ASHLEIGH R. GAZDA

Email: ashleighgazda@gmail.com | Phone: (703) 895-6959 | Active TS/SCI with CI Polygraph

PROGRAM MANAGER | SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER | SENIOR INTELLIGENCE ANALYST

Dynamic and results-oriented Senior manager with 23 years of experience, including over 12 years in program and project management. Holder of an active TS/SCI with CI Polygraph, with a proven track record of driving operational excellence and delivering mission-critical outcomes. A USAF-trained Senior Intelligence Analyst, adept at leading cross-functional teams, enhancing organizational performance, and managing complex projects across intelligence, geospatial analysis, and defense sectors. Experienced in shaping strategic initiatives, fostering collaboration, and executing large-scale programs with precision in high-stakes environments. Proficient in Lean Six Sigma, Scrum, and Agile methodologies, with advanced skills in resource optimization, process improvement, and change management. Recognized for innovative problem-solving, mentoring, and commitment to exceeding objectives.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Technical Advisor | Headquarters SPACECENT Training and Deployment Manager

KBR (Previously LinQuest Corporation) | 08/2024 – Present

• Assisted in the establishment of the Headquarters U.S. Space Forces – Central Command (SPACECENT), contributing to the development of foundational processes, guidance, baseline frameworks, and interagency coordination, while establishing business processes, procedures, and policies to support space operations within the CENTCOM Area of Responsibility (AOR).

• Spearheaded the development of the foundational SPACECENT component training and exercises program by creating baseline guidance and utilizing Bureaus, Boards, Centers, Cells, and Working Groups (B2C2WG) practices to bring together functional expertise in collaboration with U.S. Air Forces - CENTCOM (AFCENT) and other elements to establish SPACECENT deployment requirements, reporting instructions, and training standards, ensuring mission readiness and operational alignment.

• Designed and implemented innovative total force training tracking tools, improving accuracy, compliance, and accessibility across multiple classification levels and directed cross-functional collaboration to update training materials for international partners, ensuring alignment with USSF and CENTCOM standards and requirements.

• Leveraged knowledge management best practices to establish and maintain repositories that facilitate staff access to training and exercise materials and information, while consistently updating resources and supporting effective communication through professional briefings.

• As a key support to the contract lead at SPACECENT, I track company-specific training, ensuring compliance and timely completion. Established a baseline Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the travel request process to streamline approvals and enhance efficiency. I managed the collection and integration of inputs for Monthly Status Reports (MSRs), delivering accurate and timely submissions each month. Provide subject matter expertise for capture statements, contributing technical and strategic insights to support successful business development efforts.

• Highly skilled in coordinating complex tasks, planning future operations, and synchronizing activities with personnel and units across multiple global locations. Demonstrated ability to manage and execute mission-critical responsibilities in a fully remote environment, ensuring smooth communication and operational success.

• Proven ability to deliver impactful leadership briefings and present complex issues with clear, actionable recommendations while effectively communicating critical information to senior leadership, ensuring informed decision-making and driving strategic alignment.

• Completed the Project Management Institute: PMP ATP Bootcamp (March 2025)

Program Manager | Senior Project Manager | Contract Site Lead

R&K Enterprise Solutions, Inc. | 05/2022 – 02/2024

• Led a 14-member multi-disciplinary team filling the roles of Contract Program Manager, Site Lead, and Senior Project Manager delivering high-fidelity modeling and simulation training scenarios for Air Operations Centers (AOC) worldwide, achieving a 2,400% production increase in the first eight months and sustained 68% annual growth in the second year.

• Streamlined project portfolio management processes by implementing standardized frameworks and tools, driving process improvements to resolve inefficiencies in production and development, and collaborating with project leads to track, update, and communicate end-to-end schedules for over 15 simultaneous projects, resulting in improved prioritization, optimized resource allocation, and a 20% reduction in project delivery timelines.

• Identified and prioritized risks, developed risk management strategies, and ensured quality control of all deliverables to meet and exceed customer expectations, while developing Plans of Action and Milestones (POA&M) and Quality Management Control Plans (QMCP).

