Meet the team
Sarah Gooch
Lead Human-Focused Insider Threat & Counterintelligence Researcher
Sarah L. Gooch is a Lead Human-Focused Insider Threat and Counterintelligence Researcher for MITRE’s Insider Threat Research & Solutions team, where she applies nearly two decades of distinguished operational counterintelligence experience to advance human-centered insider threat research and solutions. She brings a unique operational perspective to understanding the behavioral aspects of insider threats, bridging the critical gap between academic theory and real-world counterintelligence challenges.
Sarah retired from the United States Army in January 2025 as Chief Warrant Officer Three after 20 years of distinguished service in counterintelligence operations across nearly all the Combatant Commands with multiple combat and operational deployments. Her senior leadership roles included Deputy Chief of Operations for Strategic Activities at Army Counterintelligence Command at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland, where she orchestrated quarterly reporting to the U.S. Congressional Oversight Committee on strategic intelligence activities and coordinated with national and international intelligence agencies to achieve shared objectives. She also served as Senior Counterintelligence Officer with 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) and as a J2X Officer in Charge for Task Force 10 in Germany and the Counterintelligence Coordinating Authority for Special Operations Joint Task Force – Afghanistan.
Throughout her military career, she conducted highly sensitive counterespionage investigations related to crimes against national security, developed and refined counterintelligence policies and procedures, and led strategic intelligence operations across multiple countries including Iraq, Afghanistan, Eastern Europe, Korea, Cuba, Indonesia, Thailand, Brazil, and Japan. Her expertise includes vulnerability analysis, policy development, interagency coordination, and crisis management in high-stakes environments. She was selected for national-level vulnerability assessments with Executive Branch visibility and led initiatives that significantly enhanced operational effectiveness across the newly established Army Counterintelligence Command.
Her current research focuses on the human behavioral elements of insider threat detection and mitigation, leveraging her extensive operational experience in counterintelligence investigations, screening and vetting procedures, and risk assessment. She specializes in developing practical, implementable solutions that translate behavioral science research into operational capabilities for government and industry partners.
Sarah holds a Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology and a Master of Arts in Criminal Justice, providing a strong theoretical foundation for understanding the behavioral aspects of insider threats.