Rachel Nakamura
Littleton,CO
Summary
Proactive protocol and event planner with 20 years’ experience handling government, military, Intelligence Community, and corporate customer engagements and functions. Decisive leadership style and strategic approach to decision-making. Team player with proven ability to multi-task, think on feet, and adapt to change. Motivated with a drive for excellence in every aspect of my work. Quick learner where no task is too big or too small.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
Work History
Associate Director
Raytheon Intelligence & Space
Aurora, CO
06.2022 - Current
- Cultivate and lead a team of 3 geographically dispersed employees responsible for planning and executing VIP customer engagements at Raytheon sites, during domestic and international conferences and tradeshows, and during Raytheon senior leadership special events
- Coordinate all business development membership and sponsorship allocations and approvals
- Conceptualized and implemented a standard operating procedure (SOP) so the team is consistent in how we deliver to our internal and external customers
- Due to SOP success, requested to consult with our competitive intelligence team on their SOP
- Instituted a tradeshow status review for our VP for Communications and VP for Business Development to ensure the team has enough time to implement feedback
- Created a template and 2-week turnaround to share after-action tradeshow reviews with the VP for Business Development
- Doubled the number of CE supported engagements from first 6 months of 2022 to end of year
- Increased collaboration, communication, and situational awareness across the strategic and functional business units by standing up recurring tag-ups, creating a calendar to track events and pocs, and introducing both myself and the team to key stakeholders as a resource
Senior Manager
Lockheed Martin Space
Littleton, CO
03.2017 - 06.2022
- Managed and led a team of 7 employees responsible for developing and executing comprehensive plans for executive leadership events and customer engagements
- Events included, but are not limited to, rocket launches carrying Lockheed Martin payloads (Orion, InSight, GPS), domestic and international tradeshows and conferences, ceremonies, VIP meetings and visits, executive offsites, and special events
- Coordinated services such as accommodation and transportation for participants, catering, signage, displays, special accommodation requirements, meeting space, printing, and event security
- Negotiated contracts with service providers and suppliers such as hotels, event venues and vendors, and event rental companies
- Adhered to all legal and ethic hospitality guidelines and incorporated and advised on proper international customs and courtesies
- Evaluated, planned, developed, and approved programs, agendas, budgets, and services according to event requirements
- Selected, trained, and supervised volunteers and support staff required for events
- Created playbooks for main campuses with pocs, site processes, facilities details, arrival instructions, sample agendas, recommended dining and lodging, and pro tips
- Conducted post-event evaluations to determine how future events can and should be improved
Protocol Officer
Defense Intelligence Agency
Washington, DC
03.2004 - 03.2017
- Directly supported protocol activities and events for DIA Director and Deputy Director, to include official visits from senior U.S Policymakers, foreign counterparts and dignitaries, corporate and academic leaders
- Handled all aspects of visits, conferences, tours, and social functions to include senior leadership town halls, former leaders events, retirements, Change of Command Ceremonies, special events, VIP office calls and briefings, luncheons, dinners, and receptions
- Liaison for partnership engagements and business decorum; advised on business etiquette, military customs and courtesies, seating, official flag, proper cultural gifts, and dining protocol
- Advised DIA personnel on military and civilian customs and courtesies, protocols, DOD organization, mission, history, and polices
- Established partnerships with service providers such as security, facilities, graphics, publishing, audio visual, and catering
- Managed and maintained VIP database with over 500 U.S and foreign and guests
- Planned, developed, and executed 10-day programs for 80 foreign military defense attachés and spouses to visit various military installations and learn about U.S culture
- Managed detailed Official Representational Funds (ORF) and Confidential Military Purposes (CMP) budgets
Visits and Travel Coordinator
Office of the Director of National Intelligence
McLean, VA
10.2014 - 12.2016
- Selected for a Joint Duty Assignment within the Intelligence Community to receive, schedule, and vet engagements with foreign representatives and dignitaries, U.S Ambassadors, DNI Reps, and senior U.S Military officials for the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), DNI’s Deputy, Deputy Director for Intelligence Integration, and the Assistant Director of National Intelligence for Partner Engagement
- Communicated extensively with DC embassy liaison officers, as well as U.S Embassy officials in country
- Wrote tasking memoranda to U.S Intelligence Community (USIC) elements to request talking points, briefing material, and relevant background information to support leadership meetings with foreign and domestic partners
- Identified and maintained key points of contact within the USIC, US Government (USG), and foreign diplomatic missions to ensure situational awareness, deconflict meeting priorities, and facilitate timely and efficient support to customer engagements