• Executive level briefer with vast experience briefing high-level military leaders, agency directors, large audiences, and customers on project milestones and team capabilities, while fostering global collaboration with AOCs to align training objectives and deliver impactful solutions.

• Directed contract management tasks, including budget oversight, travel coordination, employee assessments, and annual CPARS performance reviews, ensuring compliance with contractual requirements.

• Spearheaded business development initiatives, crafted tailored proposals, and contributed to technical proposal development for contract competitions and recompete efforts.

• Consistently improved team morale through effective leadership, recognition programs, and team-building events, driving a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

Exercise Scenario Developer | Analysis, Correlation & Fusion SME

Sawdey Solution Services, Inc. | 01/2021 – 05/2022

• Managed the development of fusible intelligence databases and training software stimuli to support AOC Mission Qualification and Continuation Training programs to facilitate center of gravity (COG), course of action (COA), and Intelligence Preparation of the Battlespace (IPB) analysis.

• Applied expertise in AOC operations by collaborating with SMEs to plan, develop, execute, and analyze Joint warfighting exercises, wargames, demonstrations, Tabletop Exercises (TTXs), and Rehearsal of Concept (ROC) drills, ensuring alignment with real-world mission objectives.

• Led Joint and Combatant Command exercise planning efforts, leveraging the Joint Event Life Cycle (JELC) framework to develop and implement dynamic training scenarios. Support white cell, control cell, or observer/controller roles during execution phases to ensure realism and technical accuracy.

• Familiarity with operational planning processes such as the Joint Planning Process (JPP) and the Military Decision-Making Process (MDMP), and with exercise planning conferences (Initial Planning Conference (IPC), Mid Planning Conference (MPC), Final Planning Conference (FPC), and MSEL Planning Conference, etc.).

• Liaised with exercise planners and training managers/representatives from various military units, Combatant Commands, Joint Staffs, and other mission partners to develop training exercises focused on AOC operations and procedures.

• Conducted comprehensive Joint Intelligence Preparation of the Operational Environment (JIPOE) and Predictive Battlespace Awareness (PBA) to anticipate adversary actions and enhance operational readiness for training exercises.

• Participated in the development and execution of WARFIGHTER, BLUE FLAG, Naval LSE, AGILE FLAG and other joint training exercises.

Senior Future Capabilities Research Analyst

S2 Analytical Solutions, LLC | 06/2019 – 01/2020; 09/2020 – 01/2021

• Led and participated in Technical Exchange Meetings (TEMs) to support the development of Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Statement of Capability (SOC) documents, ensuring alignment with GEOINT capabilities and strategic objectives for future capabilities.

• Conducted analysis of GEOINT collection strategies by researching targets, Essential Elements of Information (EEIs), and operational trends, providing actionable insights to support future system development and mission planning.

• Collaborated with NGA, NSG, and ASG entities, maintaining strong professional relationships and contributing to assessments, working groups, and analytic efforts to enhance GEOINT capabilities.

• Supported the Future Needs Working Group (FNWG) in refining GEOINT collection strategies and shaping the development of next-generation systems to meet evolving mission requirements.

Senior Full Motion Video Analyst (Deployed)

FGS, LLC | 04/2020 – 09/2020

• Provided real-time 24/7/365 support in a deployed work environment as an integral part of a team by preparing, maintaining, and presenting intelligence displays, reports and briefings and documents for publishing that were derived from analysis of FMV and imagery.

• Exploited full motion video in a high operational tempo intelligence fusion environment utilizing imagery analyst skills, plotting, map reading, OB identification, and facility identification and description by purpose and function.

• Compiled, segregated, evaluated, analyzed, and disseminated intelligence information to support military operations and perform geo-location mensuration functions, extracts coordinates and positional relationships from digital databases.

