Director of Learning and Development
Director of Learning and Development
Welcome to My Learning and Development Portfolio. With over two decades of leadership in learning and development, I’ve dedicated my career to transforming how organizations and individuals approach growth and performance. As a seasoned Director of Learning and Development, my work bridges strategy, innovation, and human-centered design to deliver impactful solutions that drive measurable results.
In this portfolio, you’ll find a curated collection of artifacts showcasing the breadth and depth of my contributions across industries. Each project highlights my commitment to:
-
Building High-Impact Learning Strategies: Creating scalable, outcome-driven programs aligned with organizational goals.
-
Driving Continuous Improvement: Shifting mindsets from one-time training events to sustained Human Performance Improvement processes.
-
Embracing Innovation: Leveraging cutting-edge technology, instructional design principles, and analytics to enhance learning experiences.
-
Empowering Teams: Developing leaders and teams through coaching, mentorship, and evidence-based approaches.
Explore these projects to see how my work has empowered organizations to unlock potential, adapt to change, and thrive in dynamic environments. Whether developing executive leadership programs, implementing enterprise-wide learning solutions, or fostering a culture of continuous learning, I’ve been passionate about making a difference.
Thank you for visiting, and I invite you to connect to discuss how my expertise can help drive success in your organization.
Strategic Planning
Strategic planning has been a cornerstone of my career, allowing me to combine analytical rigor with creative problem-solving to craft actionable roadmaps for success. Whether in the military, the nonprofit sector, or local government, my approach centers on aligning goals with organizational values and stakeholder needs to achieve meaningful and sustainable outcomes.
During my military service, I gained deep expertise in operational and strategic planning, working in dynamic and high-stakes environments where precision and adaptability were critical. After transitioning to civilian life, I extended these skills through pro bono work with local nonprofits, helping them articulate their missions, set priorities, and plan for the future.
More recently, I collaborated with the Manassas Regional Airport and the Manassas Economic Development Authority to develop and refine their strategic plans. In these roles, I facilitated stakeholder engagement, conducted environmental analyses, and provided actionable recommendations to drive regional growth and development.
In this section, you’ll find links to some of the strategic plans I’ve helped shape, reflecting my ability to:
-
Facilitate Stakeholder Collaboration: Building consensus among diverse groups to align on shared goals.
-
Analyze and Interpret Complex Data: Turning insights into informed strategies and actionable steps.
-
Navigate Change and Innovation: Guiding organizations to adapt to evolving challenges and seize opportunities.
-
Ensure Accountability and Sustainability: Establishing frameworks to measure progress and maintain momentum over time.
I believe that effective strategic planning is not just about creating a document—it’s about igniting a process that inspires action and transforms vision into reality.
Building a Learning Organization
The creation of a learning center is more than an operational initiative—it’s about establishing a hub for innovation, growth, and knowledge-sharing that empowers individuals and organizations to tackle complex challenges. This was the driving vision behind the Lockheed Martin Center for Security Analysis, a learning organization I co-founded to extend the value of specialized training and development to a broader corporate audience.
After years of providing tailored learning and development services for the U.S. Army, the Lockheed Martin Program Manager and I recognized an opportunity to expand this expertise. Together, we designed and launched a center that combined world-class instructional design with cutting-edge content, delivering impactful training across critical domains.
The Lockheed Martin Center for Security Analysis became a premier provider of courses in:
-
Critical and Creative Thinking: Enhancing decision-making and problem-solving capabilities.
-
Structured Analytic Techniques: Equipping professionals with tools to navigate uncertainty and complexity.
-
Cybersecurity: Addressing emerging threats and fostering resilience in the digital domain.
-
Custom Topics: Adapting to the unique needs of corporate clients with tailored solutions.
Key elements of the center’s success included:
-
Visionary Leadership: Driving the strategy and operational planning for the center’s creation.
-
Content Expertise: Developing and delivering high-impact programs aligned with client needs.
-
Scalability and Flexibility: Designing courses that could be customized and deployed effectively across diverse audiences.
-
Commitment to Excellence: Upholding a standard of quality that consistently exceeded client expectations.
This section highlights the process and results of standing up a learning center that not only met the moment but also laid the groundwork for continued growth and innovation. Explore the insights and lessons learned from this initiative to see how effective learning organizations can shape the future.
