About Me
My Story
I medically retired from the FBI in August of 2022, after dedicating 13 years to the Counterterrorism mission. For 10 years, I worked in the field as a Special Agent in Puerto Rico, the Washington Field Office and Paris, France. I worked domestic and extraterritorial investigations covering threats stemming from various terrorist organizations, to include al-Qa'eda, ISIS, Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, groups in the Caucuses, and other inspired lone wolves. I lead high profile hostage investigations, worked complex terrorism financing investigations, domestic bombing investigations, like the Boston Marathon Bombing, and suicide bombing cases. From jumping on a plane daily in the caribbean to conduct surveillance, to carrying out operations in safe houses in Marseilles, to successfully recruiting sources and interviewing key witnesses, to obtaining charges against CT subjects and thwarting terror attacks, I am proud to say I had a very successful career. The last three years of my career were as a Supervisory Special Agent, serving at the Counterterrorism Division at Headquarters, where I program managed the FBI's CT risk mitigation tool; and, as a faculty instructor to New Agent Trainees (NAT) at Quantico. I taught new Agents the lessons I learned throughout my career, guided and empowered every women NAT under my tutelage, and made changes for a better Bureau. For 13 years, I worked hard and was passionate about my work. Badass in Heels will allow me to give back by sharing narratives of FBI women who feel the same way. I hope this platform serves as a guide and inspiration to new Agents and to aspiring young women. Welcome to the world of Badass in Heels!
A women show for everyone
Could you be the next Badass in Heels?
Want to know a secret? I wore heels about 10% of my career. I always had a pair under my desk, but mainly wore Merrels or comfortable boots, when I was on the field. Meetings at Headquarters, with partners, attorneys, and some other events, did call for high heels!
Did you know at the FBI you have the opportunity to conduct extraterritorial investigations and that you can travel all over the world?
For 7 years I worked ET matters. I investigated terrorism cases involving Americans who had been kidnapped or killed during terrorist attacks overseas. I traveled to seven different countries and met with many intelligence, law enforcement and military services- some which you might have heard of are MI5 and MOSSAD.
Did you know Puerto Rico was my first office & my third weapon was an M4?
In San Juan, firearms training is combined with tactical training making it a 6-8 hour day of shooting and TT. Greatest part? Training is by the water!
Did you know not every Special Agent gets to make an arrest?
Not every Agent in the FBI will get to use their handcuffs. Some Agents never get to make an arrest, but this doesn't apply to Agents assigned to San Juan, Puerto Rico. Arrests in SJ are a mass production. Yes, that is a bus! The entire office gets to participate in these mass arrests, one of the biggest ones when I was there was Operation Guardshack, in 2010. Over 130 people were arrested, most of them were police officers. It was one of the largest operations involving 1,000 Bureau personnel from 50 of the 56 field offices.
Did you know it wasn't until July of 1972, that the first two female Agents joined the Bureau?
Last year marked the 50th Anniversary of women Special Agents. It was an honor to attend the ceremony at Quantico and be in the presence of the first two women FBI Agents, Joanne Pierce Misko and Susan Roley Malone, who paved the way for the rest of us. Of course, I had to bring my little girl!
Did you know I led overseas investigations related to the Boston Marathon? Watch me on FBI True, Now Streaming on Paramount +, to learn more!
