Open to opportunities

Michael Thornton

@michaelthornton

Message

Governance and program specialist driving compliance, risk, and stakeholder outcomes.

United States

Message

What I'm looking for

I seek program or governance roles where I can lead compliance, risk management, and stakeholder coordination in a collaborative, mission-driven environment with clear impact and growth opportunities.

I am a governance and program specialist with experience coordinating risk management, compliance, and stakeholder-driven projects across federal agencies. I have led working groups, developed OKRs/KPIs, supported Zero Trust Architecture implementation, and streamlined SOPs to improve program efficiency and accessibility.

I bring years of executive-support and legislative-facing experience from USAID and the Department of Veterans Affairs, including calendar and travel management for senior leaders, FOIA and vetting process improvements, and communications support. I focus on measurable results, clear stakeholder communication, and ensuring materials meet accessibility and regulatory requirements.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Governance Program Support Specialist

Department of Veterans Affairs / Pathfinder Consultants

Dec 2022 - Jan 2025 (2 years 1 month)

Supported governance team by coordinating SMEs, recording senior management meeting minutes and votes, and leading working groups to define OKRs/KPIs and track project progress; implemented risk management processes and ensured 508 and regulatory compliance.

Governance Risk Management OKRs 508 Compliance Jira Project Coordination Stakeholder Engagement Scrum

Program Specialist / Front Office Executive Assistant

USAID / Bureau for Legislative and Public Affairs

Sep 2017 - Aug 2019 (1 year 11 months)

Managed agency vetting and clearance processes for speakers and engagements, tracked legislation and prepared officials for Congressional testimony, streamlined FOIA processes, and supported press and social media efforts to increase engagement.

Stakeholder Management Media Relations Social Media Management Event Vetting Briefing Preparation Administrative Support

HR Administrator

USAID / Bureau for the Middle East

Oct 2016 - Sep 2017 (11 months)

Oversaw NSDD-38 reconciliation and security inspection support, ensured compliance with security protocols (HIPAA/GDPR/CPRA), and maintained IT inventory reporting to improve bureau responsiveness to IT requests.

HR & Administration Compliance Inspections Inventory Management Documentation

Administrator

The Landon School

Jul 2016 - Jun 2017 (11 months)

Managed admissions operations including tours, interviews, application review, and enrollment analytics; supported diversity initiatives and coached multiple athletics teams to improve recruitment and retention.

Admissions Diversity & Inclusion Coaching Event Hosting Student Recruitment

Executive Assistant / Communications Specialist

USAID / Bureau for the Middle East

Jun 2016 - Oct 2016 (4 months)

Supported senior bureau leaders with calendar and travel management, developed strategic outreach materials, maintained bureau websites and mass mailings, and created interactive story maps for Middle East missions.

Executive Support Strategic Communications Outreach Content Development Event Coordination

Assistant JHOC Course Coordinator

USAID / Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance

Jul 2011 - Aug 2015 (4 years 1 month)

Managed over 60 Joint Humanitarian Operations Course sessions, oversaw course material logistics, briefed USG and partner personnel on OFDA roles, and published an article on the Missing Tasking Matrix for the DOD.

Course Coordination Logistics Publishing Liaison Supply Chain Management Documentation