Alexis McGrath is Owner and Principal Analyst of AM Precision Insights, LLC. She has extensive experience in the policy and operations of the Federal government, providing public and private sector clients with high-quality research and analysis that enables them to achieve their goals. She works closely with entities across the homeland and national security spectrum to help them better understand and improve their operations. Her primary focus has been on threat and risk-related programs, including those in the realms of law enforcement, nonproliferation, WMD trade controls, port of entry operations, and independent assessments.
Ms. McGrath spent nine years as a Senior Analyst at the Homeland Security Studies and Analysis Institute (HSSAI), managing contracts and providing analytical support for a wide variety of threat-related government projects. During her tenure, she served as a facilitator and analyst for DHS’s Quadrennial Homeland Security Review working groups, guiding key members of Federal agencies through the analytical process.
While at HSSAI, she developed a threat characterization for the use of improvised explosive devices in the homeland for the DHS Science and Technology Directorate, informing policy and security operations. Ms. McGrath has conducted multiple security program assessments for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), working to assess the effectiveness of airport checkpoint, baggage, and cargo screening operations, as well as the Federal Air Marshal Service, in securing the transportation system against ever-changing threats. She also supported the TSA Office of Security Policy and Industry Engagement, building a tool for the airline industry to facilitate compliance with federal security regulations.
Pursuant to her interests in WMD trade controls and nonproliferation, Ms. McGrath developed an extensive tool to evaluate countries’ WMD export controls and border security systems against international standards. The U.S. Dept. of State Export Control and Border Security program uses this tool to better manage the resources and assistance provided to foreign countries. Continuing to work with law enforcement, she has analyzed radiation portal monitor use at U.S. ports of entry for Customs and Border Protection, and created workflows mapping the regulatory and enforcement operations of the Dept. of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security.
Prior to her time at HSSAI, Ms. McGrath served as a Policy Analyst at IAP Worldwide Services. While there, she provided technical support to the Defense Threat Reduction Agency and National Nuclear Security Administration on the U.S. nuclear complex, including nuclear testing and treaty-related issues. She also worked for the Center for Nonproliferation Studies, analyzing the nuclear and missile programs of various countries.
Ms. McGrath holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of CA at Santa Barbara, and a Master’s degree in International Policy Studies from the Monterey Institute of International Studies.
