1975 Exchange Student
Posted by Linda Borton
on Oct 22, 2014
1975 Exchange Student credits her experiences in Brazil as foundation for her future. We thought you might find it interesting to have a long-view follow up from someone whose life has been very positively affected by a Rotary exchange. The following is about Arlington Heights Rotary Exchange student Kim Robson. Kim is far too modest to promote herself in this way, so this is her brother Kraig Robson doing the work. If you have any questions or would like additional information, you can reach me at Kraig.Robson@gmail.com or 281-480-1010. Kim credits her Rotary exchange with an increased level of maturity, self-confidence, and an international perspective that has furthered her career. She gives great thanks to a Rotary program which can and does change the trajectory of a young life. Rotary Exchange to Brazil Selected in 1975 from John Hersey High School, Kim spent her Senior Year of High School in Itapolis in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. Kim was 16 years old when she left O’Hare airport for Sao Paolo, and stayed with a single Rotary family for the entire year. Education Kim went on to obtain a BS from the University of Chicago in Geography, and then a Masters of Science from Purdue in Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (the science of making measurements from Photographs). Career in Defense Mapping Kim joined the Defense Mapping Agency after receiving her undergraduate degree, and has forged a 33 year career in Defense Mapping related assignments. Over her career, Kim has held a broad array of technical, systems development, analytic and policy positions. Recent positions include Deputy Director of the DNI Open Source Center and NGA Senior Representative at US Pacific Command. She is an Inter-American Defense College graduate and a Certified Defense Acquisition Program Manager. In 2010, Kim was awarded the Presidential Rank of Meritorious Executive. She is now the principal Senior Executive responsible for IT Service Operations at the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA). Kim she leads operations, maintenance and cyber defense of NGA's global infrastructure, including a 24x7 Enterprise Service Center, IT call center and a newly formed Cyber Security Operations element. As the IT Services' Equality Executive, Kim also oversees Diversity and Inclusion initiatives. Women in Technology Awards Kim is the 2014 winner of the Women in Technology, Leadership in Government Award. Women in Technology (WIT), the premier organization contributing to the success of professional women in the Washington, D.C.-area technology community, recognized Kim A. Robson with the Leadership in Government Award at their 15th Annual Leadership Awards Dinner on 3 April 2014 at the Hyatt Regency in Reston, VA. The WIT awards program honors outstanding women working in the Greater Washington, D.C. region who have exemplified unique vision, leadership and profound success in the technology industry. Kim was also recently selected to be a participant in the Women in Technology Leadership Foundry Class of 2015. The program is designed to train women for participation in corporate boards in the Washington DC area. Personal Kim is the mother of 3 boys (17, 19, 21) and resides in Vienna, VA.