterans for Biden. Claire’s husband Josh currently serves in the U.S. Army, and they live in the D.C. Metro Area with their three children.
Directing Attorney
Thai Community Development Center
Panida Rzonca, JD, is Directing Attorney at the Thai Community Development Center where she manages the delivery of comprehensive social and legal services including trauma-informed, culturally, and linguistically appropriate victim’s rights representation and legal services including affirmative immigration relief, labor claims, victims’ rights advocacy, restitution, victim representation in a criminal setting, civil legal assistance, and family reunification.
Panida graduated from Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles, California. She is a Past President of the Thai American Bar Association and received the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association Best Under 40 Award in 2021. Panida currently serves as a Commissioner on the California Access to Justice Commission.
Immediate Past President, WIFLE Foundation, Inc., and Immediate Past Executive Director, Women in Federal Law Enforcement, Inc.
Assistant Director, Office of Investigations, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Retired) Treasurer, WIFLE Foundation, Inc.
Catherine Sanz started her law enforcement career in 1977 as a Northeastern University Criminal Justice coop student with the Federal Protective Service. In her 31 years of service she served as an instructor at the Federal Law Enforcement Center, special agent for the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Customs Service. She supervised undercover child pornography and money laundering operations, general smuggling, commercial fraud, and money laundering investigations.
In 1998, Ms. Sanz transferred to Customs headquarters and managed the Asset Forfeiture Program and served as the Assistant Director for the Department of Treasury’s Executive Office of Asset Forfeiture. In 2003, she developed, implemented, and ran the asset forfeiture program for the newly formed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency under the Department Homeland Security. She was promoted in 2006, to the Senior Executive Service as the Assistant Director for Mission Support for ICE Office of Investigations. As Assistant Director, she managed a budget of $1.4 billion and was responsible for all budget formulation and execution.
Ms. Sanz served as WIFLE Secretary, Vice President, and President in 2007. Since 2008, she has served as a member of the Past Presidents Committee and more recently as a Board Member of the WIFLE Foundation, Inc.
Ms. Sanz holds a B.S. degree in Criminal Justice from Northeastern University in Boston and a M.A. in Forensic Psychology from Marymount University, Arlington, VA.
In January 2012, Ms. Sanz became the Vice President for the WIFLE Foundation and Deputy Executive Director for WIFLE, Inc. and, in 2013, became the President and Executive Director for each respective organization. She has been an integral leader and impactful role model in WIFLE over the past 10 years.
Course Developer/Instructor
Enforcement and Removal Operations Training Division
Academy Firearms Division
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Deportation Officer Nicole Shepard currently serves as a Course Developer/Instructor for the U.S. Immigration and Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Training Division. She is a Lead Firearms
Instructor at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia.
Officer Shepard began her career in ERO in 2007 as an Immigration Enforcement Agent in Lancaster, California. In 2010, she received certifications as a Defensive Tactics Instructor (DTI) and Senior Firearms Instructor (SFI) for the Los Angeles Field Office (LAFO).
In 2015, Officer Shepard took a position as a Deportation Officer at the Pacific Enforcement Response Center in Laguna Niguel, California. As a Deportation Officer she identified, located, and apprehended criminal non-citizens throughout the Southern California region. She served as the SFI, DTI and Use of Force subject matter expert for the PERC. She also assisted in certifying additional instructors to form the PERC’s Training Unit.
Officer Shepard joined the ICE National Pistol Team (NPT) at the National Rifle Association National Police Shooting Championships in 2017 where she received honors of Highest Scoring First-Time Shooter and won the National Title in the Two Officer Production SemiAutomatic Pistol event. In 2018, she became a member of the ICE NPT and returned to the National Championships to win Highest Woman Shooter in the Production SemiAutomatic Pistol event and the following year received the National Title in the Four Officer event.
Ms. Shepard holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Illinois-Chicago.
