Kyle Alden - Resume Spring 2024

Professional Summary

Professional Summary:
I am a recognized subject matter expert in spatial data analytics, data management, and spatial visualization in the US Government. I currently serve as the Geospatial Specialist at the US Agency for International Development’s Bureau for Resilience and Food Security where I develop analytic processes and tools to inform development programming, manage the Bureau’s spatial data, and support analytic efforts to inform our flagship Feed the Future initiative. Before joining USAID, I spent twelve years as an analyst at the Central Intelligence Agency where I provided unique insight to intelligence questions by applying geographic methods as both an analyst and a program lead and was promoted to GS-14. I love problem solving with data throughout the analytic lifecycle: from gathering and managing, analyzing and innovating, to designing beautiful cartographic products.


Experience

JANUARY 2021 - PRESENT
United States Agency for International Development, Bureau for Resilience and Food Security | Program Officer, Geospatial Specialist

  • Created, published, and trained USAID personnel in 15 countries on a GIS-based analytic tool that streamlines the selection of subnational areas for development programming.
  • Co-led evidence-based prioritization efforts to select countries to participate in the Feed the Future initiative and to inform budget allocations at the bureau.
  • Managed the bureau’s core spatial data and made it readily available to throughout USAID.
  • Performed the role of an Agreement Officer's Representative and activity manager-driving external analytic efforts that support the Bureau.
  • Calculated agrometeorological indicators--Standard Precipitation Index, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, and Heat Stress Days-- in the Feed the Future program’s twelve focus countries’ zones of influence using Google Earth Engine and python scripts.
  • Was a core drafter of USAID’s Geospatial Streategy.

JANUARY 2019 - DECEMBER 2020
Central Intelligence Agency, Directorate of Analysis | Analytic Methodologist, Technical Lead

  • Worked in consultation with analysts across several agencies to build tailored data solutions that provide automated insights into their intelligence questions
  • Applied various spatial methods including spatial clustering and route modeling to intelligence problems using geospatial software and python
  • Scripted new processes using python and SQL for evaluating the impact of our products
  • Built and maintained Tableau dashboards allowing our team and management to keep track of key program metrics
  • Briefed senior agency and Intelligence Community leaders on our program and its impact

APRIL 2017 - JANUARY 2019
Central Intelligence Agency, Directorate of Analysis | Analytic Methodologist, Program Director

  • Starting in 2015 I helped initiate and eventually led a program that developed a geospatial web application used throughout the intelligence community
  • Defined the program’s vision and priorities to ensure that it was in line with senior management's goals and provided analytic value for working level officers
  • In collaboration with a developer, managed our python-based data ingest process to include gathering data from several APIs, data standardization, and loading data into our PostgreSQL and Oracle relational database systems
  • Developed and documented standards for publishing GIS web services, including ensuring cartographic best practices, data standards, and maintaining data provenance
  • Coordinated the work of multiple teams--including a team of front-end web developers, a team of cloud architects and developers, a team of GIS analysts, and several other analytic units--to ensure that development and analytic milestones are met
  • As a Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative, was responsible for a multi-million dollar contract with several geospatial web developers, GIS analysts, and a data librarian

MARCH 2012 - APRIL 2017
Central Intelligence Agency, Directorate of Analysis | Analytic Methodologist

  • Applied various GIS methods using the ArcGIS suite including suitability modeling, spatial statistics, and route modeling to intelligence problems
  • Created GIS web services--both to serve data and to serve analytic processes
  • Scripted new processes using python and SQL for evaluating the impact of our products
  • Wrote and contributed to analyses for senior US intelligence officials
  • Managed a GIS project across multiple agencies that used an automated analytic to update a map used in daily intelligence projects

SUMMER 2008, JUNE 2009 - MARCH 2012
Central Intelligence Agency, Open Source Center - Geographer | Geographer

  • Produced written and cartographic products using GIS data and software
  • Served a customer service role providing map products and data to requestors
  • Designed and taught a class on how to use geographic thinking and GIS data to better answer analytic questions

Education

ONGOING
University of Wisconsin Madison | MS in Cartography and GIS - GIS Development, expected graduation May 2024

FEBRUARY 2005 - JANUARY 2009
Middlebury College | BA in Geography

Skills

ArcGIS Desktop, Pro, Server, and Portal, QGIS, Python, PostgreSQL, PostGIS, Adobe Illustrator, Tableau, JavaScript; familiarity with AWS, familiarity with R, Contract Management, Strong communication skills based on extensive professional training and in writing and briefing