Cynthia Atwood, CC Life Member, was awarded a Master of Arts Degree in Security Studies, Homeland Security and Defense at commencement ceremonies Friday, December 16 at the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA.  The CHDS Master’s degree program is a fast-pasted, challenging program that requires a major commitment of time from its students.

After retirement from active duty, she began working in the Office of the Commissioner of the legacy U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service in 2000, and transferred to the headquarters staff of the U.S. Border Patrol in August 2002; she was with the Border Patrol in 2003 when DHS was formed, and they became part of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Atwood joined the staff of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (the former benefits and international affairs branches of legacy INS) in November 2007 in the Lockbox Operations Division.  Today she is a Quality Assurance Officer in the Forms Management Branch, Office of Intake and Document Production, USCIS, which includes the Lockbox.  Forms Management Branch creates the forms and instructions for those seeking benefits, Lockbox Operations facilitates the intake of applications and fees for those benefits, and another of their branches creates green cards, travel documents, naturalization certificates and other benefit products.

She is a member of the Parish Council of Mt. Calvary Catholic Church in Forestville, Maryland. And also a Sponsor Mom at the U.S. Naval Academy and an active member of the USNA Parents and Sponsors Club.