2022 Human Capital Symposium and Awards Ceremony

Pawan Wahi

Pawan Wahi serves as the Chief of Human Resources Information Technology (HRIT) within the Office of Human Capital and Training (HCT) at USCIS. HRIT supports USCIS by providing an exceptional customer experience for HRIT needs by delivering innovative technology solutions for business process automation, analytics, and reporting. Some of these deliverables include automation through Robotic Process Automation (RPA), ServiceNow Development (forms and workflows), Data Centralization, and interactive Human Resources Dashboards.
Pawan oversees human capital technology initiatives to ensure they align with the enterprise vision for all HRIT initiatives within USCIS and DHS. I provide overall HRIT vision, strategy, planning, and direction for achieving mission goals and objectives and to be the leader in Human Capital innovation.
Prior to this position, Pawan served at US Customs and Border Protection leading various IT teams to grow and support the HRIT portfolio including CBP's premiere HRIT systems Human Resources Business Engine (HRBE), Consolidated Personnel Reporting Online (also known as CPRO) and established a data warehouse infrastructure for data analytics and reporting.

Paul Darmory

Paul Darmory manages programs to increase employee engagement throughout ICE. In this role, he promotes participation in the annual Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS), advises ICE organizations on best practices, and is implemented a pilot in which senior-level employees facilitate focus groups and action planning to provide employees with a method to drive projects/efforts to increase employee engagement within their organizations or offices.
Mr. Darmory supported several other pilot programs within ICE to increase efforts to support employee engagement. This includes overseeing an all-volunteer Employee Action Team within the ICE Office of Human Capital (OHC), launching an employee career development program, and developing SharePoint sites to support various stakeholder groups.
Mr. Darmory joined ICE in 2019, having worked at a consulting firm, Logistics Management Institute (LMI), where he served on several Federal Government projects including one focused on reviewing the effectiveness of the programs, policies, and practices across the Army, as they related to employee engagement. This effort enabled U.S. Army with recommended policy, procedures, and guidelines to strengthen employee engagement and subsequently performance. He facilitated focus groups, soliciting personal perspectives of their workplaces. Mr. Darmory designed, edited, and co-authored a 102-page Army employee engagement report, which included the findings from the 38 focus groups, quantitative analysis of FEVS scores and a questionnaire, and resulting recommendations. He wrote the report to provide Army senior leaders with insight into organizational issues and to provide associated recommendations to address the workforce’s concerns. During this work, he enabled and promoted participation of the +300,000 civilians in the FEVS.
Previously, Mr. Darmory supported both private sector and Federal organizations in their pursuit of increased employee engagement. He also served in capacities related to the organizational prioritization of strategic initiative investments as well as operational processes and the implementation of new programs and project. He is a Dale Carnegie certified Employee Engagement Specialist and has maintained a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification since 2008.
Mr. Darmory holds a Master’s in Business Administration, from the George Washington University and a Bachelor of Arts (Political Science) from the American University.

David Ashley

David Ashley is the Chief of HUM Business Solutions at the United States Secret Service where he leads a team managing the IT portfolio of USSS human capital systems and business processes including data analytics, IT project prioritization, and survey methodology. Before his position at the Secret Service, Mr. Ashley was the Human Capital Data Analytics Division Manager at the Department of Homeland Security where he led a team overseeing data analytics and reporting of the 200,000+ DHS workforce across its 10 components. Before that role, he was a program analyst for the Federal Emergency Management Agency where his duties included developing business models, performance measurement development, survey work, and program reviews. Before joining FEMA, his other roles included servings as the Financial Resources Manager the tactical communications office for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, as a marketing researcher at the U.S. Small Business Administration, and as the Director of the Small Business Development Center at the University of New Mexico. He also completed a six-month rotation at the U.S. Department of Treasury developing its supervisor training course, served as president of the University of Georgia’s Marketing Research Institute International, and served two terms as president of the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the Marketing Research Association.
Mr. Ashley is an adjunct professor and an Executive in Residence at the University of Maryland’s Smith School of Business and with the George Washington University School of Business where he teaches marketing research and marketing analytics, qualitative and quantitative research methods, statistics, and the capstone project management course for the University of Maryland business honors program. He has led UMD student trips to Japan, Hong Kong, Mainland China, Tunisia, Italy, Vietnam, and Brazil. He has authored a marketing research college textbook published by Kendall Hunt Publishing and is a reviewer for the European Journal of Marketing, the Journal of Marketing Theory and Practice, and the Journal of Communication Management. He completed the Hansards Scholars Program at the University of London and holds an BA degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an MBA from the University of New Mexico.

