Soraya Correa

As the former Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Chief Procurement Officer and Senior Procurement Executive, Ms. Correa was responsible for the implementation of the unique acquisition policies, regulations, and standards of the agency. Her work included direct oversight of all procurement operations, including the work of over 1,500 procurement professionals assigned to the ten Heads of Contracting Activities providing contracting services to DHS components, organizations, and offices. The DHS procurement portfolio exceeded $25 billion per year and consisted of the acquisition of a variety of services and products, including information technology, research and development, construction, law enforcement, and professional, consulting, and advisory services. Ms. Correa is recognized as a transformational leader, who designed several programs at DHS that have been adopted by other federal agencies to improve business processes and support the continued development and growth of the acquisition workforce. Examples of such programs include the Procurement Innovation Lab (PIL), Reverse Industry Days, and the Education, Development, Growth, and Excellence (EDGE) mentoring program. Each of these programs improved and streamlined business processes; promoted a culture of ingenuity and smart risk-taking, and enhanced customer experience.

Ms. Correa created and actively took part in a variety of forums to regularly engage with industry, academia, and other stakeholders on a variety of topics to promote collaboration, cooperation, and transparency. Under her leadership, the Homeland Security Acquisition Institute and the Acquisition Professionals Career Program grew and adapted to the changing federal government landscape including the use of “virtual” on-boarding, orientation, and training. With an outstanding record of meeting or exceeding small business, competition, and category management goals, Ms. Correa led world-class teams focused on enabling successful DHS mission delivery while ensuring compliance with procurement laws and regulations Ms. Correa has an impressive 40+-year career in federal acquisitions management. She was part of the creation of DHS 18 years ago, serving in several key leadership positions including as Head of Contracting for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and as an Associate Director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Ms. Correa also held leadership positions at the Naval Sea Systems Command, General Services Administration, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Her accomplishments as a leader are well recognized by the government and industry. Ms. Correa has received a variety of leadership and subject matter expertise awards including the DHS Distinguished Public Service Medal, the Distinguished Presidential Rank Award, the Federal 100, and the Top Women in Tech award. She is a recognized speaker on a variety of topics and has authored several articles.