Erin Zappas
Washington
Summary
Highly analytical and adaptable professional with excellent communication and teamwork skills. Proven ability to quickly adapt to new environments and contribute to team success. Committed to continuous learning and growth, bringing a positive attitude and a strong desire to further develop professional skills.
Clearance: TS/SCI | Pay Plan: GS | Grade: 14
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Supervisory Intelligence Operations Specialist [Deputy Assistant Director]
Department of Health and Human Services
06.2020 - Current
- Primary duties include serving as a senior intelligence analyst, supervisor, and mentor for the analysis & production program, mentoring junior and mid-level analysts on the use of structured analytic techniques to conduct complex analysis using all-source intelligence
- Serve as federal intelligence advisor on current and emerging threats for policy and senior decision-making advantage
- Develop forecasts for staffing and technical needs for budget formulation and planning.
- Brief executive leadership and policymakers on intelligence and programmatic objectives
- Lead coordination with the Intelligence Community, interagency partners, HHS subject matter experts and senior leaders
- Responsible for the daily oversight and management of tasks and projects of 14 government and contract intelligence analysts conducting all-source research on non-traditional collection activities; international policy and current intelligence for the Asia/Pacific, Europe/Eurasia, MENA/MLAT/Sub-Africa, and Americas areas of responsibility; cyber intelligence; emerging technologies and biosecurity
- Provide planning and direction to intelligence analysts, through concept sessions and product abstract reviews, to develop a framework for intelligence products that seek to answer key intelligence questions to drive policy and decision making advantage
- Conduct executive level review of all finished intelligence products to ensure compliance with Intelligence Community Directives (ICDs), application of strong analytic tradecraft and rigor, identify deficiencies in tradecraft and reporting, ensure compliance with style guide requirements, and provide guidance on taking corrective actions
- Responsible for supporting the implementation and management of the department’s analytic tradecraft; providing guidance, recommendations for training, and templates for use in finished intelligence products
- Responsible for the oversight and implementation of the department’s priority intelligence requirements and intelligence briefings for the Secretary, Assistant Secretaries, Directors, and National Security Advisor
- Responsible for the oversight and production of the Secretary’s Read Book; Assistant Secretaries’ Read Books; open-source intelligence bulletin; and ad-hoc requests for intelligence support
Lead Intelligence Research Specialist
Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN)
10.2022 - 05.2023
- As a Lead Intelligence Research Specialist with FinCEN’s Cyber & Emerging Technologies (CET) team, within the Intelligence Division (ID), primary responsibilities included the daily oversight of intelligence research, analysis, and production of finished intelligence products; project development; and mentorship of junior and mid-level intelligence analysts on structured analytic techniques and sound analytic tradecraft
- Served as a senior intelligence analyst responsible for developing and implementing research and analysis plans for all-source intelligence products and FinCEN’s financial trend analyses, a public release document
- Administrative tasks included weekly activity reports; monitoring and tracking project deliverables; effectively communicating with CET and ID leadership on forecasting and resourcing needs, concerns, and competing priorities; and, serving as lead analyst for coordination with the Intelligence Community and Intelligence Enterprise, through the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis
- Department of the Treasury – FinCEN Intelligence Division
Senior Intelligence Research Specialist
Department of Homeland Security
04.2015 - 06.2020
- As a Senior Intelligence Research Specialist with the Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Washington, DC, Financial Investigations Unit, primary duties include conducting complex financial analysis to identify money-laundering activities and processing of raw all-source information to develop leads for operational; tactical; and investigative purposes
- Daily duties include programmatic intelligence support to various SAC components throughout the Washington, D.C., and Virginia Area of Responsibility (AOR)
- Intelligence support includes the production of time sensitive, all-source intelligence reports; target profiles; and timeline of events in support of local surge efforts, operations, and investigative cases
- All-source intelligence production and dissemination includes the collection and processing of law enforcement-focused intelligence derived from interagency partners to include state; local; and federal agencies and members of the Intelligence Community
- Responsibilities include reporting time-sensitive information to SAC investigative groups and SAC leadership as they relate to officer safety and national security objectives
- Adherence to established ICE procedures related to information collection and sharing between federal, state, local and tribal partnerships and leveraging ICE liaison networks to coordinate; de-conflict; and foster relationships with members of the Intelligence Community
- Intelligence support includes the development of SAC and investigative collection requirements in accordance with ICE procedures and coordination with the ICE Headquarters Intelligence Collections and Operations Division to leverage interagency and Intelligence Community partnerships
- Act as the conduit between information derived from the Intelligence Community and Special Agents
