Portia Benson
825 Greyshire Drive Chester,VA
Summary
Experienced policy planner well-versed in assessing regulations, legislation and standard practices. Good verbal and written communication, presentation and project management abilities. Skilled at authoring insightful and in-depth opinions and helping to build up grassroots support or opposition for changes.
Experienced in tackling policy issues with dedication and a results-driven mindset. Good problem-solver and organizer with a persuasive style and reputation for efficiency. Knowledgeable about gathering, analyzing, and modeling data.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Policy Advisor
United States Army - Pentagon
Arlington, VA
07.2022 - 07.2024
- Provided oversight and direction to integrate equities into Army strategic planning guidance, documents, and initiatives for prevention activities.
- Liaise with Army command entities to ensure that the interests of senior Headquarters Department of the Army leaders are well represented in final plans and decisions.
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships across multiple HQDA stakeholders, Army commands, the other Services, Special Operations Command, and DoD.
- Provided supervision and support for the Army Sexual Harassment, Suicide Prevention, Financial Readiness, and Food Security teams.
- Ensured task oversight and integration of workflow management with key stakeholders for Army Senior Leadership on all matters related to weekly synchronization team and individual meetings, and coordinated assignments regarding functional area responsibilities.
Chief of Installation and Programs Division
United States Army - Pentagon
Arlington, VA
02.2021 - 08.2022
- Responsible for overseeing Command and Installations programs and assessing the Army's resourcing of Combatant Command and Major Command programmatic priorities.
- Evaluated and shaped installation programs and applied metrics throughout the Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution Process (PPBE process) per Army priorities.
- Advised Senior Army Leadership on program alternatives. Provided analysis of the relationships among Army programs, Combatant Command, and Army Command priorities with Army guidance.
- Coordinated and defended Army Information Technology Resources across all programs to improve integration of programs internally and with external agencies, including the Office of Secretary of Defense, Joint Staff, other services, and Combatant Commands.
Operations Research Systems Analyst
United States Army - J7
Stuttgart, Germany
07.2018 - 02.2021
- Led the joint analysis and assessment of United States European Command (USEUCOM) operational plans, contingency plans, execution orders, exercises, and named operations, across three Combatant Command Campaign Plan (CCP) Lines of Efforts (LOE) and nine Campaign Progress Objectives (CPO). Implemented USEUCOM operational assessment framework to analyze joint progress made toward achieving desired objectives and effects of ongoing joint operations and exercises.
- Responsible for organizing, researching, analyzing, and presenting joint assessments and recommendations to senior leadership to facilitate strategic decision-making.
- Led multiple ad hoc assessment working groups comprised of USEUCOM staff elements, service components, and multiple U.S. governmental agencies.
- Supervised 14 joint officers assigned to the branch. As required by the Director of Exercises and Assessments, conducts Reserve Component-specific operational, readiness, and exercise analysis.
Strategic Analysis Branch Chief
United States Army Reserve
Fort Belvoir, VA
11.2014 - 07.2018
- Responsible to the Chief, Army Reserve, for strength management analysis for decisions regarding the management of Army Reserve manpower.
- Managed a team of 28 military personnel and contract analysts to produce reports and decision support products for Army Reserve (AR) senior leadership and Department of the Army (DA) staff to guide resources and influence policy.
- Analyzed policy impacts on AR military personnel strength and negotiated AR goals with DA staff and Army recruiting agencies.
- Supervised analysis to include data mining, manpower modeling, simulation, and forecasting to support AR initiatives and policies in the PPBE process, accessioning, initial entry training, personnel lifestyle, attrition, and end strength requirements.
- Represented the AR G-1 and communicated Army Reserve perspectives on present and future manpower issues and initiatives through liaison and participation in Headquarters, Department of the Army (HQDA), Department of Defense (DOD), and Congressional analysis and reporting.
Education
Master of Science - Systems Engineering
Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, GABachelor of Science - Mechanical Engineering
Prairie View A & M University
Prairie View, TXSkills
- Program Oversight
- Policy analysis
- Research skills
- Policy Development
- Cost-benefit analysis
- Conducting assessments
- Civil rights laws
- Teamwork and Collaboration
- Analytical Thinking
Timeline
Senior Policy Advisor
United States Army - Pentagon
07.2022 - 07.2024
Chief of Installation and Programs Division
United States Army - Pentagon
02.2021 - 08.2022
Operations Research Systems Analyst
United States Army - J7
07.2018 - 02.2021
Strategic Analysis Branch Chief
United States Army Reserve
11.2014 - 07.2018
Master of Science - Systems Engineering
Georgia Institute of Technology
Bachelor of Science - Mechanical Engineering
Prairie View A & M University
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