Open To Work
MELINDA CAMPOS
Fort Lauderdale,FL
Summary
Seasoned legal professional with over 21 years of experience in public service, specializing in corporate governance, compliance, and litigation management. Proven track record in strategic decision-making and problem-solving, with a focus on achieving organizational objectives. Extensive experience in international law, ethics counseling, and humanitarian programs, with a history of managing diverse teams, and collaborating with global partners. Excel in negotiation, strategic decision-making, and problem-solving to achieve organizational objectives. Bring strong communication skills and legal acumen to every challenge faced.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Counsel (Ethics)
United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
04.2023 - 09.2025
- Lead ethics and compliance counsel for over 10,000 employees worldwide, advising on conflicts, post-employment, outside activities, and conduct standards; frequently served as Acting Deputy General Counsel (Ethics).
- Oversight of financial disclosure and conflict reviews for over 3,500 staff, comparable to corporate governance and insider risk management.
- Oversaw a global ethics education program for 60 lawyers, designing the curriculum and conducting training for hundreds annually.
- Advised Human Resources and executives on sensitive personnel actions, employment, and disciplinary matters, and audits to mitigate litigation risks.
- Directed enterprise-wide compliance training programs, and modernized ethics education and reporting systems.
Senior Counsel
United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
Washington, District of Columbia
01.2017 - 03.2023
- Lead counsel for USAID’s Bureau for Conflict Prevention and Stabilization (800+ staff), with over $100 million in annual global programming.
- Provided sanctions, anti-terrorism financing, procurement law, and global compliance guidance in coordination with the Department of State and Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)—directly relevant to international trade and supply chain risk.
- Regularly advised executive leadership, and collaborated with interagency stakeholders and multinational organization partners on high-stakes legal and policy issues in foreign assistance matters.
- Negotiated legal terms to protect agency interests in multi-million dollar projects.
Fellow
White House Leadership Development Program (WHLDP)
Washington, District of Columbia
10.2020 - 01.2021
- Completed the Executive Office of the President’s WHLDP, a one-year competitive program targeting advancement to the senior executive service (C-Suite).
- Collaborated with stakeholders from 15 agencies to assess legal authorities and policies to improve key priorities across the federal government.
- Provided data-driven recommendations to enhance and modernize government-wide human resource services for over 2.3 million employees.
Deputy Legal Advisor/Ethics Advisor
Executive Office of the President – National Security Council
Washington, District of Columbia
08.2016 - 12.2016
- Provided legal advice on federal ethics laws for 350+ NSC leadership and staff, including financial disclosures, conflicts of interest, gifts of official travel, acceptance of gifts from foreign governments and non-federal entities, and public speaking engagements.
- Represented the NSC staff in government conferences and meetings on ethics, including meetings chaired by the Office of Government Ethics, and the White House Counsel’s Office.
Assistant Regional Counsel
U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Chicago, Illinois
08.2015 - 12.2016
- Provided legal support and ethics guidance to FEMA management and staff for all Presidentially declared disasters and emergencies in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
- Legal counsel for federal contracts, grants, audits, Freedom of Information Act responses, Privacy Act, employment, and environmental matters.
Attorney-Advisor
U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Washington, District of Columbia
06.2014 - 07.2015
- Legal Advisor to FEMA's management and staff during response and recovery operations during federally declared disasters and emergencies across the country (5 deployments).
- Primary legal counsel on federal contracts and grants, audits, ethics, and Freedom of Information Act responses.
Justice Advisor
Pro-Telligent
Bagram Air Force Base, Afghanistan
08.2012 - 09.2013
- Lead Justice Advisor for the Department of State, International Narcotics, and Law Enforcement Bureau's Justice Center in Parwan, Afghanistan.
- Managed adjudication process for thousands of Law on Armed Conflict cases, ensuring adherence to Afghan and international law.
- Established inaugural case management system, gaining approval from key stakeholders across Afghanistan and the U.S.
- Directed litigation of 260 national security cases, contributing to improved transparency and accountability.
Technical Director/Lead Justice Advisor
PAE Government Services
Kabul, Afghanistan
02.2008 - 05.2012
- Oversaw legal operations of Justice Sector Support Program, largest rule-of-law initiative in Afghanistan.
- Managed 300 American and Afghan legal advisors to ensure effective program delivery.
- Implemented comprehensive Case Management System across 48 locations to track criminal cases.
- Supported 300 justice professionals in Kabul and seven regions, facilitating $70 million program.
- Established police and legal training center, leading a team of 13 lawyers in legal education.
- Conducted training for Afghan judges, police, prosecutors, and defense attorneys on key legal topics.
- Executed regional training operations in three provinces, educating over 200 Afghan justice sector professionals.
Assistant Public Defender
Wisconsin Public Defender’s Office
Lancaster, Wisconsin
11.2004 - 01.2008
- Provided expert criminal defense and executed every stage of the legal process, including bench and jury trials, for over 1,000 indigent clients in felonies, misdemeanors, juvenile delinquencies, mental commitments, and probation.
Education
J.D. - Law
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AT MADISON LAW SCHOOL
Madison, WI05-2004
Bachelor of Arts - Law & Society, Cum Laude
AMERICAN UNIVERSITY
Washington, DC05-2001
Skills
- Risk management and crisis response
- Policy formulation
- Compliance and ethics oversight
- Contractual negotiations
- Investigative procedures
- Procurement strategies and risk allocation
- Governance consulting
- International trade law expertise
- Leadership in legal teams
Languages
Spanish
Professional
dari
Elementary
Accomplishments
- Freedom House Mark Palmer Award, 04/2024, Operation Nica Welcome
- USAID Distinguished Honor Award, 04/2024, Release of 222 Nicaraguan Political Prisoners
- USAID Superior Honor Award, 04/2018, Demobilization and Reintegration Work in Nigeria
- USAID Superior Honor Awards, 2
- USAID Exemplary Service Awards, 7
- Department of State Certificate of Appreciation, 01/2013, Service 2012-2013 (Ambassador Cunningham)
- Certificate of Achievement, 01/2013, Service 2012-2013 (Department of Defense Rule of Law Field Force- Afghanistan)
- Certification of Appreciation, 01/2012, Service 2008 to 2012 (PAE Government Services)
Certification
- State of Wisconsin
- Wisconsin Federal District Courts
Clearance Level
- Secret, Top Secret SCI (inactive)
References
References available upon request.
Work Preference
Job Search Status
Open to workSalary Range
$100000/yr - $200000/yrTimeline
Senior Counsel (Ethics)
United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
04.2023 - 09.2025
Fellow
White House Leadership Development Program (WHLDP)
10.2020 - 01.2021
Senior Counsel
United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
01.2017 - 03.2023
Deputy Legal Advisor/Ethics Advisor
Executive Office of the President – National Security Council
08.2016 - 12.2016
Assistant Regional Counsel
U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
08.2015 - 12.2016
Attorney-Advisor
U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
06.2014 - 07.2015
Justice Advisor
Pro-Telligent
08.2012 - 09.2013
Technical Director/Lead Justice Advisor
PAE Government Services
02.2008 - 05.2012
Assistant Public Defender
Wisconsin Public Defender’s Office
11.2004 - 01.2008
J.D. - Law
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AT MADISON LAW SCHOOL
Bachelor of Arts - Law & Society, Cum Laude
AMERICAN UNIVERSITY
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