- By-name requested to assist with DNI’s out of state conference for USIC leaders and their foreign counterparts
- Researched appropriate and viable venues and briefed PDDNI on options
- In conjunction with the conference, requested to plan and execute DNI’s first spouse program, hosting senior USIC spouses and their foreign counterparts for an off-site, multiple-day program
- As additional assignment, coordinated and executed all aspects of a first-ever 3-day DNI conference on an overseas US military installation, involving 10 countries, to include conducting the site visit, advancing the conference for preparation and staying on to execute
Operations Assistant
BCP International Limited
The Pentagon
01.2001 - 03.2004
- Responsible for planning and executing all aspects of week-long visits to Washington, DC by groups of 60 – 80 International Military Officers attending advance U.S training courses funded by Foreign Military Sales
- Secured lodging and transportation
- Used knowledge of religious dogmas and cultural dietary restrictions to select and coordinate meals
- Organized and executed all details of the itinerary
- Arranged a luncheon on Capitol Hill with a Congressional guest speaker, a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, a tour of the Holocaust Museum which included a visit with a Holocaust survivor, a day at the Pentagon for a tour, lunch, and briefings, as well as an evening reception hosted by a Flag Officer or member of the Senior Executive Service
Education
Bachelor of Arts - English, Cultural Studies
George Mason University
Skills
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Time Management
- Customer Service
- Organization
- Communicating Clearly and Concisely
- Attention to Detail
- Active Listening
- Leadership
Accomplishments
Led planning, coordination, and execution for VIP events requiring ability to coordinate and communicate with senior individuals and customers across multiple offices. Notable events below:
- Lockheed Martin (LM) CEO hosted visits to LM facilities by The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, The Vice President of the United States, Special Advisor to the President of the United States, Board of Directors, and Senior Leader Meeting and Tour for 350 Vice Presidents from all 4 LM Business Areas
- Chief of Naval Operations visit to 3 Lockheed facilities over the course of 2.5 hours, accompanied by a local Army delegation, visiting USN delegation, and AL Representative Mo Brooks
- Commander, USSTRATCOM visit to multiple facilities, accompanied by LTG Neil Thurgood, VADM Johnny Wolfe, and AL Senator Richard Shelby
- 2 VIP Grand Opening Ceremonies during the COVID pandemic: Spacecraft, Test, Assembly, and Resource (STAR) Center in Florida. Advanced Hypersonic Strike Production Facility with speaking roles by LM CEO, Army and Navy Customers, AL Senator Richard Shelby, and AL Governor Kay Ivey.
- Groundbreaking Ceremony in Alabama for future Hypersonic Production Facility with speaking roles by LM CEO, Chief of Staff of the Army, AL Senator Richard Shelby, and AL Governor Kay Ivey
- Flag Raising Ceremony in Florida for new Fleet Ballistic Missiles Headquarters with speaking roles by the EVP of LM Space, VADM Johnny Wolfe, and FL Senator Tom Wright
- VIP dinners, receptions, and customer meetings during domestic and international conferences and tradeshows such as Space Symposium, Paris and Farnborough Air Shows, World Economic Forum
- First ever foreign counterpart spouse program for the Director of National Intelligence (DNI)
- First overseas DNI-hosted 3-day conference for his foreign counterparts
- Defense Intelligence Agency’s (DIA) 50th Anniversary Commemoration Ceremony where the Secretary of Defense and DNI were keynote speakers
- Icebreaker, spouse program, and Department of State black-tie dinner for first U.S. hosted NATO Intelligence Board hosted by the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence
- DIA’s annual black-tie reception for the Corps of Foreign Defense Attachés in the Department of State Diplomatic Reception Rooms where the Deputy Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chief’s of Staff are honored guests
- Retirement dinners and Change of Directorship ceremonies for two DIA 3-star Flag Officers
- Live televised retirement ceremony for DIA Director with seating arrangements for 400+guests as well as security access to military base, last minute change of host, and training 75+ volunteers
Clearance
Active TS/SCI Clearance
Awards
- Lockheed Martin Teamwork Award (Team Lead): April 2022
- Lockheed Martin Teamwork Award (Team Contributor): April 2021
- Lockheed Martin Exceptional Service Award: April 2018
- Director of National Intelligence Exceptional Achievement Award: October 2016
- Defense Intelligence Agency Director’s Award: October 2014
- Defense Intelligence Agency Civilian Achievement Medal: May 2014
Training
- Protocol Officer, Protocol School of Washington
- Asia Pacific Orientation Course, U.S. Air Force Special Operations School
- Cross Cultural Communications Course, U.S. Air Force Special Operations School
- Protocol and Event Management for the Military and Government, Phase III Advanced
- Protocol and Event Management for the Military and Government, Phase I-II Basic & Intermediate
Timeline
Associate Director
Raytheon Intelligence & Space
06.2022 - Current
Senior Manager
Lockheed Martin Space
03.2017 - 06.2022
Visits and Travel Coordinator
Office of the Director of National Intelligence
10.2014 - 12.2016
Protocol Officer
Defense Intelligence Agency
03.2004 - 03.2017
Operations Assistant
BCP International Limited
01.2001 - 03.2004
Bachelor of Arts - English, Cultural Studies
George Mason University
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