Supervisory Special Agent
Federal Bureau of Investigation – Headquarters
Office of Partner Engagement
Violence Reduction Unit Active Shooter Program
Supervisory Special Agent (SSA) John P. Skillestad has served 32+ years with the FBI. During his career SSA Skillestad worked in the Dallas Division investigating Violent Crimes, Drug, and Public Corruption. SSA Skillestad also served as supervisor the Violent Crimes Squad and then the Public Corruption Squad. SSA Skillestad was the Crisis Management Coordinator and a National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crimes (NCAVC) – Behavioral Analysis Unit Coordinator for the Dallas Division. In those roles he provided training regarding Active Shooter situations to local, state, and federal law enforcement officials as well as community organizations including primary and secondary schools. In April 2018, SSA Skillestad was promoted to FBIHQ and was assigned to the Office of Partner Engagement, Violence Reduction Unit, as the Program Manager for the Active Shooter Program. In this role, SSA Skillestad oversees the annual Active Shooter Study which examines active shooter incidents in the United
States. SSA Skillestad provides training regarding Active Shooter planning, preparedness, response, and recovery to law enforcement personnel, first responders, military personnel, educators, businesses, healthcare workers, houses of worship, and community leaders. SSA Skillestad has implemented the development of active shooter awareness training for the professional staff of the FBI and this training is suitable for use when training the public. SSA Skillestad is also an Assessor for the Special Agent Talent Assessment Program.
SSA Skillestad graduated from the Loyola School of Law (New Orleans, Louisiana) in 1990 with a Juris Doctor and is a member of the Louisiana Bar.
Deputy Field Office Director
Enforcement and Removal Operations
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Ms. Kristen Sullivan is currently on a temporary detail as Deputy Chief of Staff for the ERO Office of the Executive Associate Director in Washington, D.C. In this role, Ms. Sullivan manages special projects for ERO with the various components within Immigration and Customs Enforcement. As a Deputy Field Office Director for ERO Atlanta, Ms. Sullivan oversees all ERO Atlanta Enforcement Operations and Mission Support as well as suboffices within the States of Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
Ms. Sullivan started her federal career as an Immigration and Customs Enforcement Special Agent in Hartford, CT in 2003 after graduating from Pennsylvania State University. In 2008, Ms. Sullivan accepted a position as a Deportation Officer with ERO Boston and has progressed through the ranks both within the ERO Boston and Atlanta Field Offices.
United States Park Police
On April 3, 2023, Jessica Taylor was appointed as the Chief of the U.S. Park Police (USPP). As the nation’s oldest uniformed federal law enforcement agency, the USPP’s workforce serves to protect the public, parks, and the most iconic landmarks in Washington, D.C., New York City, and San Francisco metropolitan areas.
Prior to this appointment, Taylor served as the Director of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Criminal Investigation Division for more than 13 years where she supervised the investigation of environmental crimes, specifically those threatening human health and the environment. In this leadership role, she was responsible for ensuring the protection functions and criminal investigations under Title 18 violations and federal
statutes, including the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.
In 1999, Taylor joined federal law enforcement as a Special Agent with the United States Secret Service in the Washington Field Office. After 11 years with the Secret Service, she served as an Assistant Special Agent in Charge and Special Agent in Charge with the United States Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General. Chief Jessica Taylor holds a B.A. in Public Policy from the College of William and Mary. She is a military spouse and has two sons.
University
Marcia K. Thompson is currently an Assistant Professor at a private university in Illinois, she has had a variety of leadership roles in both private and public sectors. She has been a global human resources executive at Amazon where she served as the global Director of Community Innovation, she is an attorney and brings over 20 years of experience working in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in corporate, academic, and within the public-sector. She started her career working for the Department of Justice (DOJ), where she realized her passion for DEI. During her tenure there she was trained in policy review, consensus building, mediation, and civil rights protections in the workplace and became a volunteer EEO counselor. She worked in that capacity while attending law school and took additional courses to support her interests in DEI at that time. Marcia also created a diversity recruitment initiative while working at DOJ within her agency to assist with creating access to and diversifying one of the core positions. The program’s success won her an award and changed the way recruitment was conducted.
Upon graduating from law school, she continued her work in DEI as a consultant and attorney advising organizations, leaders, corporations, and public agencies on how to create respectful, engaging, and inclusive workplaces. Marcia has conducted organization-wide assessments; race and equity-based reviews; training; and served as a Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer (CDEIO) for an international corporation. She has worked to assist with employee belonging, engagement, organizational development, and change management initiatives across various enterprises.
