Iron Butterfly

On this week’s episode of the Iron Butterfly podcast, we are thrilled to welcome our friend, Janaki Kates. Janaki is a national security consultant with nearly two decades of government experience and is passionate about expanding missions and growing diverse workforces. She began her career at the CIA as an analyst focusing on foreign space programs. She then went on to focus on foreign weapon systems, counterproliferation, and counterintelligence. Janaki has served at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), the Department of State, and the National Security Council. Most recently, she served as the Director of Government Affairs for the Intelligence Program at Northrop Grumman. 

Janaki shares her story with the common theme of taking life by the reins as a professional, wife, mom, friend, and mentor. She is tough yet unafraid to share a laugh.

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The Iron Butterfly Podcast is back and fiercer than ever! Join Megan and Cadie as they share exciting updates about the team, plans for 2024, and the new Iron Butterfly Studio.

Season 6 will premiere on March 3, 2024.

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On our Season Finale we are joined by the extraordinary Arlene Gaylord. Arlene has spent 32+ years at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and is the Executive Assistant Director (EAD) of the Information and Technology Branch (ITB).  

She discusses a range of topics from creating effective and lasting change by using your seat at the table to similarities between the FBI and Broadway. It is no wonder that Arlene has smashed glass ceilings but even more encouraging to know that she will ensure that she is not the last. Tune in to hear her incredible story and for a truly fun episode, full of laughs.  

Show Notes:

• 02:17 Río Piedras, Puerto Rico
• 02:50 FBI, Honors Internship Program (HIP)
• 45:15 Lin Manuel Miranda, Pin Collection

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Episode Summary:

This week we are joined by Vinita Fordham, a technology leader working at the cutting edge.  Vinita is Chief Innovation Officer for Bridge Core, LLC and previously served as an AI specialist leader at Deloitte focused on delivering and advocating for mission ready AI strategies and solutions.  She also served as a senior executive in the United States Intelligence Community.  Tune in to hear how her older brother's love for engineering encouraged and inspired her career path and how she developed a passion for the intelligence mission. 

Show Notes:

02:40 Louisiana State University (LSU) 

05:25 National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) 

08:35 Bihar, India 

12:00 In-Q-Tel (IQT) 

26:30 CIA, Digital Futures 

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This episode we are joined by the amazing Tasha Jones, a U.S. Navy Veteran and Founder of Twenty39, a purpose built solutions and services partner leveraging over twenty five years’ experience in the U.S. government market space.  Tasha discusses how she transitioned from government into the business world and is an ardent supporter and champion of women in entrepreneurship and innovation.  A force to be reckoned with, we are so inspired by her tenacity and passion for enacting change and empowering others.  

Show Notes:

• 12:30 The Diplomat, Keri Russell
• 28:30 Citrine Angels
• 30:30 Hive 39
• 33:30 Unveiled GovCon Stories 

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On this episode we are joined by Colonel (Ret.) Jen Sovada.  Jen is the President of SandboxAQ’s Global Public Sector and previously served in the Air Force dedicating 25 years to various positions in operational test, systems interoperability, and requirements definition.  Listen in to hear her speak to the importance of building community and lifting up those around you.  And how her Grandmother, whose love of space, later influenced her drive and passion for public service and being a trailblazer.  

Show Notes:

• 4:00 US Air Force, Intelligence
• 8:00 Jack Molesworth, Royal Airforce Molesworth
• 16:40 Georgetown University 

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On this episode we are joined by the fierce Anjuma Goswami Karkera.  Anjuma is the CEO of a non-profit professional services organization and previously excelled in roles at the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA) and the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA).  Tune in to hear her discuss how being bold and authentic paved the way for her journey into the Intelligence Community.  She shares insight into the power of public service and how institutions can be instruments of positive change.  Truly an episode you don’t want to miss!  

Show Notes:

05:20 Cheryl Mills, Deputy White House Counsel for President Bill Clinton 

06:25 Violence against women act (VAWA)

08:00 Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)

08:10 George Pierce

18:20 Joan Dempsey 

28:40 National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA)

35:40 Letitia “Tish” Long

44:00 General Stanley McChrystal

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In this special episode, hosted by Texas A&M University's The Bush School of Government & Public Service, Megan Jaffer and Cadie Hopkins conduct a live panel discussion with butterflies; Laura Thomas, Stephanie La Rue, and the Honorable Sue Gordon. The panel takes an independent look at women in the intelligence community and where they were on historic occasions, what it's like serving across administrations and political parties, and what they feel is the greatest threat to our national security today.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ironbutterflymedia/

Video & Audio Production: https://poorbearstories.com/

Technical Sponsor: https://nationalsecurity.gmu.edu/

Promotion: Amazing Women of the IC

Podcast Producer: Amanda Young

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On this episode, we are joined by Sarah Mineiro, a total bad-ass self-proclaimed space nerd

and one of the funniest ladies we know. Sarah is the founder and CEO of Tanagra Enterprises,

a defense, intelligence, space, science and technology consulting firm based in the DC area.

Sarah has worked within the national security and defense sector for over 20 years. Over her

career, Sarah has worked in private industry, and across both the Executive and Legislative

branches of government.

Join us for a fun discussion ranging from Space Intelligence to Art, and Stand-Up Comedy.

Show notes:

● http://www.semineiro.com/

● (3:50) National Air and Space Intelligence Center

○ (4:38) Chinese Weather Satellite FY-1C

● (6:00) Strategic Forces Subcommittee for the House Armed Service Committee (HASC)

● (25:35) All the “C” Words, Sarah Mineiro, Capital Fringe Fest 2023 Review

● (31:30) The Butterfly Effect

● (35:00) The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

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On our season 5 premiere, we are joined by the incredible Teresa Shea. Teresa has served

more than 35 years in intelligence and defense within the public and private sector. She served

as Executive Vice President of Technology and director of Cyber-Reboot at In-Q-Tel. She joined

In-Q-Tel after a distinguished thirty-two-year career with the National Security Agency (NSA,

where she held several key leadership assignments during her career culminating as the

director of Signals Intelligence. Teresa is currently the President of Oplnet, LLC. She serves on

numerous boards and is an advisor with a passion for a safer and more secure Nation.

Join us as Teresa discusses the importance of trust as a leader, leading through difficult

situations, and the power of smiling through adversity.

Show Notes:

● (2:15) Barbie, The Movie

● (2:20) Georgia Institute of Technology

● (06:04) Edward Snowden, NSA Data leak

● (06:10) Dr Geoffery Stone, University of Chicago

○ Report and Recommendations of The President’s Review Group on Intelligence

and Communications Technologies (Dec 2013), “Liberty and Security in a Changing World”

● (7:34) NSA, Privacy and Civil Liberties Office

● (25:10) The Character of a Leader: A Handbook for the Young Leader by Donald Alexander

● (36:06) What Will Matter by Michael Josephson

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