Title: Defense Initiative Program Manager

Company: Virginia Economic Development Partnership

Location: Richmond, Va.

Theodora von Hohenstaufen Noll’s focus within the conflict analysis and resolution field is primarily at the inter-/intrastate level with emphasis on women’s peace and security issues.  She addresses the underlying motivations of conflict and seeks to reduce those.  Her efforts promote capacity building, developing cross cutting ties, understanding the significance that narratives play in igniting, or resolving conflict.  Theodora teaches effective strategies and tools for bridging differences in a holistic, non-violent manner.

Currently, Theodora works with private sector defense companies to help them promote security cooperation, interoperability and economic stabilization activities through economic development with partner and at-risk states. She actively assists companies with increasing international sales by counseling them in export related matters and leading them to foreign markets to meet with potential end users, distributors and representatives. Theodora has taken numerous companies to EUCOM and AFRICOM’s Industry Days in Stuttgart and is working on collaboration opportunities with private industry and U.S. DoD/U.S. Combatant Commands. In addition to international business development and revenue diversification strategies, she helps companies develop, she manages federal programs and contract management with the various service providers to the Commonwealth’s defense program.

Theodora has her bachelors degree in German from Virginia Commonwealth University and a masters degree in conflict analysis and resolution from George Mason University.  She speaks German and Russian fluently. Theodora is a member of the Virginia International Business Council (VAIBC), founding President of the Organization of Women in International Trade – Central Virginia (OWIT-CVA), and lifetime member of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. Additionally, she is working on another masters degree in sustainable peace through the United Nations mandated University for Peace. In her spare time, Ms. von Hohenstaufen Noll studies harp, piano, dance and pursues indoor sky diving.