Melissa Dunne
Event Planner TS/SCI-CI Poly
Leesburg,VA
Summary
Highly organized and detail-oriented professional passionate about executing exceptional events that achieve established goals. Experience with planning, budgeting and coordinating wide variety of both small-scale and large-scale events. Excellent communicator and negotiator able to foster relationships with key stakeholders and vendors. Detail-oriented administrative professional with superb people-skills and executive assistant experience. Exercises common sense and excellent decision-making skills. Ability to protect seniors calendars and time as well as use discretion with highly sensitive information. Previously served as the Senior Executive Assistant to the Director and the Deputy Director of the Systems Program Office, Advanced Systems and Technology Directorate at the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). Previously served as Operations Manager and Operations Assistant in three US Embassy Defense Attache Offices (DAO) in Moscow, Russia; Paris, France and Ottawa, Canada. Served as a Soldier-Musician in the United States Army Field Band.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
Event Planner
TENICA and Associates
03.2024 - Current
- Expertly orchestrated the 2024 NRO Tech Forum, collaborating with various stakeholders including security, vendors, web-team, communications team, office of public affairs, media services, graphics and catering to execute the NRO sponsored event, with maximum registration (450) capacity achieved.
- Planned and organized numerous morale events, retirement and promotion ceremonies, team building trivia and the first AS&T Field Day.
- Increased event attendance by developing strategic marketing campaigns and engaging promotional materials.
- Coordinated schedules and timelines for events.
- Adapted quickly to unforeseen circumstances or changes in the event landscape, implementing contingency plans as needed.
- Performed event coordination for larger parties and gatherings.
- Negotiated contracts with vendors and suppliers, securing cost-effective solutions without compromising quality or service levels.
Senior Executive Assistant
TENICA and Associates
08.2022 - 05.2024
- Senior Executive Assistant to the Principal Deputy Director and Deputy Director of the Advanced Systems and Technology office at the National Reconnaissance Office.
- Directly responsible for managing all calendars and meetings, arranging TDY travel, foreign deployment training, office maintenance, office correspondence and communications.
- Maintain efficient workflow through the management of critical issues within a continuously changing schedule, and provide support for special projects.
- Responsible for coordination with the Director of the Agency, VIP visitors, VIP events, incoming and outgoing office member assistance and event planning.
- Process NRO and Visitor badge requests, escort visitors as needed.
- Schedule conference rooms, support office members with help desk related needs and submit trouble tickets on their behalf.
- Responsible for tracking and maintaining email group lists and security access groups.
- Independently operate and interact with various Department of Defense and IC agencies to coordinate a variety of complex executive meetings and conferences including travel to conferences and meetings, as required.
- Background knowledge of administrative processes for DoD, IC and NRO office communications.
- Engage daily with the action tracking and policy coordination personnel and facilitate office responses to actions to include assigning, monitoring and correlating response requiring minimal edits prior to releasing outside the office.
- Manage complex calendar scheduling with focus on proper allocation of executive availability.
- Screen calls and emails and initiated actions to respond or direct messages for managers.
- Contribute to smooth business operations by planning and organizing meetings and conferences.
- Use software to coordinate meetings, appointments and tasks for senior executives.
- Process travel expenses and reimbursements for executive team and senior management group.
Operations Manager
US Army
10.2018 - 07.2020
- Served as Operations Manager at U.S. Embassy Defense Attache Office, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
- Provided administrative and operational support for a multi-service, 9 person (DAO). Handled hundreds of time sensitive tasks.
- Responsible for daily operations reports traffic, managing quality control of all reporting and mission directed requirements compliance.
- Coordinated numerous Distinguished Visitor (DV) visits, aircraft handling and crew accommodations with Global Affairs Canada.
- Embassy Airport Site Manager for VP Pence's first official visit to Canada. DAO liaison officer to FBI and Secret Service. Site manager for White House Communications and AF2 Advance Team. Orchestrated all AF2 maintenance needs, passport expedition for all DVs and crew members.
- Personally selected by the US Ambassador to Canada to perform at a privately hosted reception for numerous world ambassadors and diplomats.
- Guest Harpist with the Canadian Armed Forces Band for 3 Holiday concerts and a high school outreach concert for over 800 young Canadians promoting the partnership between the US and Canadian forces.
Operations Assistant
US Army
06.2018 - 08.2018
- Temporary Duty to assist DAO Paris with EUROSATORY 2018, one of Europe's largest military expos.
