I. Rodriguez and Associates is led by Ilka Rodriguez.

Ms. Rodriguez, recruited directly out of New York University, served with distinction for 36 years at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), initially operating under cover in hostile environments and ultimately becoming a member of the CIA’s senior executive cadre, attaining a rank that is the military equivalent of Rear Admiral. As a Latina of Cuban and Colombian heritage, she quickly acclimated into this elite, conservative, and clandestine organization which demonstrated her commitment to the United States of America and her adaptability to singular environments.

She earned 18 exceptional performance commendations for every major project she led and three leadership commendations. She demonstrated superior results developing innovative programs and increasing the performance of substandard departments.
Most notable achievements include responsibility for the operation of CIA’s language institute and Agency-wide recruiting and serving as the Agency’s Chief Foreign Language Strategist when she was responsible for ensuring it had the required proficiency levels in the languages of countries impacting the U.S.’s national security. 

A polyglot, she is proficient in four foreign languages (including Spanish) and is the President of I. Rodriguez and Associates, a personal and organizational development consultancy, specializing in executive coaching, operational improvement, customized professional proficiency training in English and Spanish, and leadership and management training, for profit, non-profit, and government contracting organizations.

Ms. Rodriguez has faced many personal challenges such as overcoming potentially lifelong paralysis, surviving late Stage 3 breast cancer, and caring for a stoke-victim spouse for 15 years while functioning as head of household.

Education

THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY | Master of Arts in Education & Human Development
NEW YORK UNIVERSITY | Bachelor of Arts in French & German (with honors in German)

Program Certifications

HARVARD JFK SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT
THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTION

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND ROBERT H. SMITH SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
L’INSTITUT CATHOLIQUE DE PARIS | UNIVERSIDAD COMPLUTENSE DE MADRID

Languages

• Spanish & French – Fluent
• Italian – Fluency in Listening & Reading
• German – Limited Working Proficiency

Honors & Awards

New Jersey Foreign Language Teachers Award for Excellence in Foreign Language Study

Delta Phi Alpha International German Honor Society
CIA Exceptional Performance Awards (18)
CIA University Mission Achievement Awards (2)

National Association of Hispanic Federal Executives’ Public Service Award

CIA Intelligence Commendation Medal, awarded for excellence in her leadership of its Intelligence Language Institute

National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) Sustained Superior Performance Awards (2)
National Intelligence Award for Human Capital: Outstanding Team / Project
National Intelligence Award for Human Capital: Outstanding Leadership

CIA Career Intelligence Medal, awarded to retiring senior officers for consistently achieving performance excellence throughout their careers