Karla Smith Jackson is the Senior Procurement Executive, Deputy Chief Acquisition Officer, and Assistant Administrator for the Office of Procurement at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). In this role, she provides senior executive leadership and oversight of NASA’s procurement functions, policy, and initiatives to an acquisition workforce of over 4,000 personnel.

Ms. Smith Jackson serves on the National Contract Management Association (NCMA) Board of Directors, the Federal Acquisition Institute Board of Directors, and on the Federal Acquisition Regulation Council. She is one of only three signatory authorities that can execute procurement policies and procedures on behalf of the United States Federal Government. Ms. Smith Jackson has over 30 years of extensive federal service experience and is Level III–certified in the Contracting (Acquisition) Career Field.

Ms. Smith Jackson has been featured in numerous publications and podcasts such as:

• NCMA Contract Management Magazine article “A Passion for Innovation”
• Space Foundation’s Space Report, “Procurement Chief Open to New Ways to do Business with NASA”
• Partnership for Public Service: Collaborate to Innovate—Four Pillars of Federal Procurement Transformation
• GovCast Podcast: “New Acquisition Framework Makes NASA’s Procurement Process Thrive”

Ms. Smith Jackson is known as a global speaker, panelist, and is the recipient of numerous awards, such as the Presidential Rank Award, the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Civilian Service, the Secretary of Defense Medal for Meritorious Civilian Service, and the OSD Medal for Humanitarian Civilian Service. She was also recognized as one of WashingtonExec’s Top Contract Execs to Watch in 2023.

Connect with Ms. Karla Smith Jackson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karla-smith-jackson-46b22854/