DARREN VIGEN
U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control
Washington,USA
39
years of professional experience
Strategic leader with 30 years of military experience in national defense and security operations. Expertise in Department of Defense planning to combat terrorist financial networks; aligning resources with Treasury sanctions. Accomplished aviator with 4,100 hours in MC-130P, HC-130, and C-130 aircraft. Proven collaborator across organizations to tackle complex national security challenges.
Work History
Supervisory Sanctions Investigator
7 Years 2 Months- Supervised civil investigations and prepared evidentiary materials for designations and petitions related to foreign persons on OFAC's Specially Designated Nationals List.
- . Demonstrated leadership by taking on duties such as managing a team as acting Section Chief, assisting in hiring and interviewing prospective investigators, training two new employees, and providing extensive guidance to a team member on a complex, high-priority petitions case
- . Led the Asia Section’s support to the Administration’s priority of countering fraud against U.S. persons by building new relationships with law enforcement partners and achieving a pace of designation actions exceeding prior years, despite reductions in staffing
- . Spearheaded reconstitution of Asia Section’s program for implementing section 3 of Executive Order 13810 by drafting new templates and updating processes in coordination with Office of Chief Counsel and Interdiction Section.
- Managed implementation and enforcement of U.S. sanctions covering Scam Centers committing fraud against U.S. persons and Asia, including China, North Korea, Burma, and Hong Kong.
- Represented OFAC at White House National Security Council and interagency meetings.
- As Acting Assistant Director (five+ months), Directed three critical sections (Cyber, Scam Centers/Asia, Russia sanctions), leading a team of 3 supervisors and 14 investigators.
- Collaborated with Compliance, Enforcement, Office of General Counsel, and Policy components within OFAC on sanctions design and implementation.
- Collaborated with the Office of Terrorist Finance and Financial Crimes, Office of Intelligence and Analysis, and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network components within Treasury's Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence on sanctions policy, target development, mitigation, impact, and enforcement.
- Coordinated sanctions efforts with U.S. government agencies and foreign governments, enhancing collaboration across diplomatic, military, enforcement, and intelligence sectors.
- Coordinated interagency targeting processes with the National Security Council, Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation, State, Commerce, the United Nations, and international counterparts.
- Awarded the US Department of the Treasury Leadership Legacy Award (2020) for successful mentorship and team development.
- Parent Organization: Department of the Treasury
- Dates of Employment:
- Hours per week: 40
- Supervisor: Thomas Jennings (202-309-2431)
- Okay to contact this Supervisor: Yes
- Salary: $197,200/yr.
Chief, Special Operations Support Team (Department of the Treasury)
30 Years- Senior United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) representative to Treasury and its major offices and components. Developed effective relationships with Treasury leadership, specifically within the Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence (TFI). Represented Command positions to Treasury leadership and established effective working relationships to enhance counter-terrorism, counter-narcotic, and counter-proliferation activities in order to improve national security. Represented USSOCOM positions to facilitate understanding, clarify shared equities, and optimize the connection to each organization’s resources and authorities. Led institutional collaboration between Treasury and DOD. Extremely knowledgeable on the implementation and administration of U.S. economic sanctions and embargo programs, relevant Presidential Executive Orders, and delegated presidential authority to Treasury to execute these programs.
- Connected Treasury Sanctions investigators with USSOCOM and Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) North Korea experts. Coordinated on a civil investigation of an individual supporting North Korean activity. The Identified target was deemed critical and later designated by Treasury using delegated Presidential authorities.
- Led a Treasury delegation to INDOPACOM, organized briefings and meetings with the relevant offices and decision-makers yielding unprecedented information-sharing, coalition building, and partnership agreements.
- Brokered MOUs securing DOD funding for Treasury liaisons in USFK, INDOPACOM, AFRICOM, and EUCOM, enhancing collaboration among diverse organizations with differing priorities.
- Led inclusion of Treasury counter-threat finance into Naval War College curriculum, equipping future military leaders with strategic insights for military operations and disruption options.
- Aided the expansion of AFRICOM-Treasury building partnership capacity helping Financial Intelligence Units (FIU) in two struggling African nations. Upgraded Burkina Faso and Nigerian FIU infrastructure facilitating Treasury technical assistance.
- Linked Central Command (CENTCOM) forward headquarters with Treasury Office of Intelligence and Analysis (OIA) experts to ensure quick exploitation of captured enemy financial data that later led to the physical targeting of several financial bulk cash storage and revenue generating facilities.
- Briefed civilian-military counter-threat finance activities to an Australian Southeast Asia Working Group highlighting Counter-Threat Finance importance and utility to military operations.
- Negotiated two contractor billets for Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Authored and shepherded MOUs through DOD and Treasury staffing processes. Closed critical counter-terrorism analytic gap.
- Authored and presented countering the financing of terrorism briefing to 1300 Association of Certified Anti Money-Laundering Specialists (ACAMS) championing the civilian-military partnership against terrorist finances.
- Coordinated collaboration between Treasury and DOD on ISIL financial leadership graphic. Created the most accurate data for physical and sanctions targeting.
