Portia is a seasoned national security and technology professional with over two decades of experience spanning the nonprofit and federal government sectors. As an intelligence professional in the special operations and intelligence communities, Portia contributed to military missions both domestically and internationally, with multiple assignments and deployments across the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and Africa. Her innovative approaches addressing national security challenges influenced U.S. national security strategies and counterterrorism responses to specific critical threats. For her unique practical insights, she received recognition and awards within the special operations and national security communities.

Portia brings a unique blend of expertise, passion, and commitment to TF-7294. She is a staunch advocate for special operations and intelligence community professionals and veterans—individuals who have selflessly served at the forefront of conflicts over the years. As the spouse of an active-duty military officer, she is equally committed to supporting military families.

Portia holds an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, an MA in International Policy from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, and a BS in Computer Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She is presently working towards a masters degree in Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence at Johns Hopkins University.

Outside her professional pursuits, Portia is a spirited adventurer driven by curiosity and a zeal for discovery—whether through travel, cultural immersion, embracing cutting-edge technology, or mastering languages. Proficient in Pashto, Urdu, and Hindi, she can also communicate effectively in French, Arabic, Persian, German, and Japanese. In the realm of programming, Portia excels in Python, Java, and C++, seamlessly bridging the worlds of human and machine communication.