John Tschida is a Special Agent with the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-
CI), currently on assignment to the DEA in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In the past 28 years, Agent Tschida has investigated numerous large scale criminal organizations including outlaw motorcycle gangs, drug trafficking organizations, mortgage fraud schemes, ponzi scheme operators, and human sex trafficking organizations, focusing on the illegal money laundering being conducted with the illicit proceeds.
Supervisory Customs and Border Protection Officer
Buffalo/Niagara Region
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Ms. Tucker is a Supervisory Customs and Border Protection Officer with 17+ years Federal Service experience holding positions throughout the Buffalo/ Niagara Region overseeing multiple disciplines, inspection areas, and environments while managing 700+ employees.
Ms. Tucker served as an Acting Branch Chief under the PPAE Directorate, assigned to the Strategic Transformation Office within the Office of Field Operations (OFO), reviewing emerging ideas and technologies throughout OFO.
Ms. Tucker served as the Acting Chief Supervisory Officer over the Tactical Terrorism Response Team and Contraband Enforcement Team in the Area Port of Buffalo, conducting intelligence interviews, enforcement operations, and interagency coordination on suspected terrorists.
Ms. Tucker prioritizes mentoring and development. She is Field Champion in the Law Enforcement, Leadership and Legacy Alliance program in the Buffalo Field Office, building a more inclusive workforce culture within OFO. Over the past two years, she has developed, solicited, and instructed the RIDT course sponsored by the Employee Engagement and Organization Culture Division which has been provided to numerous federal agencies nationwide. Ms. Tucker authored a Structured Interview Course for managers to ensure all processes are systematic and non-bias.
Ms. Tucker earned a BA from SUNY Fredonia majoring in Sociology and Psychology, minoring in Criminal Justice.
Associate Legal Advisor
Office of the Principal Legal Advisor
Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Malissa Tucker serves as an Associate Legal Advisor for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA). Since she joined Immigration and Customs Enforcement in 2016, Malissa has served as a Special Counsel and a Labor and Employment Law Division Attorney. In her current
role, she advises agency management on, among other issues, how to avoid employment discrimination and effective labor-management relations. Prior to joining OPLA, Malissa served in the U.S. Army and for the Department of Defense as an intelligence collector, trainer, and analyst, deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan. Malissa earned her undergraduate degree from American Military University and a Juris Doctor from The Catholic University of America. Malissa has a son and a daughter and is passionate about advancing workplace equity for all.
Workforce Management Branch Chief
Human Capital Office
Mission and Readiness Support Directorate
Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers
Ms. Rebekah Tucker is the Workforce Management Branch Chief, in the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers’ (FLETC) Human Capital Office (HCO), Mission and Readiness Support Directorate (MRSD) and has been since February 2019.
Prior to this appointment, Ms. Tucker served in HCO as a Human Resources Policy Advisor since September 2018 where she reviewed component and department human resources level polices. Other FLETC assignments include serving as a Management and Program Analyst in MRSD, having developed and managed the Acquisition Management Program, the Balanced Workforce Strategies Program, reimplementation of the FLETC New Supervisor Training Program, and implementation and management of the MRSD’s Look at Leadership program.
When joining FLETC, Ms. Tucker worked for Human Resources and Management Services, Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer, Department of Homeland Security, in Washington, D.C., as a supervisory and senior staffing specialist, servicing high level customers known for complexity in their recruitment needs. She is a staffing program systems subject matter expert and is adept at resolving difficult situations for management and applicants. With experience in Merit Staffing, as well as Delegated Examining, she is well equipped to provide innovative options to achieve hiring goals while maintaining regulatory compliance. She began her federal career in 2003 as a Defense Logistics Agency Student Training (Human Resources), located in New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, and over seven years, evolved to become the Program Manager over the Delegated Examining Program and performed quality control review of the office workload.
