Tara Drozdenko

Experience

• 

  CNA Corporation

  Jan 2001 - Jun 2003

  Operations Research Analyst

  • Served as Scientific Analyst for the U.S. Navy's Director for Anti-terrorism and Force Protection (N34).• Directed a team research project which analyzed Force Protection and Anti-terrorism strategies for the largest Naval Station in the world.• Helped design and facilitate bio-terrorism decision-making war games for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Navy, and local authorities.• Effectively communicated technical information, research results, and recommendations to high-level executives and high-ranking Naval officers. Show less

• 

  U.S. Department of State

  Jun 2003 - Dec 2008

  • Managed the Secretary of State’s terrorist economic sanctions program.• Established and maintained effective working relationships with counterparts in federal law enforcement agencies, the Department of the Treasury, the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Defense and the intelligence community. • Coordinated interagency policy positions and secured interagency agreement to designate terrorists.• Managed a diverse team of 3 analysts that researched and prepared the legal documentation required to impose U.S. financial sanctions on terrorists.• Researched and analyzed classified intelligence and unclassified material to draft, compile, and maintain the Secretary of State’s official records for terrorist designations. Show less • Advised decision-makers on technical and policy issues affecting satellite security and space-based missile defense.• Represented the U.S. government at the Senior Group on Proliferation (SGP) at NATO and negotiated an agreed NATO document with NATO Allies.• Established, coordinated, and chaired monthly interagency meetings which focused on evaluating ballistic missile sensor research and development.• Promoted official U.S. policy on missile defense with foreign officials and foreign governments.• Developed policy documents for senior-level officials at the State Department and advised policy-makers on technical issues affecting policy.• Drafted talking points, press guidance, cables, and speeches for senior State Department officials on non-proliferation and arms control topics. Show less

  • Office of the Counterterrorism Coordinator, Acting Director, Designations Unit

    Dec 2006 - Dec 2008

  • Bureau of Arms Control, Physical Scientist

    Jun 2003 - Dec 2006
• 

  U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control

  Dec 2008 - May 2012

  Chief Country/Regime Sanctions Unit

  • Managed more than 20 of the U.S. government’s economic sanctions programs.• Represented and advocated departmental positions at interagency meetings.• Collaborated with a broad spectrum of counterparts in the U.S. foreign policy, national security, and law enforcement communities.• Oversaw outreach to foreign governments and the press.• Contributed to departmental budget development.• Interviewed, hired, and trained new staff, and successfully integrated new staff into the existing team.• Led staff through a divisional reorganization.• Developed a strong, collegial team of empowered leaders. Show less

• 

  Outrider Foundation

  Aug 2015 - Feb 2022

  • Led the Founder, Board of Directors, and staff through a strategic planning process aligning the organization with its mission.• Developed and implemented a strategic plan and measurable objectives.• Ensured all programming aligned with our mission, vision, and DEI goals.• Monitored and evaluated the competitor landscape and identify opportunities for high-impact, innovative products.• Ensured continual innovation of the foundation’s programming in order to reach new audiences and strive for continual growth.• Fostered a collaborative professional network in order to invent and distribute influential products.• Oversaw development and implementation of the marketing and communications strategies.• Supervised budget and corporate finances.• Assigned work projects among multiple staff and reviewed those projects at multiple stages in their development.• Organized and chaired quarterly stakeholder meetings.• Represented the foundation at conferences, meetings, and public outreach events.• Raised the visibility of the organization both nationally and internationally. Show less

  • Acting Executive Director

    Sept 2020 - Feb 2022

  • Managing Director

    Aug 2015 - Aug 2020
• 

  Highly NRiched

  Nov 2019 - now

  Co-Founder & Team Member

  • Helped conceive and build an open-access platform to encourage experiential learning and to enable curriculum and resource sharing for educators.• Researched and pursued funding opportunities.• Built stakeholder relationships and cultivated contributor and partner relationships.• Represented the organization at conferences and public events.

• 

  Union of Concerned Scientists

  Feb 2022 - now

  Director, Global Security Program