- Wrote over 400 formal reports and products which were disseminated to U.S. government agencies and DoD partners, greatly enhancing the U.S.’s understanding of current military capabilities in numerous countries worldwide.
- Assisted with various administrative functions to include the Senior Defense Official's (SDO) executive assistant managing the daily schedule and representational events.
- Represented the U.S. Army and formally assisted at the U.S. Ambassador to France's hosted 4th of July celebration with numerous diplomats and dignitaries in attendance.
Operations Assistant
US Army
02.2016 - 04.2018
- Served as Operations Assistant at U.S. Embassy, Defense Attache Office (DAO), Moscow, Russian Federation (RF).
- Provided administrative and operational support for a multi-service, 28 person U.S. DAO.
- Handled hundreds of time sensitive tasks supporting 12 officers, four NCOs and four DoD civilians.
- Managed all DAO property totaling over $2.1M to ensure compliance with DoD property hand receipts.
- Oversaw over 500 APACS requests facilitating DoD member compliance with the host nation visa and travel requirements.
- Supervised the DAO Aircraft Foreign Service national who liaised with US and DoD air crews for three high level Distinguished Visitor (DV) visits to the RF.
- Supported SECSTATE visit that contributed to the advancement of U.S. foreign policy in the RF.
- Coordinated and arranged travel, accommodations and building access for 50 DAO official visitors.
- Processed over 150 travel orders and vouchers enabling DAO members to accomplish their primary mission.
- Assumed substantial additional responsibilities as acting OPSCO (Operations Coordinator) for 2 months, responsible for day to day management of the DAO.
Harpist, the United States Army Field Band
US Army
09.2000 - 01.2015
- Rehearsed and performed in over 1500 concerts with the Field Band, strengthening ties between the U.S. Army and American public as well as inspiring young musician across the country and greatly enhancing the Army's recruitment mission.
- Concert Band stage manager for two years responsible for equipment logistics (valued over $1M), supervision of 15 individuals and liaison officer for venue set up.
- Unit physical fitness trainer responsible for the development and implementation of physical fitness program for 100 soldiers while while on tour, enabling musicians to maintain the Army’s required fitness standards while working and traveling at an extremely fast pace.
- Conceptualized and created the first Harp and Flute Duo in Field Band history, enabling unique representation at selective DV events.
- Selected for US Army's Great Skills (GS) Program.
Education
Master of Arts - Music Performance And Literature
The Eastman School of Music
Rochester, NY05.2000
Bachelor of Arts - Music And Literature
The Eastman School of Music
Rochester, NY05.1998
Skills
- Knowledge of day to day Embassy Diplomatic Fundamentals
- DoD Regulation Knowledge
- Ability to think and act quickly
- Ability to interact with high ranking diplomats and government officials
- Multi-task
- Executive Schedule Management and Calendars
- Advanced MS Office Suite Proficiency
- Official Correspondence editing, routing and processing
- Planning and Implementation
- Surveillance Detection and Routes
- Staff Management
- Reports Editor and Manager
- Travel Arrangement Coordination
- Exceptional interpersonal skills
- Meticulous attention to detail
- Event Planning
- Event execution
Additional Information
Attache Surveillance Detection Course - Joint Counterintelligence Training Activity - Quantico, VA 2016
Russian Language Abbreviated Basic - Defense Language Institute - Arlington, VA 2016
Foreign Affairs Counter Threat Course - Diplomatic Security Service - Shepherdstown, WV 2016
Joint Military Attache School - Defense Intelligence Agency - Washington, D.C. 2016
Vice President - American Embassy Community Association (ACEWAY), Ottawa 2018-2020
Retired from Active Duty October 2020
TS/SCI - CI Poly
Long Distance Runner, completed the Arizona marathon and several 1/2 marathons.
Timeline
Event Planner
TENICA and Associates
03.2024 - Current
Senior Executive Assistant
TENICA and Associates
08.2022 - 05.2024
Operations Manager
US Army
10.2018 - 07.2020
Operations Assistant
US Army
06.2018 - 08.2018
Operations Assistant
US Army
02.2016 - 04.2018
Harpist, the United States Army Field Band
US Army
09.2000 - 01.2015
Master of Arts - Music Performance And Literature
The Eastman School of Music
Bachelor of Arts - Music And Literature
The Eastman School of Music
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