Alex Graves

Mr. Graves is currently a Branch Chief assigned to the Physical Techniques Division at the Department of Homeland Security / Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. His previous assignment was Branch Chief at the Firearms Division. Alex began his law enforcement career with the U.S. Marine Corps Criminal Investigation Division. After leaving the Marine Corps, Alex spent 12 years with the Hawaii County Police Department where he served as a Detective/Sergeant supervising the West Hawaii Criminal Investigation Section, Domestic Violence Unit. Alex then went on to work in South Dakota with Sacred-Circle/Cangleska Inc., as a Law Enforcement Training Specialist and as a Special Investigator for the Oglala Lakota Nation’s Attorney General. While at Cangleska, he delivered domestic violence related training all over the United States.
Mr. Graves joined the staff of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in 2005 as a Law Enforcement Program Specialist. There he was responsible for the development and delivery of the Domestic Violence Indian Country Training Program (DVICTP) and specialized in the delivery of domestic violence training across the United States.
Mr. Graves has been published on the topics of forensic interviewing of children, intra-agency trainers, domestic violence and child abuse, human trafficking, officer involved domestic violence, reduced hazard ammunition, and has presented at seminars around the country and internationally on officer survival, firearms, the causation of youths at risk, the Violence Against Women Act, and officer involved domestic violence. He conducted an online webinar for U. S. Customs and Border Protection on “Internalized Oppression and Historical Trauma. He has presented internationally on domestic violence, coordinated community response, and response to victim’s curriculum to law enforcement, advocates, and community leaders. Alex serves on the Human and Civil Rights Committee of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP). He presently serves as a Committee Chair on the FLETC, Strategic Recruitment, Diversity, Inclusion, and Development Council.
He has a B.S. in Criminal Justice Administration from Bellevue University. He has competed in numerous triathlons including the Hawaii Ironman World Triathlon Championship.

William “Bill” Baxter

William “Bill” Baxter is the Chief Human Capital Officer, and Director of the Talent Management Division at the Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General. In this capacity, he oversees the Talent Management Division and works with OIG leadership on the development and implementation of human capital strategies and policies. He also advises the OIG Senior Leadership on topics related to protecting the workforce during COVID-19, planning for the “future of work”, and federal recruiting and hiring, Human Capital Operations and Strategy as well as collaborating with external stakeholders on these important issues.
Prior to serving at OIG, assumed the responsibility of Business Integration and Operation Chief for the Goddard Space Flight Center Human Resources Office in November 2019. Mr. Baxter oversaw a $21M Human Resources Budget and led Workforce Analytics and Strategic Workforce Planning to support over 50 Goddard exploration missions in the areas of Earth science, solar science and the sun-Earth environment, planetary studies, and astrophysics.
Prior to assuming this role, Mr. Baxter served as a Supervisory Human Resources Operations Chief for United States Army Aviation and Missile Command from 2016-2019. His portfolio included all Human Resources supports to over 10K Civilian stations worldwide in support of Army Aviation assets and Army Wellness Programs. Mr. Baxter served as Deputy Chief of Staff G-1 (Personnel) for the Army Contracting Command from 2012-2016. While there he was responsible for modernizing the Army Contracting Career field in the wake of the Gansler Report.
From 2011 to 2012, he served as the Army Material Commands Human Resources Policy Chief. He also severed as the BRAC Program Manager in support of the decision to move the Communication and Electronics Command from FT. Monmouth, NJ to Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD and closed 5 Army Chemical Depot.
Mr. Baxter is a Graduate of the University of Baltimore with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. Mr. Baxter’s principal awards include the Superior Civilian Service Award, numerous Meritorious Civilian Service Medals, the Civilian Service Commendation Medal, the NATO Medal for Civilian Service, and the Army Superior Unit Award.

