After more than 30 years of dedicated service and unmatched leadership in federal acquisition and procurement, Karla Smith Jackson has left an indelible mark on the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and most recently, NASA—where she has served as the Senior Procurement Executive, Deputy Chief Acquisition Officer, and Assistant Administrator for the Office of Procurement since 2021.

“Karla has been a fantastic, collaborative partner throughout her time in federal service,” said Stephanie Sanok Kostro, President of the Professional Services Council. “She’s been a champion for innovation, a mentor to thousands, and a trailblazer who has improved acquisition efficiency and effectiveness across the U.S. Government—for the benefit of agency requirements and the American people.”

Kostro continued, “Karla’s legacy of excellence, integrity, approachability, and professionalism will continue to inspire the federal procurement community for generations to come.”

At NASA, Karla Smith Jackson led a team of over 4,000 acquisition professionals and directed a massive integrated procurement enterprise across the agency’s centers. Her leadership notably included emphases on innovative acquisition policies and processes and on communication with industry. In her NASA role, she also recently spearheaded efforts to rewrite the Federal Acquisition Regulation, reducing its complexity to streamline federal procurement and eliminate unnecessary bureaucracy. In previous government roles, Jackson supported critical national security missions in leadership roles at the Missile Defense Agency, Defense Contract Management Agency, Defense Logistics Agency, the U.S. Coast Guard, and DHS Office of the Chief Procurement Officer. As a result of her demonstrated leadership and change management across decades of service, she received well-deserved recognition, including the Presidential Rank Award and several high-level honors for exceptional civilian service.