Jessica M. Wright
Arlington
Summary
Strategic leader with experience in managing multimillion-dollar budgets and high-level engagements. Specializes in building trust-based relationships and leveraging emotional intelligence to advance national security and foreign policy initiatives. Focused on enhancing operational effectiveness through innovative resource management.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Sr. Advisor to Special Assistant to the President
The White House, National Security Council (NSC)
Washington
04.2024 - 10.2025
- Represented the White House and NSC in planning and leading high-level engagements involving the President, Vice President, National Security Advisor, and Secretary of State's staff, cultivating trust-based partnerships and facilitating dialogue that shaped and implemented U.S. foreign and national security policy.
- Orchestrated interagency and multilateral collaboration on behalf of the NSC, building durable relationships with senior U.S. officials, foreign counterparts, and key stakeholders to advance U.S. strategic objectives, including preparatory work for head of state visits and summits.
- Led the White House National Security Council during multiple presidential transitions, steering national security management and operations to support the peaceful transfer of power between administrations.
- Directed management and operations across NSC resource management portfolios, integrating human capital, budget, logistics, and security functions to enhance support for engagements and initiatives involving President, Vice President, and senior national security leadership.
- Directed budget allocation and management, applying cost-control strategies to align with National Security Council priorities.
- Coordinated strategic efforts across multiple regional and functional directorates within National Security Council, including Middle East and International Economic directorates, reflecting deep understanding of international relations and regional dynamics.
Director for Resource Management
The White House, National Security Council
Washington
11.2020 - 04.2024
- Led the White House National Security Council’s senior human capital efforts, partnering with top national security, foreign policy, and White House officials to identify, assess, and secure high-impact talent for critical roles.
- Directed a human capital team of four delivering end‑to‑end recruitment, hiring, onboarding, and performance management for a 400+ person workforce (detailees, military, direct hires, and contractors), ensuring the right expertise was in place to meet mission demands.
- Advised and regularly briefed the Special Assistant to the President for Resource Management and NSC Chief of Staff on staffing posture and risk, providing actionable workforce strategies and solutions that enabled uninterrupted execution of priority initiatives.
- Reviewed and refined policy papers from Resource Management directors, creating clear, concise, and decision-ready products for senior White House and NSC meetings.
- Coordinated employee relations efforts with legal counsel, diagnosing personnel challenges and designing practical, legally sound solutions to protect organizational effectiveness and mitigate risk.
- Partnered with the Director of Finance on all hiring actions, aligning workforce decisions with budget forecasts and projections to ensure accurate personnel spend and optimal use of appropriated funds.
- Collaborated with NSC leadership on process improvement initiatives to enhance programs, policies, and procedures for more efficient and data-informed resource management.
- Served as acting Senior Director for Resource Management, overseeing day‑to‑day operations across finance, human capital, security, and counterintelligence portfolios and responding directly to requirements from the NSC Chief of Staff and Executive Secretary
Resource Management Specialist
The White House, National Security Council
Washington
11.2015 - 10.2020
- Conducted weekly orientation for new NSC staff, confirming staffers’ awareness of NSC’s mission, processes and procedures.
- Prepared, reviewed and drafted memorandums of understanding with over 32 government departments and agencies, ensuring the language was clear and concise from a legal and financial perspective.
- Coordinated vacancy announcements dispatched to multiple government departments and agencies, facilitating recruitment of top-performing detailees.
- Coordinated monthly NSC Town Hall events in conjunction with the National Security Advisor’s Front Office,ensuring briefing materials, awards, and certificates were prepared for dissemination.
- Managed Presidential photo events with former National Security Council staff, overseeing logistics including guest list vetting, room scheduling, access coordination, and escorting staff to the Oval Office.
- Facilitated Camp David retreats by coordinating transportation, complex access, and itineraries with Camp David staff.
- Coordinated NSC’s 70th anniversary events, including a panel and photo session with the President, National Security Advisor, Homeland Security Advisor, and senior NSC staff.
Security Management Specialist
The White House, National Security Council (NSC)
Washington
07.2013 - 10.2015
- Supported Director for Security and Counterintelligence in managing the NSC security and counterintelligence portfolio, providing essential security guidance to senior White House personnel and NSC staff.
- Briefed senior level NSC staff on handling classified assets.
Managed access requests in conjunction with White House Management and the USSS to ensure the NSC Staff, heads of Federal agencies, and Intelligence Community officials had appropriate levels of access to the White House Complex (WHC). - Conducted new employee security indoctrination briefings and debriefings, confirming new employee awareness of various national security policies and procedures of the Intelligence Community and WHC.
- Oversaw NSC’s Periodic Re-investigation Program, revalidating staff investigations to maintain access and protect classified information.
- Coordinated NSC’s Personnel Security Program with the FBI, CIA, and OA, reviewing security clearances for NSC candidates.
Security Specialist
The White House, Office of Administration
Washington
10.2007 - 06.2013
- Managed security and counterintelligence operations at the White House National Security Council, advising senior leadership on personnel, physical, and technical security to enhance safety in a high-risk environment.
- Managed high-level access approvals in coordination with White House offices and protective agencies, ensuring that executives, agency heads, and intelligence leaders had appropriate, risk-based access to secure facilities.
- Oversaw periodic reinvestigation and personnel security programs with partners including FBI and CIA, validating clearances to safeguard critical information and ensure a trusted workforce.
- Briefed senior officials on proper handling of sensitive and classified information, reinforcing strong information protection practices that parallel safeguarding proprietary and operational data in the energy sector.
- Conducted security onboarding and debriefing for new staff, instilling awareness of security policies and procedures to mitigate human-factor vulnerabilities.
Financial Management STEP Student
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Arlington
08.2006 - 09.2007
- Maintained Government Purchase Card program to support effective procurement processes.
- Prepared and administered financial budgets to seven divisions of Air National Guard and Army National Guard.
- Reviewed financial management databases to ensure timely allocation and compliance of Air National Guard and Army National Guard funds.
- Analyzed Air National Guard travelers' expenses and subsequently issued appropriate travel vouchers.
- Arranged government contracts for execution.
- Financial Management STEP Student. Website not provided.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Business Management
GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY
Fairfax, VA08.2007
Skills
- Strategic Partnerships
- Strategic Planning & Execution
- Stakeholder Management
- Government Relations
- Policy Development
- Operations leadership
- Emotional Intelligence
Timeline
Sr. Advisor to Special Assistant to the President
The White House, National Security Council (NSC)
04.2024 - 10.2025
Director for Resource Management
The White House, National Security Council
11.2020 - 04.2024
Resource Management Specialist
The White House, National Security Council
11.2015 - 10.2020
Security Management Specialist
The White House, National Security Council (NSC)
07.2013 - 10.2015
Security Specialist
The White House, Office of Administration
10.2007 - 06.2013
Financial Management STEP Student
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
08.2006 - 09.2007
Bachelor of Science - Business Management
GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY