Kim Nguyen

Kim Nguyen is the Senior Research Program Manager for the Intelligence Studies Project. Prior to ISP, she served as an Intelligence Officer at the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)’s Defense Technology and Long-Range Analysis Office (TLA). During her tenure, she produced anticipatory all-source S&T intelligence analysis on quantum computing and sensing, PNT technologies, unmanned and autonomous systems, and emerging maritime threats, and explored technology transfer risks. Her assessments served as critical warning for policymakers, to include senior officials at the White House and Office of the Secretary of Defense. In addition to her duties as an analyst, Ms. Nguyen served as a recruiter for DIA’s Directorate of Analysis and represented TLA at DIA’s Directorate of Analysis Council of Employees, where she advocated for workforce issues.

Prior to federal service, Ms. Nguyen was a hydro-geoscientist at URS Corporation (currently AECOM), an engineering and environmental consulting firm, becoming a licensed Professional Geologist in the State of Texas. At URS, she held multiple positions, including Lead Project Hydrogeologist, Project Manager, HAZWOPER Supervisor, and Site Safety Officer for projects with the Department of Defense, the oil and gas industry, and state and local regulatory entities. She performed numerous field investigations to characterize soil and groundwater and to delineate the nature and extent of subsurface contaminant plumes. As part of her duties, she implemented feasibility studies to identify cost-effective remediation approaches, employing techniques such as enhanced natural attenuation and phytoremediation. Ms. Nguyen obtained extensive experience with various drilling and well-development methods. She installed dozens of wells to monitor groundwater at U.S. Air Force bases, petroleum refineries, Superfund sites, landfills, and retail and quarry sites.

Ms. Nguyen has served in a variety of roles in pursuit of her passion for environmental stewardship, food and water security, community service, and youth mentorship. To help alleviate water insecurity in communities abroad, Ms. Nguyen lived in the mountains of Guatemala where she supervised the installation of a critical water well system for a local village. At university, she conducted field research and geophysical surveys of groundwater systems in Coahuila, Mexico. Ms. Nguyen graduated as Valedictorian of her class at the University of Texas at Austin’s Jackson School of Geosciences with a B.S. degree in Geological Sciences.