Jay Wagamon, M.A., Class of 2006

“I joined AGS largely to build an education platform to help make positive changes in the world. The motivations have not changed, but I am no longer naive to the difficulties of fostering change and the many forces that fight progressive reforms. In my career, I have done my best to remain politically agnostic while fostering programs or policy that can be mutually beneficial to all parties.”

Jay Wagamon joined AGS after earning a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism at West Virginia University. Since he graduated with his Master’s of International Relations and Diplomacy in 2006, Jay Wagamon has pursued an international career that took him from counterterrorism and intelligence analysis to strategic and organizational consulting.

Beginning in 2006, Wagamon served as a senior counterterrorism analyst providing expertise on terrorist tactics, techniques and procedures to the Department of Homeland Security in the US. In this capacity, he utilized all-source intelligence to produce over 90 TRIPwire profiles focused on international and domestic terrorist incidents, target selection, and operational tactics that serve as reference materials for several federal and local agencies. In addition, Wagamon led an outreach campaign that coordinated Improvised Explosive Device (IED) prevention between Federal, State and local law enforcement.

Wagamon went on to work as an intelligence analyst, conducting research and analysis with a detailed knowledge of numerous regions and actors. Wagamon conducted all-source analysis and generated intelligence products to evaluate and respond to influence operations orchestrated by foreign adversaries affecting U.S. national security interests. In supporting the Defense Intelligence Agency Foreign Influence Effort (FIA), Wagamon contributed to foreign influence assessments of multiple countries, cyber threats and transnational terrorism.

Wagamon then worked as a Project Manager engaged in a border protection project destined to meet future network backhaul requirements for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). He has also held several different Business Development positions that have led him to an intimate understanding of Federal contracting and government concepts, practices and procedures. This led him into the head of Corporate Strategy for Serco’s Americas business.

Today, Jay Wagamon serves as Chief Operations Officer for Hayes Group International (HGI), a global security and intelligence consulting and advisory firm specializing in emerging and frontier markets. HGI is focused on development of solutions involving security, cultural intelligence, and delivering comprehensive risk assessment and mitigation services. HGI takes a unique approach to challenges and provides solutions that focus on the other side of the equation, especially those that can improve outcomes for women in conflict zones. Wagamon is responsible for operations as well as defining the strategic direction of HGI in the US intelligence and security markets focused on conflict zones.

“My experience at AGS was fantastic both academically and personally. The teaching staff are highly intelligent and deeply knowledgeable in their fields. The immersion in French culture also had a vast and dynamic change on my worldview and, I believe, gave me an advantage over my peers that studied International Relations and Diplomacy in the US. I traveled extensively throughout Europe, gaining valuable cultural and regional experience. I highly value the academic and cultural lessons learned while studying in Paris, and the great relationships with my classmates that continue to this day.”