Senior Full Motion Video Analyst | ISR Operations Training Institute Instructor

Zel Technologies, LLC. | 01/2020 – 04/2020

• Facilitated FMV scenario-based training to equip analysts with the essential skill set to ensure mission success, further bolstering the 11th Special Operations Intelligence Squadron (SOIS) training pipeline, and facilitating a seamless transition from training to real-world operations for immediate evaluation, with a 100% pass rate.

• Provided technical expertise, support planning, and integration of new and existing intelligence collection, exploitation, reporting, dissemination, and evaluation capabilities into AFSOC Distributed Ground Station (DGS) intelligence units and implementation of these warfighting capabilities through direct support to AFSOC. Including integration of data from intelligence collection, fusion, correlation, and dissemination systems related to UAS-RPA, manned, satellite systems, and surface/ground collection platforms, conducting ISR operations.

• Prepared and presented briefings to high level military officials and other distinguished visitors at the 11th SOIS on mission crew and PED constructs, intelligence products and other tailored information.

Project Manager | Principal Intelligence Operations Analyst

SAIC | 02/2019 – 06/2019

• Project Manager assisting with the design and execution of larger Army National Guard (ANG) projects throughout the United States by providing management and SME to support the ANG utilizing technical experience to contribute to strategic planning, conducting liaison duties with program sites ensuring synergy and optimization of resources across the enterprise.

Flight Supervisor | Senior Full Motion Video Analyst

MacAulay-Brown, Inc. | 07/2018 – 02/2019

• Promoted to Flight supervisor in the first month. Supervised ten individuals on day-to-day, mission, and company operations. Conducted evaluations, managed timecards, and other supervisory items.

• Provided technical expertise, support planning, and integration of new and existing intelligence collection, exploitation, reporting, dissemination, and evaluation capabilities into AFSOC Distributed Ground Station (DGS) intelligence units and implementation of these warfighting capabilities through direct support to AFSOC. Including integration of data from intelligence collection, fusion, correlation, and dissemination systems related to UAS-RPA, manned, satellite systems, and surface/ground collection platforms, conducting ISR operations.

• Conducted imagery exploitation, generated voice, and textual technical reports IAW mission reporting requirements; produced and disseminated tailored, imagery-based products (i.e., stills, 360 analytical products, follows, video clips) in response to mission requirements, and provided tactical and strategic level imagery analysis support for FMV, EO, SAR, IR imagery and future imagery sensors which may be employed in support of AFSOC PED operations.

Senior Requirements Manager & Functional Specialist

Skyris, LLC. | 04/2018 – 07/2018

• Led the facilitation and marketing between NGA and Enterprise RFI Dashboard (ERFID) customers aiding in coordination and monitoring of RFIs over three classification domains and providing support, technical expertise, and training to ERFID users and managers via telephone, chat, email, desk side, IC Connect and instant messaging.

• Performed daily administrative monitoring, ensuring continuous process workflow, maintaining situational awareness, daily archival of RFIs older than 90 days, and worked hand-in-hand with other IC database requirements management process holders.

• Developed and maintained CONOPs, governance, and user guides to increase customer understanding of the requirements management process and applications across three domains.

Chief Marketing Officer | Project Manager | Maritime GEOINT Cartographer

Analytical Consulting Group, LLC | 10/2011 – 01/2018

• Experienced Project Manager who created, maintained, and provided technical expertise of Enterprise Products on Demand Service (ePODS) nautical charts for the US Navy and other naval agencies and entities throughout the world.

• Worked hand in hand with a variety of naval related organizations and branches throughout the intelligence community to manipulate Digital Nautical Chart (DNC) data, layer files, and attributes with extensive use of imagery, foreign nautical charts, hydrographic surveys, US charts, materials such as bathymetry, and other miscellaneous sources.

• Handled multiple projects in parallel and produced comprehensive technical reports detailing ePODS chart edits, highlighting impacts of Safety of Navigation information to more than 50 products and with advanced ARC GIS experience, proficiency, geographic knowledge developed the initial SOP detailing the processes of setting up ARC map mxd files, coordinate grid creation, registering of source data, converting annotations, and projections.