- Resolved Treasury-CENTCOM intelligence declassification stalemate, averted US terrorist designation delay.
- Linked TFI Component regional investigators and analysts with DOD subject matter experts increasing interagency collaboration on the Designation process.
- Engaged in the TFI target review process, collaborating with the Office of Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes (TFFC) and TFI Under Secretary. Edited review material to ensure clarity and accuracy.
- Addressed Deputy Assistant Secretary concerns regarding USSOCOM counter-threat finance focus. Engaged and briefed USSOCOM leadership, redirecting emphasis from tactical law enforcement support to strategic counter-threat finance initiatives.
- Participated as agency representative and subject matter expert in an interagency working group devoted to breaking the barriers to counter-threat finance information sharing and target prioritization. New policy significantly enhanced collaboration and enabled crossflow of expertise and data needed to better target terrorist and transnational organized criminal networks.
- Assessed need, negotiated and implemented information sharing agreement allowing special operations personnel to share captured documents/currency with the Secret Service. Initiative enhanced ability to trace criminal and terrorist networks, their intersection with illicit finance, and open opportunities for action.
- Linked EUCOM headquarters with Treasury TFI to block Time-Warner sale of giant media group in the Balkans to investment group linked to Russia and China to block Russian and Chinese malign influence in Europe.
- Dates of Assignment: 08/2013 - 08/2018
- Hours per week: 40
- Supervisor: Colonel Brian Michelson (571-777-2180)
- Okay to contact this Supervisor: Yes
- Salary: $176,808/yr.
Chief, Joint Air and Reconnaissance Division
3 Years 2 Months- Principal airpower advisor and advocate to the Commander of USSOCOM and headquarters staff forging the Command’s positions, policy, and guidance. Led and directed management, tracking, allocation, and deployment of 445 active duty, Guard, and Reserve aircraft across six diverse geographic Combatant Commands with disparate operational priorities. Extensive experience influencing others and building consensus to advance organizational objectives and efficiently utilize constrained resources.
- Supervised a 12-member division that allocated and managed all Special Operations aircraft globally. Effectively planned, developed, administered, coordinated, and managed division programs for a diverse team of officers and civilians from four different military services with differing administrative requirements and organizational cultures.
- Sourced helicopter and tanker support to Benghazi attack reaction Task Force, ensuring all aircraft on station within 72 hours.
- Adjudicated disagreement over mobility aircraft allocation between Theatre and Component Commanders. Briefing to 4-Star Commander resolved conflict and resulted in maximum support to Combatant Commanders.
- Led 10-person team from eight organizations evaluating Component strategic intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance plan, resulting in improved operational effectiveness.
- Led 5-person team analyzing impacts of fleet-wide aircraft maintenance issue. Successfully advocated resulting redeployment plan to leadership resulting in wartime support being maintained while speeding repair schedule.
- Addressed nine-year requirement gap for shot takeoff and landing aircraft in Iraq and Afghanistan through $104M non-standard aircraft purchase and deployment, enhancing mission capability.
- Supervisor: Mr. Jeffrey Buckmelter (813-826-5171)
- Okay to contact this Supervisor: Yes
- Salary: $157,101/yr.
Student
11 Months- Conducted comprehensive analysis of national security policy, strategy formulation, foreign policy, intelligence, campaign planning, economics, defense strategy, and leadership.
- Authored A-grade strategy and policy essay analyzing U.S. military intervention decisions in Korea versus China post-World War II.
- Parent Organization: National Defense University
- Dates of Assignment: 07/2009 - 06/2010
- Hours per week: 40
- Supervisor: Col (ret) Dana Struckman (Unknown)
- Okay to contact this Supervisor: No
- Salary: $157,101/yr.
Deputy Chief, Mobility and Training Systems Requirements
1 Year- Led requirements division responsible for promoting and executing the majority of Air Force Special Operations Command’s programming priorities. Directed requirements activities associated with major aircraft weapon systems including modernization and sustainment programs. Managed the formulation, documentation, and advocacy of Command positions on requirements and acquisitions.
- Performed technical analysis to resolve issues in MC-130J aircraft acquisition plan. Recommended corrective actions that addressed multiple DOD-level issues, realigning the $3.7B program back on schedule with no additional costs.
- Led a 7-person team executing Inspector General operational readiness inspections of a 1,000-person military group in Europe.
- Parent Organization: Air Force Special Operations Command
- Dates of Assignment: 06/2009 - 06/2010
- Hours per week: 70
- Supervisor: Col (ret) David Mobley (Unknown)
- Okay to contact this Supervisor: No
- Salary: $137,608/yr.
Commander, 9th Special Operations Squadron Squadron
3 Years- Provided leadership, direction, and discipline for 125 military and civilian aircrew, intelligence, life support, and administrative personnel. Ensured combat readiness, training, survivability, quality of life, safety, morale, and career development of all squadron personnel. Directed employment of nine aircraft and 12 aircrews supporting combat, counter-narcotics, and humanitarian operations worldwide. Managed $15M annual operating budget.
