Office Security

Thailia Griffin Mercer

***** ********** ******, ********, ********

Phone: 571-***-**** Cell: 703-***-****

OBJECTIVE - Seeking position that supports inclusion in every facet of national security, intelligence research, counter-intelligence, and U.S. export controls, for purposes of career enhancement and continued professional growth.

PROFESSIONAL SYNOPSIS:

More than 28 years of specified knowledge, expertise, interpretation, and application of U.S. economic policies relative to every facet of export controls, laws, and regulations.

Thoroughly knowledgeable of the Export Administration Act and the Export Administration Regulations (EAR/EAA), Title 18 (Criminal Law and Procedures), the U.S. Patriot Act, the AECA/ITAR (DDTC), OFAC/the Bank Secrecy Act, and other U.S. laws which govern export controls enforcement practices, counter-intelligence, anti-terrorism, weapons of mass destruction, banking and financial compliance, investigative techniques and administrative compliance methods.

As intelligence professional, founding member and contributor to the Mid-Atlantic Counter-Intelligence Task Force, sponsored by the Washington Field Office of the FBI. Skilled in supporting team production including content, analysis, presentation, and follow up with requester. Participated in information retrieval, knowledge consolidation, analysis, and development of assessments of facts, threat intents, cultural behavioral norms, implications of the environment, and friendly as well as adversarial involvement in that environment, and guided accurate identification of adversarial intent, capabilities, vulnerabilities, and potential threat courses of action.

Member of the export control inter-agency review committee for commodity jurisdictions. Expert in dual use, military and consumer technologies desired for international programs and exports.

Maintains liaison within the intelligence community and develops, through team functions, analyst-to-analyst communications with operational and tactical consumers of intelligence.

Subject matter expert (SME), and maintains current expertise and mastery of federal regulatory requirements in the areas of U.S. exports and documentation, including the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC); Munitions Controls, Nuclear Proliferation, National Disclosure Policies, immigration laws, and all relevant federal statutes.

Successful criminal prosecution of export control matters involving investigation of improper financial operations (as per BSA), money laundering, trademark infringements, and illegal exports to U.S. embargoed destinations.

Ability to communicate in writing in order to prepare, review, evaluate, and issue investigative reports and other memorandum for executive applications.

Excellent oral communications skills

SPECIALIZED EDUCATION

In Progress Master's Of Science Degree – Law

Champlain College, Burlington, Vt.

Current GPA: 3.90

Aug. 2007 Executive Leadership Training

Completed the Darlene Young Leadership Academy - USDA Graduate School / National Org. Of Blacks In Government, Washington, D.C.

Developed leadership skills and executive core qualifications (ECQs) critical for immediate and future leadership. These included leading change, leading people, being results driven, development of business acumen, and building coalitions, effective communications, and group dynamics. Accomplishment: Plaque received signifying completion and mastery achieved.

Jan. 1997 Basic Criminal Investigator Training, Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, Brunswick, Glynn County, Ga.

Successfully completed Basic Criminal Investigator (CI) training. Accomplishment: Received certificate of completion, and record of firearms sufficiency.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

December 2011 to Present Senior Policy Analyst

Metris Solutions LLP

1660 Duke Street, Suite 201

Alexandria, Virginia

The Office of Foreign Assets Control administers and enforces economic and trade sanctions based on United States foreign policy and national security goals against targeted foreign countries, terrorists, international narcotics traffickers, and those engaged in activities related to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

- Developed policy options using the authorities under which OFAC operates to address new and emerging threats to the national security, foreign policy or economy of the United States.

- Determined, or where precedent setting matters are involved, recommended to the Assistant Director, Policy (AD/P) new or amended policies, regulations, and procedures required to resolve significant problems or changes that arise in connection with the sanctions programs. Identified the parameters of the issues concerned and determines probable courses of action, alternative actions, and their expected effect.

- Participated in defining policy options in the development of new sanctions programs.

- Coordinated OFAC's activities in development of new Executive Orders (E.O.’s) and regulatory programs and regulations to carry out new sanctions imposed by Congress or the President or to reflect amendments in U.S. foreign policy with respect to existing sanctions programs.

- Determined priorities, goals, time frames, and management objectives for projects involving the drafting of new regulations or amendment of existing regulations.

- Monitored and evaluated effectiveness of OFAC sanctions programs as it relates to the regulatory process, to successfully achieve U.S. foreign policy objectives. Assesses the impact of potential events or situations on OFAC programs, and recommended to the AD/P modifications to program plans to improve success of regulatory objectives. Identifies other issues relating to regulatory control, such as licensing, compliance, enforcement, and legal issues, and coordinates with OFAC offices responsible for these issues to resolve problems.

