Ryan Dowden

Experience

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  United States Air Force

  May 2014 - Apr 2017

  Learned and applied the fundamentals of:Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (AF ISR)National Intelligence CapabilitiesJoint Intelligence Preparation of the Operating Environment (JIPOE)Structured Analytic Techniques (SATs)Collection Requirements Management (CRM) Collection Operations Management (COM)Intelligence BriefingAll-Source IntelligenceOpen Source Intelligence (OSINT)Imagery Intelligence (IMINT)Electronic Intelligence (ELINT)Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) Measurement and Signature Intelligence (MASINT)Human Intelligence (HUMINT) Show less Coordinated with local leadership and higher headquarters to stand up new, geographically-separated unit. As one of the initial cadre of squadron leadership, I established strategic goals and objectives while maintaining existing customer support and building new partnerships.In my primary duty, I managed a $1.2M Air Force software development project's budget, schedule, and scope; coordinated requirements and consulted with developers to manage technical & programmatic risk. Setting out with a vision of providing modernized support to F-35 intelligence mission data production, we attracted $10M+ in international investment and added capabilities to support the modeling & simulation and test & evaluation communities. By the time of my departure, the effort had grown to a $30M+ interagency and multinational program.I also participated in the source-selection (and later sole-source justification) process for a 5 year, $96M Sensor Beam contract renewal, which secured long-term funding for the program. Show less Analyzed friendly (blue), commercial (white), and legacy threat (red) RF emitters for updates to the Electronic Warfare Integrated Reprogamming Database. As a Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) on a $14M annual contract, I conducted technical acceptance and provided government oversight of 50+ contracted electrical engineers. I also served as the primary point of contact for reprogramming labs, radar system operators, and mission planners worldwide. I answered requests for information, coordinated changes to radar parametric models, and managed complex projects to provide tailored support to reprogramming centers and deployed warfighters. Show less

  • Student, Air Force Intelligence Officer Initial Skills Qualification Course

    Aug 2016 - Apr 2017

  • Intelligence Mission Data Engineer

    Feb 2015 - Aug 2016

  • Electronic Warfare Engineer

    May 2014 - Feb 2015
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  National Security Agency

  May 2017 - May 2019

  Division Chief

  Led 50+ analysts in signals intelligence discovery and production against DoD's top-priority target. I ensured all analysts were properly trained and following intelligence oversight guidelines on 65 data sources and 10 compartmented programs. Over the course of two years, my teams contributed to 350+ serialized intelligence reports which informed operational plans, major acquisition decisions, and national security strategies. In particular, our Command, Control, Communication, and Computer Systems team achieved exceptional results against an Office of the Director of National Intelligence hard-target. We coordinated exploitation standards with eight partner offices and collection partners, and took the lead role in detailing adversary command system modernization with 45 sensitive-series reports to the highest levels of government. Our efforts earned us recognition as the NSA Hawaii Team of the Quarter to go along with multiple individual awards. Towards the end of my time here, I was responsible for integrating 20+ analysts from two offices to form a new Global Presence team, and hosted the first-ever working group to synchronize allied human intelligence and signals intelligence collection against adversary's global expansion. Our team rapidly stood up new missions and coordinated with multiple Intelligence Community partners to deliver critical insight in support of Secretary of Defense and Secretary of State engagements. Our efforts boosted NSA Hawaii reporting to interagency partners 300% year-to-year. Show less

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  United States Air Force

  Jun 2017 - now

  I oversee finished intelligence reporting from ten cross-functional Analysis & Exploitation Teams. As part of the squadron Director of Operations staff, I coordinate with local leadership and partner organizations to baseline reporting processes and standards, while conveying that guidance to team leads. I run twice-daily analytic stand-ups, where we discuss current intelligence highlights, prioritize short- and long-term projects, and provide feedback on products. I have also worked with a small team of contractors and experienced developers to overhaul our data strategy, largely through the integration of ArcGIS into our analysis and reporting workflow. This has included drafting revised local guidelines for Structured Observation Management, articulating common requirements for web applications, and developing use cases for upcoming capabilities such as Insights and GeoEvent Server. This effort is being undertaken to take advantage of the island's most advanced ArcGIS computing cluster (coming Summer 2020) and provide unrivaled situational awareness for the Theater Joint Force Air Component Commander. Show less Led 50+ Airmen in prosecution of priority geospatial intelligence requirements. Managed crew resources to meet demand for 24/7 worldwide ISR missions, while providing training, professional development, and enrichment opportunities for all of our assigned personnel. Certified as an Air Force Distributed Common Ground Station (AF DCGS) Mission Operations Commander (MOC). Optimized high-altitude airborne and overhead imagery processing, exploitation, and dissemination for theater customers, while at the same time providing unrivaled medium-altitude full-motion video support to tactical customers. Identified and tackled projects to evaluate the effectiveness of our ISR support, improve collection strategies, and introduce new tactics, techniques, and procedures to our analysts. Over the course of 9 months, we slashed our mission manning requirements by 40% and reallocated 3,000+ analyst hours to higher priority intelligence needs through efforts with the 613th Air Operations Center. Show less Led 70+ airmen assigned to NSA Hawaii for nearly two years. Specifically, I was responsible for liaising with a geographically-separated unit commander to ensure all Air Force readiness and proficiency standards were upheld across six joint-service missions. Together with my SNCO team, we planned bi-weekly engagements to provide training and professional development and maintained a system for effective communication across multiple shifts and work centers. One of my proudest accomplishments was helping one of my subordinates be recognized as the Airman of the Year for the 6,000+ member Air Force 480th ISR Wing and another be recognized as the Junior Enlisted Performer of the Year for the 3,500+ member NSA Hawaii organization. Show less

  • Senior All-Source Reporting Officer

    Feb 2020 - now

  • Geospatial Intelligence Operations Manager

    May 2019 - Feb 2020

  • Signals Intelligence Operations Manager

    Jun 2017 - May 2019