Tela Gail Thomason
Williamsburg
Summary
With nearly 35 years of military and civilian experience, this individual has honed their skills as an executive-level manager and analyst with the United States Army. They are now eager to transition into the fields of operations and program management. Throughout their career, they have consistently been relied upon for their expertise, guidance, and leadership development by staff at all levels. This is a result of their extensive experience, training, and a proven track record of successfully implementing management and analytical techniques.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
Work History
G-3/5/7 Operations Specialist
Department of the Army Futures and Concepts Center
08.2024 - Current
- Prepared operation/fragmentary orders for distribution throughout the organization with 100% accuracy
- Managed Order of Merit (OML) to track and submit personnel from across the ACOM for attendance at mandatory training for Requirement Managers; developed a SharePoint tool to accomplish the task and save 75% of the time required
- Coordinated for FCC special events (i.e., retirements, VIP visits, etc.) notably LTG Eric Wesley's retirement including all logistical support for the ceremony not limited to seating arrangements (layout); program production/printing; ROC drill, and final rehearsal, script development, live streaming; and award procurement
- Worked with protocol offices at echelon for appropriate protocol measures for Army VCSA who hosted event
- Established quick reference COVID-19 index to manage systematic process to look-up new AFC/FCC orders/FRAGOs to streamline publication process
SHARP Program Manager / Sexual Assault Response Coordinator
Department of the Army Futures and Concepts Center
06.2021 - 08.2024
- Published FCC's first ever SHARP Program OPORD on 21 August 2021, when selected to serve as full-time Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC)
- Routinely exceed 100% suspenses to Army Futures Command (AFC) with exceptional quality and attention to detail on all reports and presentations to senior staff
- Ensured 100% completion of FY23 SHARP Annual training by 15 August 2023 across the enterprise, including developing train-the-trainer plan for key leaders to provide comprehensive awareness of policy and regulation updates/changes for 2022
- Ensured prompt 24/7 and decisive action as the Subject Matter Expert on SHARP for FCC in response to all complaints of Sexual Harassment, reports of Sexual Assault, and assures zero tolerance policy of retaliation and reprisal
- Appointed as Family Readiness Support Advisor (FRSA) for FCC; responsible for coordinating with Army Community Services; Behavioral Health; and Regimental Chaplain to facilitate support for Ft
- Eustis personnel
- Supported ten geographically dispersed locations to guarantee they have trained and credentialed SHARP Professionals organic to their organizations to respond to incidents of Sexual Harassment or Sexual Assault; conduct regular operational assessments/inspections with these locations to confirm they are receiving installation support as necessary and conduct training evaluation
- Coordinate with installation/garrison SHARP Professionals to assure FCC victims/complainants receive timely care
- Established first ever FCC Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month (SAAPM) in 2022 with a virtual Town Hall presentation hosted by LTG Doug McKean with poet Obbie West
- Subsequent years saw larger audiences with other speakers including stalking survivor Anna Nasset, and in 2024 Ms
- Nicole Snell
- Other SAAPM activities included daily emailings 'What you Didn't Know' and Fatal Vision Training Event
- Supported TRADOC's Capability Assessment Team (CAT) as AFC Liaison to assess the implementation of the Prevention mandate by DoD within the Army; to include analyzing policies, manning, funding, and organizational structure impacts
- Routinely executed 100% of authorized SHARP funds
SHARP Operations Analyst
Department of the Army TRADOC Command Diversity Office
09.2015 - 10.2021
- Implemented first Battle Rhythm Order in FY16, to centrally codify major SHARP reporting requirements for command installations resulting in aggregate improvement in Defense Sexual Assault Database (DSAID) accuracy to 91% for FY17
- Engaged daily with TRADOC Installation SHARP Program Managers (PMs) and Lead Installation Sexual Assault Response Coordinators (SARCs) to resolve policy conflicts and gain resolution on issues from DA SHARP Office as well as to help on victims' case issues
- Consistently rated by my customers as trustworthy and immediately responsive
- Led TRADOC's Program Improvement Process and Forums (PIP/PIF) in FYs17&18 with representation from across the enterprise