Dr. Angela von Trytek is currently a GS-15 Supervisory Special Agent in federal law enforcement having oversight and jurisdictional responsibility for multiple states in the upper Midwest portion of the United States (U.S.). She collaborates with other federal, local, and state agencies as it pertains to complex poly-drug investigations with regional, national, and international impact. Dr. von Trytek has served as a Liaison Officer with the U.S. Southern Command (US SOUTHCOM) Doral, Florida and served as a Section Chief and Subject Matter Expert (SME) involving human intelligence (HUMIT). Dr. von Trytek has extensive experience in domestic and foreign investigations. Her overseas assignment in Afghanistan allowed her to work with cross functional teams and interagency partners, in furtherance of U.S. counterdrug policies and objectives. Dr. von Trytek served twenty-five years in the U.S. Army and Army Reserve. During her military career, she was an Enlisted Soldier and a Commissioned Officer before honorably retiring. Dr. von Trytek has a Bachelor of Science from the University of Houston-Downtown, Houston, Texas. She holds a Master of Science in Criminal Justice Leadership and Management from Sam Houston State University and a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership from Our Lady of the Lake University, San Antonio, Texas. Dr. von Trytek’s areas of research interest include transnational criminal organizations as a national security threat, the weaponization of fentanyl and other analogues, and the effects of leadership styles on women in federal law enforcement.
Director of Industry Operations
Atlanta Field Division
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives
Dr. Scena Webb is the Director of Industry Operations for the Atlanta Field Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). She serves as the chief regulatory authority for the firearms and explosives industry ensuring compliance with the Gun Control Act, National Firearms Act, and Safe Explosives Act. Before she transferred to Atlanta, Dr. Webb served in the same capacity for the Seattle Field Division, which consisted of Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Alaska, Hawaii, and the U.S. Territory of Guam.
Dr. Webb served 21 years in the Navy. She has a Doctor of Management in Organizational Leadership, a Master of Science in Psychology, a Master of Public Administration, and a Bachelor of Arts in Human Resources Administration. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish.
She enjoys sharing her leadership experience by reviewing journal articles for the Journal of Leadership Education, serving as a Dissertation Chair for Ph.D. candidates and teaching graduate learners pursuing their master’s in public administration.
She engages in Emotional Display Rules and adapts her outward appearance to various situations. Throughout her career, she has often found herself amongst a handful of women leading diverse organizations. Her workshop shares powerful insights based on research and years of practical application on Emotional Display Rules.
Dr. Webb has been married to her high school sweetheart for more than 30 years. She attributes one of the secrets to maintaining her long relationship as fully engaging in Emotional Display Rules while negotiating her way through life.
The Wilkerson Care Group
Dr. Willidean (Dean) Wilkerson is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Wilkerson Care Group responsible for personal and professional development in the areas of training, career planning, coaching, mentoring, leadership development, and Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ) consulting.
Dr. Wilkerson is a retired member of the Senior Executive Service (SES) with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in Washington, D.C. She retired in September 2018, after serving in several senior leadership positions within the IRS, each with increasing responsibilities. After serving 42 years in the federal government, she wanted to pursue her passion in education for the adult learner.
After retirement, Dr. Wilkerson served as the Faculty Liaison with the Graduate School USA, responsible for facilitating a close working relationship with over three hundred instructors for effective course delivery and curriculum development.
Dr. Wilkerson also served as Lead Instructor for the IRS Candidate Development Program (CDP), 2017 and 2018 and as a Leadership Readiness Program facilitator. In addition, she has also served as an adjunct instructor for Strayer University, Bowie State University and Prince Georges Community College. She enjoys teaching adult learners because it provides an opportunity for continual learning, development, and growth for herself and the learners. Dr. Wilkerson also participates in numerous special emphasis programs and enjoys coaching and mentoring.
Dr. Wilkerson holds a Doctoral of Management degree in Organizational Leadership from the University of Phoenix;
a master’s degree in information resources management from the University of Maryland University College; and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration (Management) from Southeastern University.
Chief of Affirmative Employment, DEIA and Analytics
United States Secret Service
Shani Wilkins currently serves as the United States Secret Services’ Chief of Affirmative Employment, DEIA, and Analytics.
Prior to this, she held the position of Chief Diversity Officer in the Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General to conceptualize, define, assess, nurture, and cultivate DEIA as an institutional and educational resource within the OIG.
Shani began her government career 29-years ago as a 16-year-old High School student intern with the United States Secret Service. Throughout her career, she’s held positions at the James J. Rowley Training Center; the Office of Congressional Affairs; the Office of the Director; and the Office of Administration, the Office of Technical Development and Mission Support, the Technical Security Division, and the Presidential Protective Division.
During her Senior Executive Service, Candidate Development special assignment, she worked as the Executive Advisor to the Vice President of Information Technology, Football Solutions in the National Football League during the 2021 football season.
Shani has also served in several collateral duties as a USSS Executive Coach, the Special Emphasis Program Manager for the Federal Women Program, Department of Homeland Security Diversity Dialogues Facilitator, and chaired the Spectrum De-confliction Subcommittee for National Special Security Events.
Shani holds two certifications from American University, one in executive coaching and the other in executive leadership; a master’s degree in Strategy and Leadership from Georgetown University; and a certificate of completion from the Secret Service SES Candidate Development Program. Shani is the proud mother of three young men.
Professor, Criminal Justice Administration, Middle Tennessee State University
Deputy Assistant Director, U.S. Secret Service (Retired) Board Member, WIFLE Foundation, Inc. and Women in Federal Law Enforcement, Inc.
Lynda R. Williams is currently the Professor of the Practice at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) in the Department of Criminal Justice Administration; with this appointment in 2017, she became the first individual
bestowed this title in recognition of the breadth and depth of her knowledge and expertise in the field of criminal justice and executive security.
Before joining the faculty of MTSU, Ms. Williams led an accomplished career as a United States Secret Service veteran, from 1988 until she retired, as the Deputy Assistant Director/Chief Security Officer in 2017. Ms. Williams has become one of the highest-ranking females in the history of the Secret Service.
Ms. Williams holds a Bachelor of Science from Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) and a Master of Science in Management from Johns Hopkins University. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Leadership & Decision Making at the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga.
Ms. Williams served as the 43rd National President of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) and serves as a board member of the Women in Federal Law Enforcement (WIFLE) to name a few. Most notedly, Ms. Williams serves as a member of the Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC). She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. Ms. Williams believes in paying forward the many opportunities presented to her; she relishes pouring into the minds of tomorrow’s leaders in the field of Criminal Justice.
In 2021, WIFLE’s Executive Board welcomed Ms. Williams as a member of the Board of Directors of WIFLE Foundation, Inc. and Women in Federal Law Enforcement, Inc.
United States Attorney’s Office
District of Minnesota
Melinda Williams is the Criminal Chief of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota and has been serving in that role since March 2022. Melinda became an AUSA in 2005, in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. In 2014, Melinda joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota. From 2017 through 2022, she served as Senior Litigation Counsel. Melinda has litigated cases in every section of the office, with a focus on large and complex cases.
Melinda is a 2003 graduate of the Georgetown University Law Center and of Saint Louis University. After law school, Melinda was a D.C. Bar Fellow with the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, joined the law firm of Sidley & Austin, and clerked for Judge Alexander Williams, Jr., in the District of Maryland.
Melinda has been an adjunct professor at the University of Minnesota Law School for several years, teaching
in the areas of trial advocacy and criminal procedure. In 2019, Melinda received the Federal Bar Association Younger Federal Lawyer Award.
Assistant Special Agent in Charge
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations
Mary Ann Withrow is an Assistant Special Agent in Charge (ASAC) for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations (HHS/OIG/OI) in the Philadelphia Regional Office. ASAC Withrow supervises agents assigned to the West Virginia and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania offices. ASAC Withrow started her career in 1996 as an investigator with the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, Bureau for Medical Services (BMS) and then with the West Virginia Medicaid Fraud Unit (MFCU).
ASAC Withrow has over 25 years of health care fraud investigative experience conducting complex civil and criminal fraud investigations, to include health care fraud, grant fraud, and drug diversion. ASAC Withrow has assisted as an agent and ASAC with the Western District of Pennsylvania Opioid Fraud and Detection Unit (OFADU) and the Appalachian Regional Prescription Opioid (ARPO) Task Forces. ASAC Withrow earned a Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration and an Associate of Science in Accounting.
Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer
Chief Engagement Officer
Executive Director for Strategic Talent Recruitment, Inclusive Diversity and Engagement
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Sharon M. Wong is the Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Chief Engagement Officer, and Executive Director for Strategic Talent Recruitment, Inclusive Diversity and Engagement for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. In this capacity, she leads strategic recruitment, diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, as well as employee engagement efforts to ensure a diverse workforce and improve morale, engagement, and belonging for the third largest Department in the Federal government, covering nearly 240,000 employees located throughout the country and around the world. Prior to this, Sharon served as the Deputy Director (and Acting Director) for OPM’s Office of Diversity & Inclusion, the office that leads and manages the government-wide diversity and inclusion (D&I) efforts. In this role, she was responsible for D&I policy initiatives, coordinating with 60+ Federal agencies to provide technical assistance on implementing D&I strategies and goals, creating and sustaining D&I Councils and Employee Resource Groups,
developing and executing the D&I Dialogues Program to improve the inclusion scores of agencies, and building strategic relationships for outreach and collaboration to improve the representation of diverse communities.
Ms. Wong came to OPM in September 2011, after serving as the D&I Officer at NASA/GSFC, where she led the D&I efforts since the program inception in 2000, leaving NASA/GSFC with a #2 ranking for Diversity (out of 220+ agencies) in the Best Places to Work in Government, as well as a detail to NASA HQ to standup the NASA D&I program. Her work experiences include 15 years as a Lead Software Integration and Test Engineer at NASA, and in Strategic Planning and Outreach at NASA HQ.
Ms. Wong is the immediate Past President for OCA, a national Asian Pacific American (APA) social justice and civil rights advocacy organization, where she served for six years as President; she’s a past Chair of the Asian American Government Executives Network (AAGEN), an organization of federal APA executives; and a Past President of the FAPAC (Federal APA Council).
Ms. Wong served on the Maryland Commission for Women, and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Board of Governors. She is a lifetime member of Blacks in Government (BIG) and the Federally Employed Women (FEW). Ms. Wong received a NASA Equal Opportunity Award, the Astronaut Silver Snoopy Award, and an Outstanding Leadership Award. She received AAGEN’s Stanley Suyat Memorial Leadership Award, the Community Catalyst Award by the National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance (NQAPIA), the Lifetime Achievement Award from FAPAC, and was inducted into the Wall of Honor at Wheeling Jesuit University. She has a B.S. in Physics, an M.S. in Engineering Systems Analysis from the University of Central Florida (UCF), and a Diversity Management Certificate from Cornell University.
Assistant Professor
University of Hawaii-Mānoa
Special Agent, Air Force Office of Special Investigations (Retired)
Board Member, WIFLE Foundation, Inc. and Women in Federal Law Enforcement, Inc.
Dr. Yu received her Ph.D. in Public Administration and Public Policy from Auburn University and is currently
an Assistant Professor of Public Administration at the University of Hawaii–Mānoa, teaching graduate-level courses in the Master of Public Administration (MPA) program. Her research interests include the recruitment, retention, and promotion of women in federal law enforcement and policy decision-making in policing. She is published in Women & Criminal Justice, Feminist Criminology, and The Police Chief, and has conducted research with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. She is also a retired Special Agent with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) and serves as a Board Member for WIFLE Foundation, Inc. and WIFLE, Inc.
Assistant Special Agent in Charge
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations
Philadelphia Regional Office
Zabrina Zitter is currently assigned as an Assistant Special Agent in Charge (ASAC) for the Philadelphia Regional Office, Office of Investigations (OI), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (OIG). ASAC Zitter’s responsibilities include managing OI operations in Pennsylvania and Delaware. ASAC Zitter began her career in public service as a Paralegal with the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office’s Homicide Unit. She has 12 years of Federal law enforcement experience investigating, leading, and supervising a wide variety of offenses, to include health care fraud, drug diversion, grant fraud, and identity theft.