- As a certified ICE instructor, serve as an intelligence subject matter expert who trains and oversees the professional development of Intelligence Research Specialists within the SAC AOR as well as Intelligence Research Specialists and Special Agents from national ICE SAC offices
- This includes administering and overseeing database training for the ICE Basic Intelligence Training course and supporting the development and implementation as a subject matter expert of the ICE Midlevel Intelligence and Operations Course; the Advanced Open-Source Course; and the All-Source Lead Development Course presented by HSI Headquarters
- Responsibilities include ensuring appropriate connectivity and handling of classified information within the SAC AOR in accordance with ICE and DHS policy
- Assists SAC leadership; Agents; and Intelligence Research Specialists obtain access to classified networks with the assistance of the Classified Connectivity Program Management Office (CCPMO)
- Immigration and Customs Enforcement – HSI – Washington Field Office
Senior Intelligence Research Specialist
Department of Homeland Security
08.2010 - 04.2015
- As a Senior Intelligence Research Specialist with the Illicit Trade Unit primary duties include the processing of raw information using structured analytic techniques to produce strategic and operational finished intelligence products to warn and inform decision makers on emerging threats and vulnerabilities as they relate to our national security
- Daily duties include the production of Homeland Security Intelligence Reports (HSIR), Intelligence Notes (IN), and Intelligence Information Reports (IIRs); driving collection through the identification of intelligence gaps and completing collection plans for coordination between intelligence and collectors; evaluating raw intelligence reports; creating and responding to Requests for Information; participating in inter and intra-agency working groups and conference calls; communicating with and supporting members of the Intelligence Community, Department of Homeland Security and additional government and contract entities; conducting liaison activities while representing Immigration and Customs Enforcement at interagency meetings and conferences; performing statistical analysis; completing ad-hoc presentations and briefs, providing intelligence support to the National Security Investigations Division; understanding of the existing and emerging techniques; policies; and procedures for Immigration and Customs Enforcement; serve as a policy expert within the intelligence community and within interagency working groups related to the counter-improvised explosive device initiatives; provide direction and consultation to peers and members of Senior Staff related to intelligence and staff issues, the scope of the issues, resources and references available to mitigate the issues, advice on leveraging liaison and interagency projects, and establishing objectives to minimize concerns; and navigate through and perform analysis on information contained in government owned and open source systems
- Additional duties include conducting intelligence operations and objectives which require broad and in-depth analysis; overseeing significant studies and intelligence production of a highly specialized and complex nature; coordination with interagency partners; evaluating and providing feedback on the overall effectiveness and adequacy of the agency’s intelligence operation and standing procedures; and representing the agency as part of Homeland Security Investigations at interagency conferences, working groups, and meetings
- Collateral duties included conducting research for and providing supporting documentation to FOIA requests on behalf of Homeland Security Investigations-Intelligence; conducting contract proposal evaluations; assigning duties to subordinates based on agency and unit priorities while serving as the Acting Section and Unit Chief; Password Issuance Control and Systems administrator; Systems Control Officer; and ad-hoc requests as designated by superiors
- Formally the Special Assistant to the Deputy Assistant Director which included administrative duties associated with maintaining, tracking, monitoring, modifying, and disseminating information and activities associated with the Deputy Assistant Director's daily schedule and needs
- Accomplishments include the receipt of the 2012 Department of Homeland Security Intelligence Leadership Award and the production of more than a dozen finished intelligence products including a HSIR briefed and reviewed by Assistant Secretary John Morton and Secretary Janet Napolitano
- Train contract and government employees on government issued databases to include CIS, CLAIMS, ADIS
- ENFORCE, EARM, CCD, PIERS, NETLEADS, Intel Fusion, CLEAR, TECS and ATS applications
- Update and disseminate daily activity logs for the Deputy Assistant Director of Intelligence
- Completed training courses as part of the Intelligence Community Advanced Analyst Program (ICAAP)
- Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Headquarters
Intelligence Analyst
SRA International
01.2010 - 08.2010
- Intelligence Analyst for the Office of Intelligence, Detention Intelligence Unit, Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement
- Responsibilities included the collection of information related to matters of national security to be processed and analyzed to develop finished intelligence products such as HSIRs, INs, and intelligence briefs to be distributed throughout the Intelligence Community
- Daily responsibilities included the review of Detention and Removal Operations reports to collect and obtain information used to produce intelligence products based on trends, patterns and statistical information from detention facilities throughout the United States
- Collect, format, and distribute intelligence notes based on information obtained from detainee interviews conducted by a Detention and Deportation Officer in detention facilities throughout the United States
- Query, collect, and analyze information obtained through government issued databases to create target folders on subjects of interest to Immigration and Customs Enforcement
