2016 Homeland Security Conference

Carla Thomas
Small Business Program Manager
U.S. Coast Guard


Carla Thomas currently serves as the Small Business Program Manager, Industry Liaison and Ombudsman for the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG). As the custodian for small business goal achievement, she directs the work of an acquisition workforce on with respect to the small business program. Prior to this position, Ms. Thomas worked as a senior contract specialist on the Coast Guard’s aviation team, responsible for commercial buys and interagency agreements valued at over $60M. Ms. Thomas began her career in acquisitions, in 2008 after being selected to attend the Army Contracting Command’s intern program. Her previous assignments include contract specialist and team lead at the United States Army Medical Research and Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA) and the Information Technology E-Commerce, Commercial, Contracting Center (ITEC4) where she was responsible for awarding contracts valued over $60M. Ms. Thomas graduated with an MBA and a B.S. degree, both from George Washington University. She is also Level III certified in contracting by the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) and the Federal Acquisition Certification-Contracting (FAC-C). Ms. Thomas is a member of the Department of Homeland Security Industry Liaison Council and the former Vice President of Membership for Toastmasters International, Hoffman Chapter. Her accomplishments as a leader and acquisitions professional are well recognized by the federal government and industry where she has received several awards including the Department of Homeland Security Small Business Achievement Award and the Coast Guard Small Business Goal Achievement award for FY14 and FY15.

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