Management Analyst Ally S. is the star of this installment of MELE’s Five Questions. Read her story to learn why she is extra-cautious with her ice cream, how international travel inspired her career, and what hobby she’d invest time in during her dream “staycation.”
What is your role at the NNSA and what do you enjoy most about your job?
I am with the NNSA Office of Counterterrorism and Counterproliferation (NA-80) working as a Management Analyst in the front office. Working in a front office setting, you get an amazing perspective on all the amazing work NA-80 does and also how it interacts with all the different parts of NNSA and the interagency. So, my favorite part about my work is being able to work with so many great people in NA-80, but also all the other offices around the nuclear security enterprise!
What inspired your passion for international policy and foreign affairs?
I caught the travel bug at a really young age from my parents who gave me some incredible opportunities to travel all over the world. That is how I got the passion for international work! This originally manifested in international education, and I planned to work in Ukraine with the Peace Corps. Due to the pandemic, I was never able to complete this and I began a new opportunity with the U.S. Army where I was introduced to working in national security. Working at a technology and security nexus fascinated me, and when I learned about the NNSA, it was an incredible chance to merge all my interests.
You are a Nuclear Fundamentals Professional. For those unfamiliar, please explain what this means.
As a previous fellow at the NNSA, we have a lot of amazing opportunities to professionally develop. As someone relatively new to nuclear security, I took this course to earn the certification through the World Institute of Nuclear Security to better understand the current landscape and build my competency.
Do you like your ice cream in a cone or a cup? Explain your answer.
Cup. Cleaner, lasts longer, easy choice! Even if I get a cone, I usually get a cup to put it in…
Describe your perfect “staycation.”
I would want to find the perfect mix of running around and relaxing. So, my perfect staycation would probably start with some kind of workout class and a coffee shop visit (but no actual coffee for me, only tea!). I have been taking stain glass lessons for the past year or so, so I would probably make some time to work on my new hobby or bake a new recipe and then go to bed super early!
