Operations Management Human Resources
Resume:
Sheila Archambault Helke
Washington, DC *****
******.***********@*****.***
Summary
Accomplished senior leader with expertise in operations management, strategy development, and cross-functional collaboration within the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). Known for leading diverse teams, driving innovation, and executing high-impact initiatives across sectors. Proven ability to foster strong relationships, influence key stakeholders, and navigate complex organizational landscapes to achieve strategic objectives.
Skills
• Operations Management
• Relationship Building
• Communications
• Organizational Leadership
• Strategy Development
• Program/Project Management
• Change Management
Experience
Chief of Staff, Office of the Intelligence Community (IC) Chief Information Officer, 12/2024-Current Office of the Director of National Intelligence
Functioned as the office's Chief Operating Officer and third-ranked leader, directly managing and leading a team of director-level GS-14 and GS-15 leaders.
• Oversaw and ensured the smooth operation of critical functions, including human resources, budgeting, contracting, logistics, security, emergency management, information technology (IT), strategic communications, executive secretariat, congressional communications, and IC IT governance.
• Led a cross-functional team to analyze and optimize operational processes, eliminating redundancies and reducing overhead costs by 10%.
• Managed complex cross-departmental projects, including budget planning and procurement activities, adhering to all legal and fiscal requirements. Maintained and enhanced relations with Congress, ensuring timely and effective communication on legislative matters impacting the office.
Chief of Technology and Data Services, 08/2023-11/2024
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Directed three dispersed teams of 22 program managers, data scientists, IT specialists, and computer scientists to develop innovative solutions to complex investigative and intelligence problems.
• Cultivated and maintained over 15 strategic partnerships across divisions to identify synergies and complementary technological initiatives, fostering collaborative efforts and enabling the creation of 10 enterprise-wide solutions.
• Oversaw and managed multi-million-dollar budgets, resulting in a 7% increase in funding for the office by demonstrating the value of strategic investments.
Supervisor, Data and Technology Exploitation, 11/2022-08/2023 Federal Bureau of Investigation
Led the oversight and execution of 10 diverse, enterprise-wide technical projects, delivering high-impact solutions that improved cross- functional teams' efficiency and effectiveness, strengthening the agency's operations.
• Identified and resolved technical blockers swiftly, which enabled the on-time completion of an IT application project within four months, and optimized product processing times, reducing the cycle from 8 hours to 8 minutes, resulting in significant savings and cutting costs by over $10,000 monthly.
Liaison Officer/System Owner and Manager, 07/2021-11/2022
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Served as the system owner and manager of a critical enterprise IT application, overseeing its lifecycle, performance, and integration with other systems.
• Streamlined communication between customers and downstream systems, establishing strong relationships with five development teams to resolve technical issues quickly.
• Led the FBI's data visualization modernization efforts, enhancing intelligence product storytelling, and promoting the adoption of modern visualization techniques that improved data visualization practices across the FBI's intelligence cadre, resulting in clearer, more actionable intelligence products.
Foreign Operations Specialist, 05/2021-07/2021
Federal Bureau of Investigation
• Managed and supported the operations of Legal Attaché offices at five U.S. embassies across Eastern Europe, overseeing program execution and ensuring seamless communication with foreign embassy representatives.
Policy Analyst, 04/2020-04/2021
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Led the executive preparation for White House National Security Council (NSC) meetings, ensuring that the FBI's policy viewpoints, intelligence insights, and tactical operations were effectively represented and aligned with priorities.
• Coordinated the IC's response to politically sensitive NSC meetings, ensuring all agencies were aligned and presented unified positions on key issues.
• Directed FBI responses to White House executive orders, bringing together stakeholders to discuss concerns, propose solutions, and refine strategic approaches; successfully influenced decisions that preserved and advanced the FBI's critical interests.
Counterterrorism Strategist, 06/2019-04/2020
National Counterterrorism Center, Office of the Director of National Intelligence
• Conducted comprehensive assessments of the repatriation efforts for foreign terrorist fighters, contributing to the development of strategies for addressing threats.
• Analyzed counterterrorism budget data within the Congressional Budget Justification Book to identify trends, ensuring alignment with priorities.
• Advised senior leadership on current and planned financial investments, providing data-driven insights to inform decision-making, and enhance the effectiveness of national security operations.
Liaison Officer, 06/2018-06/2019
National Counterterrorism Center, Office of the Director of National Intelligence
Managed the office's communications strategy, including speechwriting and public affairs, to effectively convey key messages and enhance public understanding of agency initiatives.
• Worked closely with senior leadership to craft speeches, talking points, and public statements, ensuring alignment with goals and policy priorities.
Program Manager, 08/2011-06/2018
Federal Bureau of Investigation
• Led a national-level national security program, making critical decisions on approving or denying technical operations on behalf of FBI Headquarters, ensuring operational success and alignment with broader security objectives.
• Provided expert advice to FBI agents on complex technical operations, influencing operational plans, and recommending changes to improve effectiveness and mitigate risks.
• Designed and implemented new processes and policies to safeguard sensitive information, bringing together cross-functional teams to foster collaboration and problem-solving.
• Secured widespread support for policy changes across FBI field offices and headquarters; the new policies were successfully incorporated into operational procedures and are now used for all national security technical operations.
Education
Concordia University Chicago Chicago, IL
Ph.D. Organizational Leadership, Business
Expected graduation in 2026
The Catholic University of America Washington, DC Master's degree International Affairs
University of St. Thomas St. Paul, MN
Bachelor's degree International Studies, Political Science, with minors in Middle Eastern Studies and Theology
Certifications
• Contracting Officer Representative (COR) certification, 2022
• Federal Acquisition Certification - Program/Project Manager, 2024
• Scrum Master certification, 2024
• Scrum Product Owner certification, 2024
Non-Profit Experience
• President, Young Government Leaders, 05/2020 – 05/2022, provided strategic vision and leadership for ten chapters nationwide, managing a team of 20 directors, chiefs, and chapter presidents, led cross-functional teams to ensure the continued success of the organization's mission and programs, maintaining strong member engagement and satisfaction, successfully pivoted programming into a virtual format following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in an 85% increase in attendance and membership participation, developed and launched two new revenue streams, contributing to the organization's financial growth and sustainability during challenging times
• Board Member and Director, Community Affairs, Junior League of Washington (JLW), 09/2021 – 05/2022, led a team of 160 volunteers, fostering relationship-building while building and nurturing partnerships with local organizations to expand the League's philanthropic reach and enhance community engagement, managed and motivated a group of 30 volunteers to select and award approximately $100,000 in grants to literacy-focused non-profits, using a consensus-based decision-making process, developed and implemented policies to strengthen the organization's capacity for change management, ensuring continued growth and adaptability in a dynamic environment
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