ASAC Zitter is a recipient of several awards, to include Inspector General’s Awards, Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE) awards, and several awards from the United States Attorney’s Office Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
ASAC Zitter holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Army Criminal Investigative Division (Army CID)
https://www.cid.army.mil
Beltloops and Pockets
https://www.beltloopsandpockets. com
Blue Cross Blue Shield
https://bcbs.com
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
https://www.cia.gov
Customs and Border Protection
https://www.cbp.gov
DHS Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
https://www.fema.gov
DHS Federal Protective Service (FPS)
https://www.dhs.gov/federalprotective-service
DHS Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
https://www.ice.gov
DHS Office of Inspector General (OIG)
https://www.oig.dhs.gov
DHS TSA Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS)
https://jobs.tsa.gov
DHS Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
https://tsa.gov
DHS U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS)
https://www.uscis.gov
DHS U.S. Secret Service (USSS)
https://www.secretservice.gov
Department of Defense –Inspector General (DOD IG)
https://www.dodig.mil
Department of Energy (DOE)
https://www.doe.gov
Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
https://www.dhs.gov
Department of Justice – Bureau of Prisons (BOP)
https://www.bop.gov
Department of Justice – U.S. Marshals Service (DOJ USMS)
https://www.usmarshals.gov
Department of State – Diplomatic Security Service (DOS DSS)
https://www.state.gov
Department of Veterans Affairs –Office of Inspector General (VA OIG)
https://www.va.gov
FEDS Protection
https://fedsprotection.com
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
https://www.fbi.gov
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation – Office of Inspector General (FDIC OIG)
https://www.fdicoig.gov
Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC)
https://www.fletc.gov
Fit for Duty Clothier
https://www.fitfordutyclothier.com
Government Employees Health Association – (GEHA)
https://www.geha.com
Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General –(HHS OIG)
https://oig.hhs.gov
John Deere
https://www.deere.com
Kaiser Foundation
https://www.kp.org
Marist College
https://www.marist.edu
Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS)
https://www.ncis.navy.mil
Niche RMS
https://www.nicherms.com
Small Business Administration OIG (SBA OIG)
https://www.sba.gov
Starr Wright
https://www.wrightusa.com
Treasury Bureau of Engraving and Printing – (Treasury BEP)
https://www.bep.gov
Treasury Mint Police
https://www.usmint.gov
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Law Enforcement & Investigations
https://www.fs.usda.gov/
U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS)
https://www.uspis.gov
United Healthcare
https://www.unitedhealthcare.com
Worldwide Assurance for Employees of Public Agencies –(WAEPA)
https://www.waepa.org
The WIFLE Foundation, Inc. extends heartfelt appreciation to the most dedicated team of professionals who go above and beyond the call of duty to ensure the success of this year’s Annual Leadership Training: Carol Paterick, Betsy Casey, Dorene Erhard, Lynda Williams, Linda Walker, Rachel Cannon, Carol Libbey, Melissa Lucio, Rick Lucio, Carolyn McMillon – as well as Linnea Bodenhamer and Sydney Darnell, WIFLE Interns from Marymount University.
A special acknowledgement to the backbone of our organization whose unwavering commitment to making a difference in the lives of women in law enforcement is second to none: Margie Moore, Sheree Mixell, Catherine Sanz, Catrina Bonus, Jessie Lane, Betsy Casey, Dorene Erhard, Amy
Jo Lyons, Lynda Williams, Melissa Lucio, Carolyn McMillon, Janice Ayala, Barbara Linney, Esq., Dr. Helen Yu, Ph.D., and Carol Paterick.
We would also like to offer our sincere and personal gratitude for the exceptional contributions of Jessica McTigue, President of Women in Federal Law Enforcement, Inc. Executive Committee and Amber Jordan, Vice President of Women in Federal Law Enforcement, Inc. Executive Committee.
Finally, we extend our warm welcome and sincere congratulations to WIFLE Foundation, Inc.’s newly appointed President Catrina Bonus – a 26-year veteran and recent retiree from the position of Deputy Chief with the United States Secret Service.
Our panel of attorneys leverages decades of federal employment law experience to defend FEDS Protection members.
Practices Coverage Included Employment Practices coverage is included in FEDS Protection policies at no additional cost. Automatic 36-Month Tail Coverage
If you retire from or otherwise leave federal service, FEDS Protection automatically includes a three-year extended reporting period at no additional cost.
FEDS President and Founder Tony Vergnetti is a former federal attorney who has continually demonstrated his understanding of and commitment to the entire federal community. FEDS representatives are dedicated to providing you with timely services and personalized attention.