- Resulting proactive solutions included TRADOC Pamphlet on DSAID, Transfer of Cases and Foundation Course (80-hour course) Standard Operating Procedure (SOPs); and scenario driven prevention training for Positions of Significant Trust and Authority (POSTA) videos (e.g., Drill Sergeants and Recruiters)
- Created SOP for Unit Status Report (USR) to prepare monthly sexual assault report for TRADOC from Army SHARP Office's Command Report and the Strategic Management System (SMS)
- The USR included command significant items ranging from yearly trends on SHARP operational manpower, Annual Report statistics, and measures of program effectiveness for TRADOC
- Developed SOP to oversee all tasks for TRADOC SHARP division, including monitoring status of incoming operation orders and maintenance of formal actions, communication traffic, and suspense tracking actions assigned to the division to ensure effective and timely completion
- Responsible for receiving higher headquarters communications and analyzing implications for the program
- Developed 30+ Operations Orders/Tasking Orders between FY18-19 and monitored for completion, accountability, and prepared associated plans of action with milestones all with direct impacts on the effects of missioning and resourcing for the program
- Analyzed operation orders, plans, and directives/policies issued by DA Army SHARP and DoD Sexual Assault Prevention Response Office, as they applied to TRADOC
- Managed implementation of innovative TRADOC Manning SharePoint Site to track 400+ full-time and collateral duty SHARP Professionals, including personnel credentialing percentages and overall training rates
- This tool allowed TRADOC's Centers of Excellence to manage their SHARP personnel with visibility at the MACOM level
- Coordinated TRADOC's third annual Partnership Engagement Summit in April 2016, which brought together 20 representatives from 14 local universities and colleges, as they shared similar demographics with TRADOC (e.g., 17-21 years old) to discuss strategies in Bystander Intervention, victimization, and barriers to reporting as part of Sexual Assault Awareness Prevention Month (SAAPM)
- Oversaw plan to train, monitor, and assess training goals/effectiveness for TRADOC G-1/4 staff SHARP Annual Training; ensured training sessions were interactive and addressed reporting procedures and confidentiality, resulted in 95% completion rate for FY18
- Established mechanisms for initial baseline capability within SHARP section for tracking system of personnel actions for response and accountability to TRADOC Installation PMs such as Revocations, Suspensions, and Additional Skill Identifier (ASIs), etc
G-3/5/7 Operations Specialist
Department of the Army Futures and Concepts Center
10.2019 - 05.2021
- Prepared operation/fragmentary orders for distribution throughout the organization with 100% accuracy
- Managed Order of Merit (OML) to track and submit personnel from across the ACOM for attendance at mandatory training for Requirement Managers; developed a SharePoint tool to accomplish the task and save 75% of the time required
- Coordinated for FCC special events (i.e., retirements, VIP visits, etc.) notably LTG Eric Wesley's retirement including all logistical support for the ceremony not limited to seating arrangements (under COVID constraints); program production/printing; ROC drill, and final rehearsal, script development, live streaming; and award procurement
- Worked with protocol offices at echelon for appropriate protocol measures for Army VCSA who hosted event
- Established quick reference COVID-19 index to manage systematic process to look-up new AFC/FCC orders/FRAGOs to streamline publication process
CBRNE Operations Officer
US Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological, & Nuclear School
02.2014 - 05.2015
- Collaborated with management and staff to gather and analyze data needed to develop force structure and guided the team toward consensus among points of view when resources or organizational goals were in conflict
- Conducted analyses of projects involving conflicting goals and guidance, and how variances in operations among unique components and Chemical organizational units affected the ARNG Warrant Officers program
- Managed ARNG CBRNE Warrant Officers program; charged to reevaluate and assess criteria upon which applicants were assessed into highly selective and demanding school
- Increased student enrollment by more than 20%
Total Force Integrator
Maneuver Support Center of Excellence-Concepts Organizations & Doctrine Development Division
03.2013 - 02.2014
- Lead for the Maneuver Support Center of Excellence's (MSCoE) 2020 Organizational and Operational Concept, extracted lessons learned from 100+ documents to compile best practices to define realignment of Army force structure through 2020 into ever more complex budgetary constrained environments
- Consolidated edits while maintaining 100% accuracy of revisions of 2014 Army's Operating Concept (AOC)