- Train contract and government employees on government issued databases to include CIS, CLAIMS, ADIS, ENFORCE, EARM, CCD, PIERS, NETLEADS, Intel Fusion, CLEAR, TECS and ATS applications
- Update and disseminate daily activity logs for the Deputy Director of Intelligence
- Obtain statistical supporting documents for intelligence tasks distributed from the intelligence community
- As a Systems Control Officer and Password Issuance Control Systems Officer responsibilities included the creation and management of user database accounts to include building user profiles and conducting password resets and account updates as needed
Project Manager
SRA International
01.2009 - 01.2010
- Project Manager for the Human Rights Violators, Worksite Enforcement, Identify and Benefit Fraud, and National Gang Units for the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement
- Responsible for maintaining contractual obligations including internal program reviews, assigning subordinates to complete tasks based on agency priorities, identifying and leveraging employee strengths and improving weaknesses, conducting performance evaluations, monthly client invoicing, project action items, financial forecasting of cost and revenue, and customer deliverables
- In addition to project management roles, responsibilities included completing the monthly Document and Benefit Fraud's Assistant Secretary report combining monthly apprehensions, seizures, and court appearances of individuals identified in fraudulent document manufacturing and distribution
- Query and report weekly and monthly statistics for Worksite Enforcement Critical Infrastructure and National Gang Units to be disseminated to the Assistant Secretary
- Responsible for querying the daily Significant Incident Reports for the Identity and Benefit Fraud's (IBF) Unit Chief
- Assist IBF Unit by working as an analyst in support of current IBF investigations and intelligence gathering
- In conjunction with the analytic role with IBF traveled to the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, GA to teach new agents about government issued databases including CIS/CLAIMS, ADIS, ENFORCE, EARM, CCDI, PIERS, NETLEADS and Intel Fusion
- Assisted in the preparation of a national threat assessment for the ICE intelligence division
- Finalized Privacy Impact Assessment and initiated the Certification and Accreditation for the ICE GangNET(R) application
Investigative Analyst
SRA International
08.2006 - 01.2009
- Contracted to the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Compliance Enforcement Unit (CEU)
- Responsible for researching the status of individuals entering and exiting the United States using immigrant and non- immigrant visas
- Daily objectives included data mining government issued databases to determine status changes, visa overstays, and compliance or noncompliance of non- immigrant and immigrant travelers
- Point of contact and Team Lead for 16 investigative analysts
- Responsibilities included disseminating work to each team member according to daily tasks and special projects
- Performed mid-year and annual performance evaluations as well as interviewed and identified new employees
- Reviewed all team analysts’ products for clarity and quality control prior to sending the information forward to the Office of Investigations for lead and case development
- Trained government agents on the government issued databases used to determine compliance and noncompliance
- Individually requested by a former Unit Chief to train individuals of his unit from Texas
- Created and updated training material to be used in the formal training of all new contract employees to the CEU
Education
Technical or Occupational Certificate - Applied Intelligence
Mercyhurst College
Erie, PA11.2009
Bachelor's Degree - Criminology
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, IA12.2005
Skills
- Experience in leadership/project management
- Planning and coordination
- Process development
- Operational efficiency
- Executive briefing/writing finished intelligence
- Operational/Tactical/Strategic intelligence
- Training development and instruction
- Intelligence Community data sources and tools
- Law Enforcement/interagency systems/open-source media and tools
- Contracting
Certification
- Intelligence Studies
- Law Enforcement Intelligence
Awards
- Recipient of the 2023 FinCEN Directors Award, FinCEN’s Ransomware Team
- Recipient of the 2022 FBI Quarterly Homeland Intelligence Brief Award for Innovation
- Recipient of the 2022 U.S. Attorneys, Eastern District of Virginia, Public Service Award
- Recipient of the 2018 Lead Intelligence Analyst Award for HSI-DC
- Recipient of the 2012 DHS Intelligence Leadership Award
- Nominated for the National Military Intelligence Association Award
- SRA 2008 Lead of the Year and Equity Award
Job Related Education
- Master’s Certificates in Applied Intelligence and Law Enforcement Intelligence from Mercyhurst College
- Federal Law Enforcement Training Accreditation Certification as an ICE Instructor
- ICAAP: Advanced Writing and Best Practices in Community Collaboration
- Certificates of achievement in threat finance, HUMINT collection, digital currencies, intelligence report writing, COTR/COR, systems applications
Timeline
Lead Intelligence Research Specialist
Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN)
10.2022 - 05.2023
Supervisory Intelligence Operations Specialist [Deputy Assistant Director]
Department of Health and Human Services
06.2020 - Current
Senior Intelligence Research Specialist
Department of Homeland Security
04.2015 - 06.2020
Senior Intelligence Research Specialist
Department of Homeland Security
08.2010 - 04.2015
Intelligence Analyst
SRA International
01.2010 - 08.2010
Project Manager
SRA International
01.2009 - 01.2010
Investigative Analyst
SRA International
08.2006 - 01.2009
Bachelor's Degree - Criminology
University of Northern Iowa
- Intelligence Studies
- Law Enforcement Intelligence
Technical or Occupational Certificate - Applied Intelligence
Mercyhurst College
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