Graduate student at Johns Hopkins SAIS, concentrating in Strategic Studies. Focus of study is global energy security, particularly in the context of Middle East politics and conflict. Background in international politics and the Middle East, with experience in energy and environment issues, foreign policy, and project leadership. Professional focus in the private sector, particularly working with strategic advisory firms and organizations that do business in the Middle East. Previous experience in government, think tank, academic, and corporate settings.
The Rapidan Group is an independent energy market, policy, and geopolitical consulting firm based in the Washington, DC area. Rapidan provides leading corporate officials and asset managers timely, objective and actionable information and analysis through both retainer-based written and interactive products as well as bespoke, strategic advisory services.
Launched upstream (exploration and production) oil and natural gas tracking project, following over 200 E&P projects around the world Drafted notes to clients on research and analysis Built infrastructure for capturing and managing incoming information Supported staff by tracking breaking news pertaining to oil/NG production
Custom-tailored course content for 25 clients, and assisted in the development of specialized design and development documents Worked with designers, editors, graphics specialists, project leaders, and account managers to ensure consistency in meeting client requirements Migrated and managed content for over 40 unique courses in specialized, XML-based learning content management system (Xyleme) Oversaw translation of program materials into foreign languages, coordinating with vendors, project managers, editors, and facilitators to ensure accuracy and consistency of translations Logged tickets with software developers to address problems with the LCMS, and test new software builds for efficacy of fixes and lack of regression
Served as lead in multifunctional team, migrating course content to a new, XML-based learning content management system. Was responsible for nearly every stage of the migration process, as well as for assisting in coordination of job roles and requirements. Also responsible for providing technical and management support and training to others using the CMS.
Coordinated and recorded purchases and reimbursements for faculty and staff Maintained a log of departmental expenses using Microsoft Excel Maintained office equipment
Managed awarding of American Medical Association continuing medical education credits to attendees of Brown University-sponsored medical conferences, using Filemaker Compiled and analyzed survey and evaluation results and information related to those conferences using Microsoft Office
United States Congress, House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming
– (5 months)
Researched contributions by developing countries toward mitigating climate change, and helped prepare for related hearings, which were used as background information in drafting the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 Researched exemption status of power-generation and distribution facilities across the country from renewable electricity standard requirements in order to help staff the Chairman for meetings with other Committee members Conducted research and helped create a briefing memorandum on the Montreal Protocol for staff Researched consumption and greenhouse gas emissions of home heating oil in the Northeast to help determine the effects that the renewable electricity standard will have on consumers in that region Researched existing and new capacity for electricity generation of various industries, including geothermal, solar, and wind power Attended briefings on electricity distribution, cap and trade, energy efficiency promotion, biofuels, and consumer protection, and drafted memoranda based on notes from those briefings
United States Congress, Office of U.S. Representative James P. McGovern
– (9 months)Washington D.C. Metro Area
Attended hearings and briefings and drafted policy memoranda for staff Conducted research for and staffed nine staff members, as well as the Congressman Corresponded with other Representatives’ offices on various pieces of legislation Assisted in coordination and organization of constituent correspondence, and drafted responses to over 20 unique constituent concerns Handled routine administrative tasks, such as reception, handling phones, assistance in coordinating interoffice correspondence Wrote policy memorandum on ethanol policy, recommending that tariffs and subsidies be removed; they ultimately were removed
Accessed and retrieved scientific papers and articles, transferred them to the database, and helped prepare them for publishing on the database's website Retrieved supplemental information for many of those papers, and scanned them for relevant information to determine whether these papers are useful to the database Assisted in the design of the database's website, creating a uniform style sheet for all web pages
Campaign for Timothy P. Murray for Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts
– (6 months)
Contacted delegates and volunteers Helped to coordinate volunteer activities Collected voter signatures and delivered said signatures to the Secretary of State's office
Massachusetts State Senate, Office of Senator Edward M. Augustus
– (3 months)
Attended official committee and other hearings, as well as Senate Sessions, and drafted memoranda for said hearings and sessions Assisted in coordination and recording of constituent correspondence Answered phones , organized and sorted mail
The Johns Hopkins University - Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS)
Corporate Finance
Defense Analysis
Statistics for Business and Economics
Net Assessment
Strategy and Policy
Facing the Oil Problem
American Intelligence
Accelerated International
Technology and War
Basics of the US Defense Budget
Microeconomics
Macroeconomics
International Mediation
American Foreign Policy from 1945 to the Present
Powers of the Middle East: Gulf States
International Trade Theory
Northeast Asia and the Middle East
Theories of International Relations
Recommendations
A preview of what LinkedIn members have to say about Benjamin:
I count myself as fortunate for having managed Ben while he was at Forum, first as a contract employee in 2011 and then as a full-time employee in 2012. He is extremely technically adept, learns quickly, and takes initiative.
It's a pleasure to work with Ben, both because he is competent, responsive, and responsible, and because he is smart, quick-witted, and genuinely interesting. He's not only well traveled, but also has reflected upon his international experiences.
I will be delighted to have Ben on my team for future projects.
During the time that Ben worked for me it was clear that he was a natural leader and a quick learner. The project we worked on involved migrating data from Microsoft Office files into an XML based learning content management system. Ben took responsibility for nearly every step in the process, quickly acquiring the knowledge necessary to migrate the content efficiently and thoroughly. When upgrades to the system were implemented, Ben helped with system testing and monitored to make sure normal functionality was maintained. Ben also performed copy edits on the materials being migrated to ensure accuracy and consistency of the information and to ensure that they displayed correctly.
Above and beyond the migration of the data, Ben showed his leadership skills by training and assisting the other members of our team. He explained the new system and processes to them and provided technical support on the fly. Ben also maintained the master status list for the migration project and delegated projects and tasks to team members and maintained communications between the team members and myself so that the migration of the 44 courses went forth smoothly.