• While working on contract, was simultaneously Named the first Chief Marketing Officer for ACG, working closely with the CEO and other executive officers on the mission and vision of the company. Managed all marketing operations, assessed and improved existing initiatives, and devised new strategies to increase revenue and company reach while building a reliable network of external marketing professionals and contributing to business development. Led the recruiting department, identified potential candidates, conducted interviews, and created and maintained a resume database

Counter-IED Fusion Cell GEOINT/AGI Analyst | Underground Facilities GEOINT/AGI SME

The Boeing Company | 02/2010 – 10/2011

• Worked in a fast-paced, quick turnaround RFI environment supporting a newly deployed Hyper-Spectral Imagery (HSI) sensor and exploitation system and team as the CONUS Reach-Back GEOINT/AGI SME.

• Collaborated with FMV, GMTI, and Constant Hawk analysts to produce second phase tactical and strategic level assessments and intelligence products in response to COCOM RFIs in direct support of the war-fighter.

• Produced level 2 and 3 Characterization Support Packages (CSP), facility assessments, basic assessments, and intelligence remarks in support of COCOM requirements and provided basic structural characterization of underground facilities through research, identification, database documentation, and technical expertise for imagery intelligence to IC partners and other offices for the Underground Facilities Analysis Center (UFAC).

• Worked with AGI techniques to detect, characterize, and monitor underground facilities while developing the first-ever standing collection deck for AGI/MASINT collection within AOR for the UFAC.

• Published and contributed on multiple NGA National Intelligence Briefings (NIBs), white papers, Defense Intelligence Digest (DID) product in collaboration with DIA partners on a high impact discovery for the UFAC.

ISR Force Sizing Team Imagery/AGI SME

Operational Intelligence, LLC. | 10/2009 – 01/2010

• Documented results from statistical, stochastic, and deterministic computer analysis tools for quantitative and qualitative modeling of DoD systems in support of the USSTRATCOM modeling & simulation support requirements of the DoD Global ISR Mission. The models included tools for evaluation of design, operation, performance, effectiveness, manpower, logistics, supportability, manufacturability, reliability, programmatic and cost.

• Results were used for design and evaluation tradeoffs of manned and unmanned air and surface vehicles, cruise missiles, air and surface weapon systems, C2 systems, sensor systems, communication systems, intelligence fusion, correlation and dissemination systems, automated planning systems, space systems, the subsystem components of these systems and/or the architecture within which each of these systems resides and operates.

COIC Lead for MASINT/AGI Operations | SOF Imagery/AGI SME

SAIC | 01/2009 – 10/2009

• Provided first-ever AGI products for a variety of COIC RFS’s and stood up AGI/MASINT operations within the COIC routinely collaborating with NGA, DoD, combat units, and the IC to acquire tasking for AGI coverage of specific locations throughout the CENTCOM AOR and to leverage AGI/MASINT capabilities to address formal RFSs and ad hoc taskings.

• Planned and recommended the use of imagery sensors for ISR missions using aerial photographs (photogrammetry), electronic monitoring, and human observation in order to gather and study information required to design defense plans and tactics.

• Supervised over five analysts, ensuring accurate and timely completion of all RFSs with customer satisfaction.

United States Air Force Imagery & Geospatial Analyst & Trainer

United States Air Force | 07/2002 – 06/2008

• Provided near real-time dissemination of raw U-2 imagery and finished imagery products in support of EUCOM, CENTCOM, USAFE, Joint Forces and Joint/Combined Air Component Commander’s Priority Intelligence Requirements.

• Produced and managed missions in support of EUCOM requirements, Non-Combatant Evacuation Order Lebanon, Distributed MASINT Production Cell (DMPC), CAOC, and War Operations Center (WOC) for OEF and OIF missions.

• Exploited and evaluated Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar System (ASARS-2, ASARS-2A) and SYERS II imagery for Indications & Warning (I&W) missions and special contingency operations. Prepared technical Initial Phase Interpretation Reports (IPIRs), produced imagery graphics for customers utilizing Imagery Exploitation Support System (IESS) and IPL.