- Implemented supportive leadership techniques to drive transformation in large squadron facing morale and process challenges. Communicated vision clearly, outlining steps to achieve goals, while building coalitions and securing short-term victories to maintain squadron focus on success.
- Used supportive leadership techniques to implement change in a large squadron with severe morale and process issues. Communicated vision clearly and articulated linked steps in the process to achieve the overall vision. Built coalitions and created short-term victories to overall vision to keep the squadron focused on success.
- Directed $500,000 facility renovation and $150,000 re-furnishing, efficiently relocating unit offices and personnel to minimize stress. Executed project on budget, ensuring uninterrupted operations.
- Parent Organization: 1st Special Operations Wing, Air Force Special Operations Command
- Dates of Assignment: 06/2006 - 06/2009
- Hours per week: 60
- Supervisor: Col (ret) Dennis Pannell (801-777-1493)
- Okay to contact this Supervisor: Yes
- Salary: $124,224/yr.
Deputy Director, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations Action Group
1 Year 3 Months- Provided subject matter expert and action officer support to the Air Force Operations Deputy (AF/XO) on Air Force operational issues and policies. Prepared and supervised the preparation of policy, studies, reviews, articles, briefings, and trip and conference material to enable AF/XO to articulate the Air Staff position on air and space operational issues.
- Led expert team to author AF/XO Personnel Recovery Vehicle written testimony to House Armed Services Committee (HASC) and prepared him for Congressional questions. Analyzed House and Senate Appropriation Committee transcripts to identify potential impact to this Air Force program, correct inaccuracies, and prepare Air Force leaders for further congressional testimony.
- Lead for United States and Canada bilateral Air Force talks ensuring leadership was prepared for the exchange and swiftly responded to follow-up questions. Team analyzed issues and identified innovative solutions appropriate to the scope of the problem set.
- Prepared AF/XO for Congressional Regional Powers Panel, receiving feedback from Hill staff that it was the 'best service brief yet.'
- Parent Organization: Headquarters, United States Air Force
- Dates of Assignment: 03/2005 - 06/2006
- Hours per week: 50
- Supervisor: Col (ret) James Weyer (Unknown)
- Okay to contact this Supervisor: No
- Salary: $108,654/yr.
Manager, Special Operations Requirements
1 Year 8 Months- Served as subject matter expert and action officer for Special Operations Forces and combat search and rescue requirements. Drafted, coordinated, and advocated requirements documents for approval by Air Force and multi-service oversight councils, preparing leaders for DOD and Congressional deliberations.
- Coordinated and revised requirements for 34 aircraft and aircrews, successfully navigating them through the complex DOD requirements and acquisition process.
- Established global mobility strategic priorities and goals for Air Force programs during OSD-directed Program Review, mitigating risk to Air Force’s transformation and recapitalization strategy.
- Parent Organization: Headquarters, United States Air Force
- Dates of Assignment: 07/2003 - 03/2005
- Hours per week: 50
- Supervisor: Col (ret) Stephen Gensheimer (Unknown)
- Okay to contact this Supervisor: No
- Salary: $108,654/yr.
MC-130P, HC-130, C-130E/H Navigator
14 Years 5 Months- Executed worldwide combat, contingency, and training operations, achieving 4,100 flying hours.
- Parent Organization: Various
- Dates of Assignment: 02/1989 - 07/2003
- Hours per week: 50
- Supervisor: Various
- Okay to contact this Supervisor:
- Salary:
Education
Master of Arts - National Security and Strategic Studies
Master of Science - Military Operational Art and Science
Master of Business Administration
Bachelor of Science - Engineering Operations
Skills
Financial Sanctions Analysis
Sanctions compliance
Sanctions implementation
Investigative Strategy
Policy oversight
Strategic analysis
Team Leadership
Timeline
Supervisory Sanctions Investigator
U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control
06.2019 - CurrentRead More
Chief, Joint Air and Reconnaissance Division
United States Air Force
06.2010 - 08.2013Read More
Student
United States Naval War College
07.2009 - 06.2010Read More
Deputy Chief, Mobility and Training Systems Requirements
Air Force Special Operations Command
06.2009 - 06.2010Read More
Commander, 9th Special Operations Squadron Squadron
1st Special Operations Wing, Air Force Special Operations Command
06.2006 - 06.2009Read More
Deputy Director, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations Action Group
Headquarters, United States Air Force
03.2005 - 06.2006Read More
Manager, Special Operations Requirements
Headquarters, United States Air Force
07.2003 - 03.2005Read More
MC-130P, HC-130, C-130E/H Navigator
Various
02.1989 - 07.2003Read More
Chief, Special Operations Support Team (Department of the Treasury)
United States Air Force
01.1988 - 01.2018Read More
United States Naval War College
Master of Arts from National Security and Strategic Studies
Read More
Air Force Air Command And Staff College
Master of Science from Military Operational Art and Science
Read More
University of Phoenix
Master of Business Administration
Read More
Iowa State University
Bachelor of Science from Engineering Operations
Read More