April 2008 to Oct 2011 Senior Export Controls Analyst

BAI Incorporated (BAI Inc.) 4600 Duke Street, Suite 304

Alexandria, Virginia 22304

United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office of the Scientific and Technology Directorate (S&T), Office of the Assistant General Counsel (OGC), served as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) consultant to Science and Technology Directorate on all U.S. export laws and compliance issues. Advised technical innovation divisions, university programs, international cooperative programs, on U.S. export controls laws and requirements.

- Drafted federal regulations and guidance pertaining to export control compliance and acquisition of technical innovations designed to support worldwide anti-terrorism efforts, counter- intelligence, nuclear non-proliferation, weapons of mass destruction., and facilitation of the deployment of technologies and commodities for international collaboration and evaluation.

- Drafted the Management Directive for S&T Regulatory and Treaty Compliance Program.

- Analyzed, reviewed, recommended and draft departmental positions regarding export control sufficiency related to requests for commodity classifications and requests for commodity jurisdictions as integral to the U.S. Inter-agency Review process.

- Drafted and reviewed national policies guidelines on export controls, international programs, university programs and national laboratories, and directives for OGC clients, including U.S. Secret Service, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Transportation Security Agency, and Customs and Border Protection, and the U.S. Coast Guard.

- Provided analytical support and articulation of policy positions and authorities to a diverse and educated audience.

- Prepared license applications to obtain Technical Assistance Agreements (TAAs) for submission to the U.S. Department of State, Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC). Managed approved export licenses and TAAs to ensure that conditions are met and S&T various applications are relevant.

- Identified areas that warranted special evaluation. Provided authoritative analysis and guidance based on extensive export trade and law enforcement experience.

- Planned, organized, and completed analytical studies of a breadth and intensity requiring subject matter expertise and in-depth subject matter knowledge on economic and export controls.

- Determined proper jurisdiction and classification of commodities, software, data, and lab- created materials by conducting technical against the EAR and the ITAR (US export laws and regulations).

-Drafted compliance procedures; generated support materials, and conducted training initiatives / modules regarding the full spectrum of U.S. regulatory statutes governing export controls

Selected Career Highlights, Accomplishments and Abilities

Recipient of “Outstanding Performance Awards”, August 2009 and April 2010.

● Seminar speaker

Knowledge of legislative and regulatory guidance concerning international finance, export controls, intelligence collection, processing and analysis.

Knowledge of the US Intelligence Community's organizations, operational structure, mission, functions, policies and practices.

Knowledge of intelligence and/or counterintelligence operations and processes.

1996 – December 2007 Senior Special Agent (Acting SAC) -Washington Field (2002-07)

Special Agent – Miami Field Office (1998-2002) Special Agent – Office of Intelligence, Washington, DC (1996-98)

Office of Export Enforcement, Bureau of Industry and Security

U.S. Department of Commerce

Enhanced intelligence, lead development operations, and investigations. The Office of Intelligence played a vital role in identifying suspicious criminal activities concealed as legitimate business practices. These routinely involved extremely sensitive national security matters; foreign policy issues; congressional/military/industrial and public interests, national and international considerations, and intelligence concerns. Significant determinations were required as to jurisdictional delineation of control, interests among governmental agencies, conflicts between U.S. laws, and laws governing foreign export practices. Enforced the Export Administration Act with the primary mission being to halt the illegal transfer of dual purpose commodities with applications in commercial, industrial and military end uses; non- proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. As a Senior Special Agent:

1. Analyzed initial allegations and recommended the extent of required investigative resources, and the necessity for collateral support; planed, organized and personally conducted investigations with regard to a wide variety of allegations; planed and conducted surveillance or undercover work.

2 Apprehended and arrested persons violating U.S. laws and conducted searched and seizures incident to the arrest or when appropriate, by warrant.

3. Coordinated investigations that involved multiple subjects. Planed workload, and as necessary, trained and directed lower-graded criminal investigators in investigative methods and techniques.

4. Provided technical assistance to other law enforcement personnel by evaluating and discussing investigative problems and making suggestions.

5. Investigated allegations of crimes and crime scenes.

5. Performed pre- and post- investigation analysis and made recommendations of appropriate actions. Prepared reports and present findings orally and in writing to managers, prosecutors, and other high-level officials.

6. Participated in the formulation, interpretation, application and execution of plans, policies, standards and procedures affecting the conduct of investigations.

7. Testified as a government witness before Grand Juries and in courts regarding criminal cases and testified at administrative hearings in non-criminal cases.

8. Worked on cases involving a variety of or a specific investigative function.

9. Researched and analyzed information, determined actions to be taken, documents cases, formalized reports, and/or made recommendations.

10. Worked collaboratively with other federal law enforcement agencies, task forces, and local law enforcement on issues affecting national security protection, and terrorism prevention.

Resume’ Cont’d

Selected Career Highlights, Accomplishments and Abilities

- Acting Special Agent In Charge, Washington Field Office (April, May, and September 2002)

Founding Task Force Member and Representative: Mid Atlantic Counter-Intelligence, FBI, Washington Field Office, Washington, D.C.