Sexual Harassment Assault Response & Prevention Program Manager/Section Chief
Army National Guard, G1 - National Guard Bureau
10.2011 - 02.2013
- Managed initial policy development for SHARP Program in 2012 for the ARNG, engaging key stakeholders by building ownership for new initiatives through involvement of leaders to lowest levels responsible for implementing and planning details of program, which resulted in tracking and credentialing of over 1,200 Victim Advocates (VAs)
- Executed strategic transition, with new regulatory guidance, resulting in merge of two data reporting and information technology systems (Sexual Assault Data Management System (SADMS) and Defense Sexual Assault Incident Database (DSAID)) for sexual assault case management and accounting for individual personnel reported trained within 54 states and territories
- As ARNG's representative on the Army Chief of Staff's mandated SHARP Red Team Summer 2012 and PM, conducted regular state assistance visits to assess and evaluate program/initiative effectiveness for NGB to determine command climate and identify risk behavior trends, best practices, and further ascertain challenges or gaps to implementing SHARP policy at state level
- Regularly briefed senior leaders of the 54 states and territories (including Sexual Assault Response Coordinators (SARCs), G-1s, and Chiefs of Staff) on upcoming appropriate courses of action impacting their SHARP Program
- Collaborated directly with state personnel to develop programs, prevention strategies, and activities for sexual harassment and assault and victim needs based on state funding streams and existing policy and regulations
- Established positive working relationships to gain an understanding of current issues, activities, projects, and operational problems that had potential and long-term impacts to implementing SHARP for ARNG
- Maintained a working relationship with selected directorates to ensure command's plan of action and milestones were achievable
- Chaired ARNG workgroup to evaluate and address gaps within existing SHARP curricula specific to the ARNG's culture and mission, secured senior leadership buy-in, and subsequently personally delivered new curricula to more than 850 personnel in Washington DC Metropolitan area in FY 2012
- Administered Presidential Budget $7.3M for FY 2013; ensured FY 2012 SHARP budget of $6.8M executed at 98.2%
- Oversaw funding streams to provide for training resources and aids, Sex Signals, etc
Education
Master's Degree - Public Administration
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC05.1994
Batchelor of Arts - Political Science
Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC05.1991
Certified Level I Sexual Assault Advocate -
Department of Defense Sexual Assault Advocate Certificate Program (D-SAACP)
04.2026
Contracting Officer Representative - DAWIA - Level 1 -
11.2010
Skills
Operational Efficiency
Planning and coordination
Cross-Functional Communication
Project Management
Educationcertifications
- Department of Defense Sexual Assault Advocate Certificate Program (D-SAACP), Certified Level I Sexual Assault Advocate, 04/01/26
- Introduction to Joint Capabilities Integration & Development System, RQM 1010, 10/01/23
- Sexual Assault Response and Prevention Program, Camp J T Robinson, AR, 05/01/12
- SHARP Foundation Course, Ft. Bragg, NC, 10/01/11
- Contracting Officer Representative - DAWIA - Level 1, 11/01/10
- Command and General Staff College, Ft. Belvoir, VA, 12/01/09
- Master's Degree in Public Administration, 05/01/94, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
- Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, 05/01/91, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC
References
Provided upon request
Timeline
G-3/5/7 Operations Specialist
Department of the Army Futures and Concepts Center
08.2024 - Current
SHARP Program Manager / Sexual Assault Response Coordinator
Department of the Army Futures and Concepts Center
06.2021 - 08.2024
G-3/5/7 Operations Specialist
Department of the Army Futures and Concepts Center
10.2019 - 05.2021
SHARP Operations Analyst
Department of the Army TRADOC Command Diversity Office
09.2015 - 10.2021
CBRNE Operations Officer
US Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological, & Nuclear School
02.2014 - 05.2015
Total Force Integrator
Maneuver Support Center of Excellence-Concepts Organizations & Doctrine Development Division
03.2013 - 02.2014
Sexual Harassment Assault Response & Prevention Program Manager/Section Chief
Army National Guard, G1 - National Guard Bureau
10.2011 - 02.2013
Master's Degree - Public Administration
North Carolina State University
Batchelor of Arts - Political Science
Western Carolina University
Certified Level I Sexual Assault Advocate -
Department of Defense Sexual Assault Advocate Certificate Program (D-SAACP)
Contracting Officer Representative - DAWIA - Level 1 -
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