Bruce Kay
Potomac
Summary
Dynamic Digital Development Executive with USAID, adept at leveraging artificial intelligence and data visualization to enhance foreign aid impact. Proven track record in project management and team leadership, successfully deploying cybersecurity systems and developing innovative solutions that safeguard personnel in crisis situations. Passionate about driving transformative change in governance and civil rights.
Overview
36
36
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Digital Development Executive
USAID
Washington
08.2024 - Current
- Developed use cases for digital technologies aimed at making foreign aid more cost-effective and impactful, using artificial intelligence (AI) tools, digital financial services (fintech & blockchain tech), geospatial (mapping) and other data visualization tools
- Deployed a variety of cybersecurity and data protection systems and tools for private sector partners in Southeast Asia and Central America 2018-2024
Senior Security and Operations Intelligence Officer, USAID Command Center
USAID
Washington
09.2023 - 09.2024
- Developed a digital registration system that provided thousands of diplomatic personnel working in hazardous conditions in high-risk countries with a smartphone-enabled emergency alert and location tracking app, which allows Embassy Regional Security Officers to locate staff in distress and mobilize a response, ensuring their safety and protection in crisis situations.
Team Lead, Democracy & Governance, El Salvador & Central America Regional Mission
USAID
San Salvador
08.2021 - 08.2024
- Designed the U.S. Government's first regional, cross-border anti-corruption project, engaging transnational networks of organizations, journalists, media outlets, and business associations in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. Managed USAID El Salvador's elections and civil society support initiatives in a 'closing space' environment.
Manager, Int'l Schools & Hospital Construction
USAID
Washington
09.2020 - 07.2021
- Company Overview: American Schools and Hospitals Abroad (ASHA). Supervised the completion of two dozen USAID/ASHA construction or renovation projects for hospitals, laboratories, university buildings, dormitories, private secondary school classrooms, and libraries across Africa, Latin America, Asia, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe for the American Schools and Hospitals Abroad (ASHA) program. During the pandemic, I developed an innovative site visit system using smartphone apps to ensure constructions complied with U.S. environmental, safety, and health standards.
Director, Democracy & Governance Office, USAID Cambodia
USAID
Phnom Penh
08.2018 - 09.2020
- Led innovative initiatives to strengthen workers' rights, land rights, and civil liberties in Cambodia. Directed a multinational team of U.S. Foreign Service officers and Cambodian professionals drive programs focused on social accountability, digital media, and women's entrepreneurship. Expanded critical support for rights defenders facing political repression.
Senior Anticorruption Advisor
USAID
Washington
08.2017 - 08.2018
- Successfully managed $6.4 million portfolio of U.S. government anticorruption initiatives, including the Open Government Partnership, which created fiscal transparency web portals in 11 countries. Trained hundreds of foreign service officers on how to analyze national and transnational corruption, and design effective responses.
Chief, Governance & Rule of Law Division
USAID
Washington
02.2015 - 08.2017
- Led 13 specialists in anti-corruption, governance, and justice. Designed programs in 15 countries, with a total value of $275 million. Managed Making All Voices Count: a Grand Challenge for Development, a $45 million partnership with DFID, SIDA, and the Omidyar Network, which developed civic tech to increase government responsiveness. I represented USAID on the National Security Council committee.
Director, Democracy & Governance Office, USAID Peru
USAID
Lima
05.2014 - 01.2015
- Spearheaded the US Embassy efforts to promote Peru's OECD integration and membership, supervised $10 Million rule of law, decentralization, transparency and accountability programs
Senior Conflict Analyst USAID Washington
USAID
Washington
11.2013 - 04.2014
- Advised USAID missions on how to promote conflict mitigation, reconciliation and peacebuilding in countries with a high degree of state fragility or vulnerability to new conflicts
Director, Democracy & Governance Office USAID Iraq
USAID
Baghdad
08.2012 - 11.2013
- Directed democratization program following withdrawal of U.S forces in 2011, including assistance to 2013 Iraqi and Kurdistan elections. Stood up a successful parallel vote tabulation (PVT) to ensure the integrity of the Iraqi elections. Supervised 13 staff members, managing access to justice and community development initiatives.
Director, Threshold Program. Latin America, Eastern Europe, Asia
Millennium Challenge Corporation
Washington
11.2009 - 03.2012
- Managed a $200 million portfolio of anti-corruption programs in Albania, Peru, Guyana, Paraguay, Indonesia, the Philippines, Moldova, Ukraine, and the Kyrgyz Republic. Successfully overhauled systems to improve immunization (Peru), customs (Moldova, Philippines), internal audit (Paraguay), procurement (Indonesia), and business registration (Albania).
