Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Defense Exports & Cooperation

Ms. Cataldo currently serves as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Defense Exports and Cooperation. In this capacity, she is the U.S. Army principal responsible for the Army’s Security Cooperation programs. This includes all matters involving security assistance, export policies and oversight, direct commercial sales of Army defense articles and international cooperative research, development and acquisition. These programs directly involve over 2000 Army civilian and military personnel and exceed $20B annually in sales and cooperative efforts with over 100 foreign countries. Ms. Cataldo also serves as the designated U.S. Army Senior National Representative on all bi- and multi-lateral armaments cooperation fora with the Army’s international partners.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:

• 10 years as an U.S. Army Judge Advocate, including service in Korea, Honduras, and Panama
• Worked to provide Corps of Engineers (COE) technical, engineering, and contracting expertise for Development Assistance Programs, while in the role of Principal Legal Advisor for the COE Sales and Assistance Programs throughout Central and South America
• Served as the lead policy advisor to the Procurement Executive and senior Agency management on acquisition and related issues and led intra-agency working groups to improve business processes during tenure at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
• Directed management activities of four integrated business divisions responsible for resource management, budget, and financial policy for $307B FMS and Grants programs while in the role of Principal Director of Business Operations at the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA).

CAREER CHRONOLOGY:

• 2012-2013 Managing Director of Planning, Performance and Systems, Office of Foreign Assistance Programs, Department of State
• 2007-2012 Principal Director of Business Operations, DSCA
• 2005-2007 Director, Acquisition and Assistance Policy, USAID
• 2003-2005 Deputy General Counsel, Defense Security Cooperation Agency
• 2001-2003 Attorney Advisor, Acquisition and Assistance, USAID
• 1994-2001 Principal Legal Advisor to Latin America and Emergency Management and Project Management Divisions
• 1993-1994 Military Operational Law Instructor, Leavenworth, Kansas
• 1991-1993 Assistant District Counsel, Mobile District Corps of Engineers
• 1989-1990 Command Counsel, Joint Task Force Bravo, Honduras
• 1988-1989 Chief of Claims, HQ, U.S. Army South, Panama
• 1987-1988 HHC 2nd Infantry Division, Camp Casey, Korea, Senior Trial Counsel
• 1984-1987 U.S. Army Judge Advocate, Active Duty Trial Defense Counsel, Ft. Meade, Maryland COLLEGE:
• Judge Advocate General School, Charlottesville, VA, LL.M., Military Law, 1990-1991
• Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C., Interdisciplinary Studies Program, 1978- 1982. Juris Doctorate and Master of Arts, Modern European History 
• Siena College, Loudonville, NY, 1974-1978. Bachelor of Arts, English (Cum Laude), Honors in History and English

SIGNIFICANT TRAINING:

• Federal Executive Institute, Leadership Development 2006

AWARDS AND HONORS:

• OSD Exceptional Civilian Service 2012
• DSCA Exceptional Civilian Service Award 2012
• OSD Group Achievement Award 2012
• USAID Meritorious Team Award 2007
• OSD Exception Civilian Service 2005
• DSCA Directors Award 2004
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Project Delivery Team, Excellence Award 2002
• Federal Women’s Program Outstanding Community Service 2002
• State of Alabama Emergency Management Agency Certificate of Appreciation 1999
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Commander’s Awards 1998 and 2000
• Meritorious Service Medal (4th award)
• Joint Service Commendation Medal
• Army Commendation Medal
• Army Achievement Medal
• Joint Meritorious Unit Award
• Joint Service Achievement Medal

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS:

• Bar Membership, New York

MAJOR PUBLICATIONS:

“The Role of the Judge Advocate under the New Field Manual 100-5, Operations” Army Lawyer December 1994

“The Judge Advocate’s Dual Mission in a Low Intensity Conflict Environment: Case Study: Joint Task Force-Bravo, “Where can I shoot the prisoners?” is never the question. Dissertation: Thesis (LL.M.) – Judge Advocate General’s School, United States Army, 1991.