Elisa Moskowitz
Arlington,VA
Summary
A mission-driven and purposeful Chief of Staff with extensive management and leadership experience, specializing in strategic policy assessment and planning. With three decades of defense, security, management, and leadership experience in both U.S. Government and non-governmental spheres, serving as a career civilian leader in the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD). Known for uncompromised personal integrity and ethics, brings analytical expertise in policy analysis, development, planning, budgeting, resource management, and implementation. Effectively represents the Department of Defense (DoD) with counterparts across the U.S. Government (Executive and Legislative branches), as well as international governments, organizations, institutions, and academia.
Overview
33
33
years of professional experience
Work History
Chief of Staff and Associate Director for Management, Performance Improvement Directorate, Office of the DoD Director for Administration & Management
U.S. Civil Service, Office of the Secretary of Defense
01.2024 - Current
- Principal Advisor to the DoD Deputy Performance Improvement Officer (senior executive); oversee strategy and operations of an office with more than 50 career civil servants and contractor staff, including personnel, budget, contracting issues, project oversight, workflow management
- Plan and execute processes for the office, which has the mandate to collect and analyze performance improvement issues across the entire DoD
- Engage with other parts of the DoD and other U.S
- Government agencies
- Ensure the office is compliant with legal and policy guidance
- Lead, coach, mentor team of 12 direct reports and five associate directors
Senior Management Analyst
Snare Consulting LLC
04.2023 - 01.2024
- Supported the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction
- Led the completion and coordination across all US Government agencies of the Implementation Plan for the Global Nuclear Detection Architecture (GNDA)
Russia Country Director, OUSD Policy
U.S. Civil Service, Office of the Secretary of Defense
01.2022 - 03.2022
- In response to by-name request, assisted with DoD’s preparations prior to and immediately following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
- Stood up Communications and Outreach Team in support of Congressional inquiries, briefings, hearings, and provided support to DoD Public Affairs briefings; supported DoD leadership participation in interagency meetings
Country Director, United Kingdom (UK) and Ireland, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy (OUSD Policy)
U.S. Civil Service, Office of the Secretary of Defense
01.2021 - 01.2022
- Managed DoD’s bilateral defense relationships on issues related to Afghanistan, Russia/Ukraine, the U.S.-UK military base on Diego Garcia, and counterterrorism
- Supported senior-level bilateral and multilateral engagements; represented DoD at U.S
- Government interagency meetings and at bilateral/multilateral meetings with UK and other Allied/partner representatives
Director, Caribbean Affairs, OUSD Policy
U.S. Civil Service, Office of the Secretary of Defense
01.2017 - 01.2021
- Managed DoD relationships with 15 independent Caribbean nations and the region as a whole, covering two regional Combatant Commands
- Monitored, reviewed, analyzed, and advised on all bilateral, multilateral, and regional defense and security issues related to the Caribbean, including Security Cooperation, external state actors, and humanitarian assistance/disaster relief
- Managed Congressional issues for the Office of Western Hemisphere Affairs, including support to principals for hearings and briefings
- Oversaw issues related to Russian activities in the Western Hemisphere
Foreign Policy Fellow, Office of Congressman David N. Cicilline
U.S. Civil Service, Office of the Secretary of Defense
01.2016 - 12.2016
- Selected as a DoD Policy fellow (via the Brookings Institution LEGIS Fellowship); served as primary staffer in support of House Foreign Affairs Committee work and supported work on women’s issues; shepherded the BABIES Act (PL 114-235) through passage
Office Director, Afghanistan Policy and Strategy, OUSD Policy
U.S. Civil Service, Office of the Secretary of Defense
01.2013 - 12.2015
- Directed policy and strategy formulation and implementation of authorities and DoD policies
- Managed security cooperation planning, NATO and coalition issues, implementation of security agreements, and supported reconciliation and detainee issues
- Managed engagements with U.S., Afghan, and coalition governments, Congress, Joint Staff, Combatant Commands, Military Departments, and non-governmental entities
- Supervised team of 15 Civil Servants, military officers, non-governmental staff members, interns
Russia Team Chief, OUSD Policy
U.S. Civil Service, Office of the Secretary of Defense
01.2009 - 12.2013
- Led activities in support of all aspects of the bilateral defense relationship during the “Reset” period
- Represented DoD with interagency partners, Russian Government interlocutors, and international governments
- Planned and implemented Secretary-level meetings, served as primary author of complex DoD Instruction on defense engagement with Russia
- Implemented establishment of the U.S.-Russia Defense Relations Working Group to advance Presidential and DoD priorities on engagement with Russia; planned and supported DoD senior leadership participation in multiple bilateral meetings
Special Assistant to Assistant Secretary of Defense, Global Strategic Affairs (OUSD Policy)
U.S. Civil Service, Office of the Secretary of Defense
01.2008 - 12.2009
- Managed DoD-wide task force to improve processes in support of Foreign Military Sales for Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Lebanon; initiated and chaired weekly video teleconferences between DoD stakeholders and U.S
- Embassies in Kabul and Islamabad to improve transparency and efficiency