Director, Democracy & Governance Office, USAID Albania
USAID
09.2004 - 11.2009
- Stood up local elections observations and parallel vote tabulation (PVT) efforts in two elections
- Oversaw a $10 Million local governance, rule of law and anticorruption portfolio
- Led award-winning Millennium Challenge Corporation 'threshold program' and received commendations for e-procurement, tax administration and business registration systems
Democracy and Governance Officer, USAID Democracy Human Rights and Governance Center
USAID
Washington
07.2001 - 09.2004
- Designed democracy programs in Croatia, Georgia, Guatemala, Peru, Paraguay, on temporary assignments
- Led democracy and governance assessments, conflict diagnostics and other analyses, designed impact assessment method for democracy programs
Intelligence Analyst (Contractor)
Central Intelligence Agency
Vienna
06.1997 - 05.2001
- Consultant data scientist and analyst for a Virginia-based company on a research contract with the CIA Directorate of Analysis. Developed forecast models using open-source intelligence (OSINT) data for conflict risk and early warning systems, employing statistical techniques and geospatial data. Successfully bid for and landed $3.2 million in government contracts for the company.
Research And Policy Analyst
RTI International
Research Triangle Park
10.1995 - 06.1997
- Led data analysis for multiple US Government projects, including USAID-funded economic growth and democratic development initiatives in eastern Europe and Latin America
Post Doctoral Fellow
Promperu
Lima
04.1996 - 09.1996
- Postdoctoral Fellowship funded by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) to work at the Comisión de Promoción del Perú para la Exportación y el Turismo, researching Peru's privatization. Published book chapter about market reforms.
Graduate Student Researcher
Instituto de Estudios Peruanos
06.1994 - 02.1995
- Doctoral dissertation research funded by Mellon Foundation and Tinker Foundation grants on political violence, drug trafficking, Andean politics and democratic development
Civil Rights Investigator & Researcher
FERGUSON STEIN CHAMBERS GRESHAM & SUMTER, P.A.
Chapel Hill
01.1989 - 01.1991
- Investigative research for litigation involving public school segregation in North Carolina for a civil rights law firm in partnership with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund in association with the Rocky Mount School District, Nash County, North Carolina
Education
Doctor of Philosophy - PhD - Political Science, Comparative Politics, Latin American Studies
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
12.1996
Master's degree - Political Science
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
12.1992
Bachelor of Arts - BA - Political Science
University of Michigan
PhD level courses - Latin American politics, history, Political Science and Government
Duke University
Skills
- OSINT
- Predictive Modeling
- Operations Security
- Data visualization
- Artificial intelligence
- Cybersecurity implementation
- Project management
- Team leadership
- Financial analysis
- Proposal development
- Vendor management
- Business development and planning
- Marketing and communications
- Budget development
- Graphics and photo imaging software
Certification
- Intermediate Leadership Skills
- International Leadership Development Program
- Accredited Elections Observer
Publications
- Violent Opportunities: The Boom and Bust of 'King Coca' and Peru's Shining Path
- Observations on the 1995 Peruvian elections
- 'Fujipopulism' and the Liberal State in Peru 1990-1995
Awards
- Meritorious Honor Award
- On the Spot / Special Acts Award
Languages
- Spanish, Full Professional
- English, Native or Bilingual
- Albanian, Professional Working
- French, Professional Working
Timeline
Digital Development Executive
USAID
08.2024 - Current
Senior Security and Operations Intelligence Officer, USAID Command Center
USAID
09.2023 - 09.2024
Team Lead, Democracy & Governance, El Salvador & Central America Regional Mission
USAID
08.2021 - 08.2024
Manager, Int'l Schools & Hospital Construction
USAID
09.2020 - 07.2021
Director, Democracy & Governance Office, USAID Cambodia
USAID
08.2018 - 09.2020
Senior Anticorruption Advisor
USAID
08.2017 - 08.2018
Chief, Governance & Rule of Law Division
USAID
02.2015 - 08.2017
Director, Democracy & Governance Office, USAID Peru
USAID
05.2014 - 01.2015
Senior Conflict Analyst USAID Washington
USAID
11.2013 - 04.2014
Director, Democracy & Governance Office USAID Iraq
USAID
08.2012 - 11.2013
Director, Threshold Program. Latin America, Eastern Europe, Asia
Millennium Challenge Corporation
11.2009 - 03.2012
Director, Democracy & Governance Office, USAID Albania
USAID
09.2004 - 11.2009
Democracy and Governance Officer, USAID Democracy Human Rights and Governance Center
USAID
07.2001 - 09.2004
Intelligence Analyst (Contractor)
Central Intelligence Agency
06.1997 - 05.2001
Post Doctoral Fellow
Promperu
04.1996 - 09.1996
Research And Policy Analyst
RTI International
10.1995 - 06.1997
Graduate Student Researcher
Instituto de Estudios Peruanos
06.1994 - 02.1995
Civil Rights Investigator & Researcher
FERGUSON STEIN CHAMBERS GRESHAM & SUMTER, P.A.
01.1989 - 01.1991
Doctor of Philosophy - PhD - Political Science, Comparative Politics, Latin American Studies
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Master's degree - Political Science
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Bachelor of Arts - BA - Political Science
University of Michigan
PhD level courses - Latin American politics, history, Political Science and Government
Duke University
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