Acquisition Chief in Command
In a move that bolsters the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), Darnese Wilkerson has been appointed as the Chief Acquisition Officer (CAO) in January 2025. With an impressive background in business management, administration, and government contracting, Wilkerson brings a wealth of experience to her new role.
Prior to joining NARA, Wilkerson served as the Director of the Office of Acquisitions at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). During her tenure at the NIH, she managed a portfolio of nearly $1 Billion annually and completed nearly 10,000 actions under her leadership.
As the CAO of NARA, Wilkerson is responsible for overseeing acquisition processes, ensuring compliance with federal regulations, and managing procurement activities. This includes strategic acquisition planning, procurement management, compliance and risk management, and collaboration with stakeholders. Wilkerson's role involves developing and implementing strategies to meet NARA's acquisition needs efficiently, overseeing contracts, agreements, and other procurement instruments to ensure they align with NARA's goals, ensuring compliance with federal regulations, managing risks associated with procurements, and working with various stakeholders within NARA and externally to ensure acquisition processes support the organization's objectives.
Wilkerson's educational journey is as diverse as her professional experience. She holds a bachelor's degree in Business Management from National-Louis University, dual graduate degrees, a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Science in Government Contracting, from the George Washington University, and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education from the University of Southern California, in Organizational Change and Leadership. Her educational path includes a focus on business and government contracting.
In her previous role at the NIH, Wilkerson's responsibilities might have involved research contract management, acquisition planning for research initiatives, and collaborating with researchers and program managers to ensure that acquisitions support the advancement of biomedical research. However, specific information about her achievements and responsibilities in this role is not available.
Throughout her over 30 years of experience in contracts and management, spanning both the private and public sectors, Wilkerson has demonstrated a commitment to collaboration and creating economies of scale for mission-critical support. As NARA's CAO, she is also responsible for determining and executing the training and professional development of the NARA Acquisition Workforce.
Without further information, the details of Wilkerson's tenure at NARA remain to be seen. However, her extensive experience, diverse educational background, and proven leadership make her an exciting addition to the NARA team.
Based on Wilkerson's diverse educational background, she has gained expertise in business, management, and government contracting through her degrees from National-Louis University, George Washington University, and the University of Southern California. With her appointment as the CAO of NARA, she will leverage her skills to develop and implement strategies for efficient acquisition planning, managing risks, and overseeing training and professional development for the NARA Acquisition Workforce, driving her career growth in the field of finance and business.
As she manages the acquisition processes at NARA, Wilkerson will be at the forefront of coordinating with stakeholders, ensuring compliance with federal regulations, and aligning procurement activities with NARA's goals. Her education in finance, business, and self-development will play a crucial role in achieving these objectives, offering opportunities for collaboration in business and potentially contributing to advancements in education-and-self-development sector as well.
