International Security, Peacebuilding, and Combating Human Trafficking. Member Spotlight: Joanna Gutierrez Winters
A seasoned security professional, Joanna Gutierrez Winters has worked in intelligence and defense for nearly two decades. Joanna began her federal career working for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in Langley, VA after completing her first MA in Economics at Florida International University, USA. She then went on to work at the US Department of Defense (DOD) where she honed her leadership and strategic thinking skills.
After years of working at the DOD, in 2011 she decided to return to school to complete a second MA in International Relations/Diplomacy at Tufts University, The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, USA. While there, she wrote her thesis on how the DOD works with other USA organizations to carry out its missions. Upon completion of her studies, Joanna was asked by the Joint Special Operations University, USA, to develop a course based on her thesis, which was later published by the National Defense University.
Her curriculum focuses on how militaries can work with other agencies in order to carry out their missions. It was especially concerned with identifying and highlighting common threads that would facilitate the process. She taught the hands-on course to government ministries and agencies in Bangladesh, Uzbekistan, and Colombia and assisted these countries in developing strategies for collaboration.
Combating Human Trafficking
After years of extensive traveling throughout her career, the issue of human trafficking repeatedly showed itself. When she returned to Florida, she became a board member of the Free Network, and has been president of the organization for the last four years. The NGO’s mission is to combat human trafficking and provide support to victims and survivors. The Free Network encourages organizations working on the topic to collaborate together. She believes that “Freedom starts with each one of us. We can each do something to address the issue of human trafficking, but together we can really make a bigger impact.” Joanna also facilitates the Greater Tampa Bay Human Trafficking Working Group which she started in 2018. She is proud that she is able to use the knowledge she gained from working at the DOD and from writing her thesis to apply those concepts in the anti-human trafficking space.
International Consulting
In 2012, Joanna founded Winters Global Solutions, a boutique global security firm focused on political, economic, criminal and terrorist threats and how these impact clients’ interests abroad. The firm is broadening its clientele, and focus, by working with organizations that are dedicated to creating social change. This includes US-based entities combating human trafficking in countries such as India. Together, with her husband, Rear Adm. Winters, a retired Navy Seal, Joanna assists organizations to build their capabilities in leadership, operations, and intelligence, streamline strategy, create effective teams, and work with local officials, when needed, with conflict transformation at the center. “It brings me tremendous joy and satisfaction to be able to use our combined expertise to address a global problem such as human trafficking”. They also work with private entities, governments, and militaries upon request.
Conflict analysis, resolution and peace studies