Dr. Ulysees L. Gilbert II

Ulysees L. Gilbert II is the new Affirmative Employment Program Manager (AEPM) for the Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion for the United States Secret Service as of February 27, 2022. As the AEPM he provides strategic advice on the Management Directive-715, Root Cause Barrier Analysis Elimination Process, Special Emphasis Program Management (SEPM), Diversity Return on Investment (DROI) Transformation Diversity Analytics and The New IQ. He is responsible for advancing the USSS Affirmative Employment Program Strategy, develop policies and procedures for proper oversight and execution of Executive Orders and Proclamations as they pertain to Affirmative Employment Programs (AEP).
Dr. Gilbert II served at the Pentagon, as the AEPM, Office of the Secretary of the United States Air Force (USAF) in the newly established Office of Diversity and Inclusion (SAF/DI). In this role, Dr. Gilbert advised the Chief Diversity Officer, on the Department of the Air Force (DAF)’s diversity and inclusion program, policies, and initiatives. He was also responsible for advancing the DAF’s Barrier Analysis Strategy, Civilian Affirmative Employment Plan, develop policies and procedures for proper oversight and execution of AF AEP and Special Emphasis Programs (SEPs) and Department of the Air Force Barrier Working Groups (DAFBAWGS).
Dr. Gilbert’s began his Federal Career in 2014, at United States Geological Survey (USGS) in Gainesville Florida, where he was Program Director of Scientific Studies in Diversity and Inclusion. He collaborated with other noted Social Scientists to explore systemic obstacles and barriers that prevented employment into the Federal Government. He was then promoted and relocated to HQ USGS in Reston VA, where he worked in the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Division as the AEP Manger and providing Diversity and Inclusion guidance to the Chief Diversity Officer/Equal Employment Opportunity Director and USGS Executive Leadership Team (ELT).
After serving at USGS, Dr. Gilbert was employed and promoted as the Diversity Strategic Proactive Resolution Services (DSPRS) Manager at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) leading AEPMs, Data Analytics Technicians and Relationship Managers who provided and fostered development and methodology efforts that provided specialized and innovative approaches to rapidly address the IRS strategic, operational, and tactical requirements in Diversity and Inclusion. There, Dr. Gilbert managed and supervised 15 personnel and a 1.2-million-dollar budget.
Dr. Gilbert has a PhD in Philosophy from Innova University and Master of Arts from Webster University.

Kiran Ahuja

Director, United States Office of Personnel Management
Kiran Ahuja serves as the Director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM). After more than two decades in public service and executive nonprofit work, she was nominated by President Joe Biden for her current role before being confirmed by the United States Senate on Tuesday, June 22, 2021. Director Ahuja is the first South Asian American and first Asian American woman to lead OPM.
In her role, Director Ahuja leads OPM in its work to recruit, retain, and honor the American workforce that’s landing rovers on Mars, fighting climate change and cancer, and building the country back better.
Previously, Director Ahuja served as OPM Chief of Staff from 2015-2017. In this role, she worked on policies and initiatives that reached over 2.1 million workers at every federal agency and department. While Chief of Staff, Director Ahuja led inter-agency efforts to engage federal workers, attract skilled talent into government, and expand opportunities in federal service to every American. She also worked to strengthen OPM’s internal operations as an agency and provide stable leadership at a challenging time.
Her deep commitment to OPM’s mission, track record of bringing people together to solve tough problems, and expertise in human capital issues led to her appointment in November 2020 to then- President-Elect Biden’s Agency Review Team as Team Lead for OPM.
Director Ahuja knows how important investing in America’s workforce is because of her years of experience in the federal government in both career and appointed positions. She started her career first as an attorney at the Department of Justice and later spent six years as President Barack Obama’s Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
In addition to her federal service, Director Ahuja spent years as a leader in the non-profit sector. She previously served as the founding Executive Director of the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum and most recently served as CEO of Philanthropy Northwest. Director Ahuja is a graduate of Spelman College and the University of Georgia School of Law.