Learning and Development Programming
Effective learning and development programming requires a blend of strategic vision, instructional expertise, and organizational alignment—especially when addressing sweeping reform mandates. Following the passage of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, I led the U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command’s (INSCOM) transformative response to this mandate as the Director of Learning and Development (Lockheed Martin/Leidos contract).
Tasked with modernizing intelligence education to meet new congressional requirements, I spearheaded a global effort to standardize and elevate instructional practices for a population of over 17,000 personnel across 29 locations worldwide.
Key achievements in this initiative include:
-
Instructor Training and Certification: Developing and executing a program to certify 130 instructors in advanced instructional design and delivery techniques.
-
Curriculum Modernization: Redesigning courses to incorporate evidence-based instructional practices and ensure alignment with the act’s requirements.
-
Scalable Program Implementation: Deploying training programs and materials across diverse global locations while maintaining consistent quality and standards.
-
Capacity Building: Creating sustainable frameworks for ongoing instructor development and certification.
This initiative had a far-reaching impact, ensuring that intelligence personnel were not only equipped with the technical knowledge required to perform their roles but also empowered to think critically, adapt to evolving challenges, and contribute to the broader intelligence community.
This section provides insights into the strategic planning, instructional design, and leadership that made this large-scale transformation possible. Explore these examples to see how learning and development programming can drive systemic change and improve organizational performance.
Leadership Development
Leadership is not only about leading—it’s about developing the skills, mindset, and confidence in others to lead effectively. Throughout my career, I’ve been deeply involved in leadership development, drawing on my experiences in the military, executive education, and learning and development roles to mentor, guide, and empower leaders at all levels.
During my military service, I participated in multiple leadership development programs, gaining firsthand insights into the principles and practices of effective leadership. As a commander, I applied these lessons to mentor and develop the leadership potential of my teams, instilling resilience, adaptability, and a mission-first focus in challenging and dynamic environments.
Further enhancing my expertise, I completed an executive education program in Public Leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, where I refined my strategic thinking, decision-making, and leadership approaches to address complex organizational challenges.
In my subsequent roles in learning and development, I leveraged these experiences to design and deliver impactful leadership development programs for diverse audiences.
Key elements of my leadership development approach include:
-
Mentorship and Coaching: Providing tailored guidance to help individuals unlock their leadership potential.
-
Leadership Training Programs: Creating and delivering courses that address both foundational and advanced leadership competencies.
-
Empowering Others: Fostering environments where team members are encouraged to take initiative, innovate, and grow as leaders.
-
Sustained Development: Establishing frameworks for continuous leadership growth and organizational succession planning.
This section highlights the breadth of my leadership development experience, from hands-on mentoring in the military to designing programs that build the next generation of leaders. Explore these examples to see how effective leadership development can transform individuals, teams, and organizations.
Grant Writing
Grant writing is more than just a skill—it’s a vital tool for driving meaningful change, securing critical resources, and aligning funding with mission-driven goals. Throughout my career in learning and development, I’ve honed my ability to craft compelling proposals that deliver measurable outcomes, both in the defense sector and in community-focused initiatives.
During my time in defense contracting, I supported the drafting of contract proposals that resulted in over $2 billion in government contracts, ensuring the delivery of training programs and solutions critical to real-world operational missions. Recognizing the importance of broadening my expertise, I pursued a grant writing course as part of my PhD program, enhancing my understanding of academic funding processes and sharpening my ability to connect ideas with funding opportunities.
I’ve applied these grant writing skills to make an impact beyond the workplace, including:
-
Humanitarian Aid in Lesvos, Greece: Securing a grant to provide critical medical equipment for the refugee crisis, addressing urgent needs and supporting global humanitarian efforts.
-
Peace and Conflict Resolution Program: Writing and securing funding for a Rotary Club grant to support a conflict resolution initiative for high school students in Charlottesville, Virginia, empowering the next generation with tools for understanding and resolving conflicts.
Key strengths in my grant writing approach include:
-
Strategic Alignment: Crafting proposals that directly connect funding opportunities with organizational or community goals.
-
Compelling Narratives: Communicating the impact of programs clearly and persuasively to stakeholders.
-
Outcome-Driven Design: Focusing on measurable objectives and demonstrating the value of proposed initiatives.
This section showcases my ability to secure funding for initiatives that make a difference—whether supporting mission-critical operations or addressing community and global challenges. Explore the grants featured here to see how strategic grant writing creates opportunities for transformation.