• Hand selected as the first military trained MASINT/AGI analyst at DCGS-4. Exploited and rapidly reported first-hand AGI signature information in support of DGS-4 and COCOM essential elements of information (EEIs) to satisfy theater requirements.

• Created the AGI Mission Screener position; improving task flow and coordination with customers.

• Trained over 15 military and contractor GEOINT/IMINT analysts to exploit, produce, and report on DCGS and AGI collection while thoroughly answering EEIs.

• As Unit Mission Crew Scheduler, I decomposed mission schedules with crew availability to ensure 100% coverage of required personnel, with backfill availability, ensuring missions success and unit progress.

• As the Unit Deployment Manager, I recruited troops to fill deployment training requirements. Assisted personnel in deployment preparation, medical, security, and training clearance ensuring mission ready status with no delays ensuring unit compliance.

CERTIFICATIONS

• Project Management Institute: PMP ATP Bootcamp (March 2025)

• Joint Missile Warning Course

• Microsoft Office Suite Certification

• Project Management: International Projects Course

• Time Management Fundamentals Course

• Interpersonal Communication Course

• Diversity and Inclusion in a Global Enterprise Course

• Collaborative Leadership Course

• Fusion Analysis & Development Effort (FADE) Certification

• Multi-INT Spatial-Temporal (MIST) Tool-suite Certification

• Air Warfare Simulation Model (AWSIM) Certification

• Full Motion Video Imagery Analyst Qualification & Certification

• USAF Train the Trainer Course and Certification

• NGA GPC – Fundamentals Certification

• AGI/MASINT Course

• ViTEC and Matrix ELT with advanced classes

• Iraq Area of Responsibility Familiarization Course

• Iran Area of Responsibility Familiarization Course

• Underground Facility Imagery Analysis Course

• DCGS Instructor Rated Operator Course & Certification

• USAF Trainers Course and Certification

• USAF Imagery Analyst (1N1X1) Technical Training

EDUCATION

American Public University: Masters in Business Administration (MBA)

American Military University: Bachelor of Arts in Intelligence Studies

SKILLS & COMPETENCIES

Strong oral and written communication skills, Project Budget Management and Cost Reporting, Schedule and Task Performance Oversight, Risk Management, Issue Management, Contract Performance Management, Requirements Analysis, Quality Assurance Activities, High Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Conflict Resolution, Daily Operation Management, Resource Management, Process Improvement, Change Management, Exceptional Time and Task Management, Prioritization, Extremely Organized, Leadership, Brand Management, Market Research, Advertising, Social Media Marketing, Networking and Marketing, Teamwork, Client Relationship Management, Lean Six Sigma Methodology, Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) Development, Plan of Action and Milestones (POAM), Quality Management Control Plan (QMCP), Project Life Cycle methodologies, Networking, Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) Assessment, Business Development, Technical Proposal Development and Request for Proposal Support, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA) Mapping, Joint Intelligence Preparation of the Operational Environment (JIPOE), Predictive Battlespace Awareness (PBA), Joint Event Life Cycle (JELC) planning, development, and implementation processes, Intelligence Preparation of the Battlespace (IPB), Tasking, Collection, Processing, Exploitation, and Dissemination (TCPED), Dynamic Targeting, Find, Fix, Track, Target, Engage, & Assess (F2T2EA), Remote Sensing, RFI Management, Joint Training Information Management System (JTIMS), Joint Exercise Control Group (JECG), Joint Planning Process (JPP).

ARTICLES

• Featured in "AF Hosts Humanitarian Aid Disaster Relief Training Exercise for AOCs, Historic First FAA Participation" (https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3425609)

• Recognized for contributions to the 505th Combat Training Squadron’s Warfighter Exercises (https://www.linkedin.com/posts/r-%26-k-enterprise-solutions-inc_benjamin-cain-ashleigh-gazda-donna-harrison-activity-7021546913363636225-KpFD)