DHS Chief Human Capital Officer Roland Edwards

Roland Edwards provides authoritative advice and guidance to all Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Components on the full range of human resources (HR) functional areas as the DHS Chief Human Capital Officer.
Mr. Edwards was previously the DHS Deputy Chief Human Capital Officer. As the Deputy Chief Human Capital Officer, his primary focus areas included Human Resources Management and Services (provides HR services to Headquarters organizations), diversity and inclusion, internal operations, privacy and engagement initiatives within the Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer (OCHCO). Mr. Edwards was responsible for leading the Department thru the COVID-19 pandemic and stood up the Department’s Volunteer Force which supports Customs and Border Protection efforts along the Southwest Border, Operation Allies Welcome supporting Afghan resettlement and the Department of Health and Human Services unaccompanied children mission.
Prior to serving as DHS Deputy Chief Human Capital Officer, he was the Deputy Director, Human Resources Management and Services (HRMS) for DHS Headquarters in OCHCO. As the Deputy Director, he provided oversight of all of the HR functional areas and overall management of HRMS. In addition, Mr. Edwards focused on oversight of the Executive Services team, Business Analytics team and the Learning and Development Institute.
He also served as the Deputy Director, Executive Resources in OCHCO. In this role, he assisted the Director in managing all aspects of performance for the team and workload. This included Senior Executive Service (SES) staffing for Department-wide and headquarters organizations, political staffing, executive (SES, Senior Level – SL, and Scientific and Professional – ST) policy, SES/SL/ST performance management system certification, annual SES/SL/ST performance management, Presidential Rank Award nominations, and biennial allocations of new SES/SL/ST positions.
Prior to DHS, Mr. Edwards worked at the Office of Personnel Management as a manager in the government-wide SES office and served as an Associate Director in Human Resources for the Millennium Challenge Corporation. He received his Bachelor of Science and master’s degree from the University of Maryland.

TSA's Roger E. Brown Jr.

Roger E. Brown Jr. has been in the Human Resources (HR) arena for the past twenty years. Roger drives organizational culture by creating a true HR brand while building empowering programs and systems. As the Deputy Assistant Administrator (DAA) for Human Capital (HC), Roger plays a major role in setting the vision for the processes, practices, and polices that drives success in support of the TSA mission. He plays a significant role in improving Human Capital’s delivery of services, overseeing the modernization of our technology, streamlining our work processes, and furthering our HC Community of Practice. As a big picture leader, Roger also enjoys the ability to get down into the details, rolling up his sleeves to pitch in and be a team player. Roger has successfully demonstrated the ability to transform sluggish, underutilized, and reactive cultures into highly proactive HR functions, a high functioning enterprise of trusted advisors in service, and an immense passion for high quality customer service directed towards our TSA community.

He has accumulated years of progressive HR experience beginning in higher education and broadening that experience in industry and the public sector, and coming full circle in his role Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Transportation Security Administration. Throughout his career, Roger’s main focus has always been to align talent with organizational performance, driving his teams to be first class employees. Roger began his career at The Ohio State University, followed by a stint at Texas State University before going into the private sector in 2004. Over the years, Roger has been able to effectively bring people together through openness, collaboration, dedication and expertise. His passion for HR and higher education showcases his abilities to enhance recruiting and retention programs by developing quality performance management programs, enhancing employee engagement, utilizing effective technological tools, and enhancing policy development; which allows any institution to attract and retain the best and brightest staff in their region. He brings this experience to serve TSA’s 64,000 highly skilled, educated, and decorated men and women as a leader within Human Capital.

Sharon M. Wong

Ms. Wong came to OPM in September 2011, after serving as the D&I Officer at NASA/GSFC, where she led the D&I efforts since the program inception in 2000, leaving NASA/GSFC with a #2 ranking for Diversity (out of 220+ agencies) in the Best Places to Work in Government, as well as a detail to NASA HQ to standup the NASA D&I program. Her work experiences include 15 years as a Lead Software Integration and Test Engineer at NASA, and in Strategic Planning and Outreach at NASA HQ.

Ms. Wong is the immediate Past President for OCA, a national Asian Pacific American (APA) social justice and civil rights advocacy organization, where she served for 6 years as President; she’s a past Chair of the Asian American Government Executives Network (AAGEN), an organization of federal APA executives; and a Past President of the FAPAC (Federal APA Council). Ms. Wong served on the Maryland Commission for Women, and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Board of Governors. She is a lifetime member of Blacks in Government (BIG) and the Federally Employed Women (FEW).

Ms. Wong received a NASA Equal Opportunity Award, the Astronaut Silver Snoopy Award, and an Outstanding Leadership Award. She received AAGEN’s Stanley Suyat Memorial Leadership Award, the Community Catalyst Award by the National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance (NQAPIA), the Lifetime Achievement Award from FAPAC, and was inducted into the Wall of Honor at Wheeling Jesuit University. She has a B.S. in Physics, a M.S. in Engineering Systems Analysis from the University of Central Florida (UCF), and a Diversity Management Certificate from Cornell University.