Country Director, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, OUSD Policy
U.S. Civil Service, Office of the Secretary of Defense
01.2007 - 12.2007
- Monitored, reviewed, analyzed, and advised DoD leadership on all bilateral defense issues; represented OSD in international and interagency fora; drafted and coordinated relevant policy documents
Director, Regional Defense Counterterrorism Fellowship Program, OUSD Policy
U.S. Civil Service, Office of the Secretary of Defense
01.2005 - 12.2007
- Managed all aspects of global strategic-level training program; led successful effort to nearly double annual budget; served as primary liaison with DoD and U.S
- Government departments and agencies, Congressional committees, U.S
- Embassies, and Combatant Commands; drafted and implemented policy/guidance messages; authored annual Congressional report; supervised staff of five contractors
Security Assistance Analyst, Defense Security Cooperation Agency, OUSD Policy
U.S. Civil Service, Defense Security Cooperation Agency
01.2003 - 12.2005
- Managed global Excess Defense Articles and Defense Articles Lease programs; worked with U.S
- Military Departments and U.S
- Embassy country teams and Combatant Commands in all regions
Director of Planning and Senior Fellows Program
Atlantic Council of the United States
01.1998 - 12.2003
Assistant Director
Center for Civil-Military Relations
01.1995 - 12.1998
Manager, Eurasia Nonproliferation Program and International Organizations & Nonproliferation Program
James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies
01.1992 - 12.1994
Education
Master of Science - National Security Strategy
National War College
Washington, DC01.2008
Master of Arts - International Policy Studies (concentration on Russia and former USSR)
Middlebury Institute of International Studies
Monterey, CABachelor of Arts - Russian Studies
New York University
New York, NYSkills
- Policy Strategy Implementation
- Effective Vision Conveyance
- Financial Resource Oversight
- Strategic Risk Management
- Regional Expertise in Europe and Eurasia
- Agile Leadership
- Change Implementation Leadership
- Employee Development and Coaching
- Interdisciplinary Partnership Building
- Global Understanding
- Adaptable Problem-Solving
- Efficient Deadline Adherence
- Effective Collaboration in Sensitive Situations
- Collaborative Leadership Skills
- Experience in Executive Decision-Making
- Strategic Innovation Oversight
Accomplishments
- Supervised team of 15 staff members.
- Achieved [Result] through effectively helping with [Task].
- Documented and resolved [Issue] which led to [Results].
- Achieved [Result] by completing [Task] with accuracy and efficiency.
Languages
Russian
Full Professional
Spanish
Limited Working
Timeline
Chief of Staff and Associate Director for Management, Performance Improvement Directorate, Office of the DoD Director for Administration & Management
U.S. Civil Service, Office of the Secretary of Defense
01.2024 - Current
Senior Management Analyst
Snare Consulting LLC
04.2023 - 01.2024
Russia Country Director, OUSD Policy
U.S. Civil Service, Office of the Secretary of Defense
01.2022 - 03.2022
Country Director, United Kingdom (UK) and Ireland, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy (OUSD Policy)
U.S. Civil Service, Office of the Secretary of Defense
01.2021 - 01.2022
Director, Caribbean Affairs, OUSD Policy
U.S. Civil Service, Office of the Secretary of Defense
01.2017 - 01.2021
Foreign Policy Fellow, Office of Congressman David N. Cicilline
U.S. Civil Service, Office of the Secretary of Defense
01.2016 - 12.2016
Office Director, Afghanistan Policy and Strategy, OUSD Policy
U.S. Civil Service, Office of the Secretary of Defense
01.2013 - 12.2015
Russia Team Chief, OUSD Policy
U.S. Civil Service, Office of the Secretary of Defense
01.2009 - 12.2013
Special Assistant to Assistant Secretary of Defense, Global Strategic Affairs (OUSD Policy)
U.S. Civil Service, Office of the Secretary of Defense
01.2008 - 12.2009
Country Director, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, OUSD Policy
U.S. Civil Service, Office of the Secretary of Defense
01.2007 - 12.2007
Director, Regional Defense Counterterrorism Fellowship Program, OUSD Policy
U.S. Civil Service, Office of the Secretary of Defense
01.2005 - 12.2007
Security Assistance Analyst, Defense Security Cooperation Agency, OUSD Policy
U.S. Civil Service, Defense Security Cooperation Agency
01.2003 - 12.2005
Director of Planning and Senior Fellows Program
Atlantic Council of the United States
01.1998 - 12.2003
Assistant Director
Center for Civil-Military Relations
01.1995 - 12.1998
Manager, Eurasia Nonproliferation Program and International Organizations & Nonproliferation Program
James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies
01.1992 - 12.1994
Master of Arts - International Policy Studies (concentration on Russia and former USSR)
Middlebury Institute of International Studies
Bachelor of Arts - Russian Studies
New York University
Master of Science - National Security Strategy
National War College
Similar Profiles
Tevin WarrenTevin Warren
Senior Health Communications Specialist (GS-14) at U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of the Assistant Secretary of Health (OASH), Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy (OIDP)Senior Health Communications Specialist (GS-14) at U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of the Assistant Secretary of Health (OASH), Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy (OIDP)
John HashemJohn Hashem
Board Director/Military Executive, Major General at Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD)Board Director/Military Executive, Major General at Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD)
Eugene OliverEugene Oliver
Mass Communications Specialist at Office of The Secretary of DefenseMass Communications Specialist at Office of The Secretary of Defense