Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
Timeline
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Julia Nichols

Stafford,VA

Summary

Proven leader and dedicated former NSA Special Agent, adept in intelligence analysis and cybersecurity, excels in high-pressure environments with exceptional organizational and critical thinking skills. Successfully enhanced Counterintelligence operations, demonstrating a positive attitude and a commitment to safeguarding national security.

Expert in conducting thorough investigations and risk assessments, ensuring the integrity of sensitive information.

Innovative technology professional with several years of diverse experience. Skilled in enhancing systems and aligning technical solutions with business objectives. Proven success in leading projects from start to finish and contributing to organizational growth and success.

Thorough team contributor with strong organizational capabilities. Experienced in handling numerous projects at once while ensuring accuracy. Effective at prioritizing tasks and meeting deadlines.

Results-oriented achiever with proven ability to exceed targets and drive success in fast-paced environments. Combines strategic thinking with hands-on experience to deliver impactful solutions and enhance organizational performance.

Overview

16
16
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Sabbatical

Career Sabbatical to Take Care of Children
09.2015 - Current
  • Self-motivated, with a strong sense of personal responsibility.
  • Worked effectively in fast-paced environments.
  • Skilled at working independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
  • Proven ability to learn quickly and adapt to new situations.

Special Agent- Counterintelligence Investigator

National Security Agency, NSA
05.2011 - 09.2015
  • Supported NSA mission elements by ensuring the security of our workforce through Counterintelligence assessments and reassessments on NSA affiliates by conducting in-depth interviews, investigations and other extensive analysis. Produced formal and informal reports, briefings, and perspectives of the Counterintelligence threat posed to NSA equities.
  • Dealt with a wide variety of professionals, vendors, clients and customers. Provided exemplary customer service.
  • Demonstrated and highly developed research, analytical, and administrative capabilities
  • Demonstrated ability to handle multiple assignments simultaneously under high-pressure situations.
  • Tremendous time management skills; highly organized and efficient; consistent in meeting stringent timelines.
  • As Acting Branch Chief for an extended period of time, effectively supervised advanced operational efforts and mentored Agents for success and self-sufficiency; streamlines the case consultation process through extensive Counterintelligence awareness training; improved the Counterintelligence adjudicative decision process; reduced man hours on case consultations; and redirected limited resources to critical Counterintelligence assessments.
  • As appointed team lead for a Counterintelligence project, restructured the process to conserve resources and efficiently triage individuals who pose the greatest Counterintelligence risk.
  • Collaborated with various members of the Intelligence Community, to include the FBI and CIA, to establish a better working relationship among those individuals working the Far East of the Intelligence Community.
  • Served as a training officer to help train Agents new to the branch how to use various databases, utilize shared threat reporting, and helped each new Agent prepare for their interviews.
  • Teamed with various members within Security to develop Counterintelligence training for the division. This allowed for successful Counterintelligence interviews and enhanced the Agents' efficiency and skills in conducting their cases.
  • Served as the NSA representative for various working groups throughout the Intelligence Community.
  • Briefed new Agents coming into the Agency on the overall mission of the Counterintelligence Assessment branch.
  • Served as the subject matter expert of the Far East in the Counterintelligence division. Briefed various Agents in Security on the Counterintelligence threat posed.
  • Leveraged analysis to detect and prevent potential espionage, hostile intelligence activities, sabotage, terrorism and insider threats affecting NSA equities worldwide. Performed research of adversarial threats pose to NSA missions.
  • Established and maintained effective liaison relationship with various levels of management internal and external to NSA regarding various Counterintelligence issues.
  • Expeditiously resolved a Counterintelligence case of interest to the Director of NSA.
  • Investigated a number of cases where the information discovered eliminated the potential for classified information to be released from the Agency by persons in access.
  • Selected as one of two representatives from the Security Counterintelligence ivision to participate in the beta-training of a new Security program. Through testing this application, it allowed for a more structured program that fit the needs of the Counterintelligence division.
  • Served as a NSA representative to the Applicant Threat Community Working Group, which involved members across the Counterintelligence community who process applicants.

Special Agent- Background Investigator

National Security Agency, NSA
01.2009 - 05.2011
  • Provided direct support to the NSA hiring process by conducting expeditious background investigations on NSA critical skill applicants, which aided in obtaining a highly technical workforce.
  • Reviewed investigative data sources, identified significant adjudicative issues, organized investigative requirements and developed investigative plans.
  • Provided investigative training and mentoring for SA Special Agent candidates.
  • One of two Agents in personnel Security selected to attend a meeting to review the initial clearance process.
  • Selected to be briefed onto a compartmentalized program to complete a unique set of background investigations.

Special Agent- Adjudicator

National Security Agency, NSA
04.2009 - 05.2010
  • Analyzed case facts against Intelligence Community Directive 704, Personnel Security standards for access to Sensitive Compartmented Information to ensure the integrity of a trusted workforce, and maintain accurate and relevant records in Security databases.
  • Prepared written fact summaries of individual investigative results, or other relevant actions; adjudicated all information in accordance with established personnel security standards.
  • Documented adjudications in written communications and recommendations assessing the impact on clearance eligibility
  • Conducted financial risk assessment analysis in determining clearance eligibility.

Intern

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive
05.2008 - 12.2008
  • Worked with a team of Special Agents and ATF personnel to provide employees of the ATF with Agency Information to help them respond to security related incidents.
  • Worked on a Congressional research report to develop an arson registry repository system.
  • Worked with the media department ath ATF to determine the ATF printed media coverage in public cases.

Education

Master of Arts - Forensic Psychology

Marymount University
Arlington, VA
12.2008

Bachelor of Arts - Psychology

The Catholic University of America
Washington
05.2007

Skills

  • Friendly, Positive Attitude
  • Customer Service
  • Problem-Solving
  • Dependable and Responsible
  • Multitasking Abilities
  • Organizational Skills
  • Critical Thinking
  • Organization and Time Management
  • Threat Assessment
  • Cybersecurity knowledge
  • Intelligence Analysis
  • Interviewing and Interrogation

Certification

Credentialed NSA Special Agent- Completed the NSA Special Agent Training Course involving classroom instruction and testing on-the-job field training, firearms training and certification, and defensive tactics training.

Timeline

Sabbatical

Career Sabbatical to Take Care of Children
09.2015 - Current

Special Agent- Counterintelligence Investigator

National Security Agency, NSA
05.2011 - 09.2015

Special Agent- Adjudicator

National Security Agency, NSA
04.2009 - 05.2010

Special Agent- Background Investigator

National Security Agency, NSA
01.2009 - 05.2011

Intern

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive
05.2008 - 12.2008

Master of Arts - Forensic Psychology

Marymount University

Bachelor of Arts - Psychology

The Catholic University of America

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Julia Nichols