- Experienced supervising/managing the work and activities of law enforcement/criminal investigative personnel who provide and perform criminal intelligence analysis/investigations.

- Successfully conducted Safeguards Verifications visits to the UAE, Greece, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Pakistan, Jordan, and Turkey.

- Expert in lead initiation and development, case preparation and settlement negotiations, relevant to criminal and administrative cases.

- Extensive experience working collaboratively with other federal investigative agencies.

- Experienced in the determination of admissibility of evidence and rules, covering search, seizures, and arrest authority in various situations.

- Expertise in the methods and patterns of terrorist and criminal organizations.

1987 - 1996 Compliance Officer

Office of Anti-boycott, Compliance, Office of Export Enforcement, U. S. Department of Commerce

The Office of Antiboycott Compliance is a civil investigative unit within the Office of Export Enforcement, involved in the application of the Antiboycott provisions of the Export Administration Regulations. These

provisions regulate and limit the activities and participation of U.S. persons (businesses, banks, logistics operations, etc.) in unsanctioned foreign boycotts. The most notable being that of the Arab League’s Economic Boycott against Israel. Compliance officer’s duties were extensive and required constant

monitoring of international business, international trade laws, regional coverage of Middle East politics and related policies, to efficiently contribute to the office’s mission

1. Planned and performed complex on-site investigations, individually or as an audit team which involved U.S. manufacturers, vendors, financial institutions, and international transportation providers, to ensure compliance.

2. Conducted interviews, analyzed business transactions, financial records, international cable traffic, international procurement contracts and employment practices to ascertain compliance and industry trends.

3. Served administrative subpoenas, evaluated compliance programs, recommended corrective measures when needed.

4. Collected pertinent facts and data, evaluated investigative findings, and prepared and maintained chronological, written case reports for each investigation.

5.

Prepared cases for litigation by participating in pretrial conferences with in-house attorneys, management, and corporate representatives.

6. Recommended, negotiated, participated and accomplished settlement of allegations against respondents.

1982 – 1987 Licensing Officer / Export Administration Specialist

Office of Export Licensing, U. S. Department of Commerce

The foremost mission of the Office of Export Licensing is that of national security as it relates to the transfer of US-manufactured and controlled dual-purpose technology, chemicals, and components to foreign end users.

1. Served as a technical authority for evaluating export license applications requesting export of technology to Communist Bloc destinations.

2. Authorized exportation of electronic components, as listed and enumerated in the Export Administration Regulations, to specified foreign end users.

3.Advised and provided consultation to industry representatives and educated on the proponents of the export policies.

4. As seminar speaker, explained and provided agency’s positions in seminars and industry-sponsored events.

Selected Career Highlights, Accomplishments and Abilities

- Featured speaker for US Commerce-sponsored export seminars (1985-86)

EDUCATION

May 1980 Bachelor of Arts – English (Liberal Arts)

Livingstone College – Salisbury, North Carolina

ACTIVE GOVERNMENT CLEARANCE

Active Top Secret - Passed Counter-intelligence (CI) Polygraph administrated by the FBI in April 2008

JOB RELATED TRAINING

Thailia Griffin Mercer

1. Nov. 2006 - Meritorious Service Certificate of Appreciation-

FBI Mid-Atlantic Domain Counter-Intelligence Task Force. Plague received.

2. August 1986 - "Speaking Skills Workshop" - (Don Swinholt Assoc., ITA, USDOC) Mastery achieved. Certificate

3. February 1988 - “Legal Citations” Paralegal Studies Course. Mastery achieved. Certificate Received

4. March 1988 - “Principles of Legal Research", Paralegal Studies Course. Mastery Achieved. Certificate Received

5.. June 1988 - “Intro to Law for Paralegals" (Univ. Of Maryland, City College) Mastery Achieved. Certificate received

6. April-June 1989 -"Criminal Evidence and Procedures", Grad. School USDA; Received a grade of "A".

7. "Introduction to Arabic", Graduate School USDA, Passed

8. November 1991 -"Conflict Mediation and Resolution", US Judicial Mediation Conciliatory Service, Wash., DC, Mastery achieved. Certificate of Completion

9. Spring and Fall 1997 - Counter-Intelligence Training, OEE, Received certificate.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

1. Dec. 2007 - Letter of Commendation and Outstanding Performance, Office of Export Enforcement, Bureau of Industry and Security, U.S. Department of Commerce

2. 2005 and 2006 - Interviewer / Panelist - Aspiring Leadership Development Program (USDOC). Received letter of appreciation for service given for both annual programmatic sessions.

3. 1988 - "Letter of Commendation, "USDOC Office of the General Counsel" – Successful criminal and administrative investigation against Safeway Foods Corporation, U.S. Department of Commerce

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