GUEST SPEAKER
Tania B . Davis NASA Office of Education , MUREP
Tania B . Davis is the Acting Minority University Research and Education Project ( MUREP ) Manager in the NASA Office of Education . While on this detail assignment , she will be responsible for managing the budget , oversight of eight MUREP activities , coordination of Center specific activities , participation on several Interagency Working Groups , and collaboration and coordination with Lines of Business Managers , other Education Managers , Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity , and the Office of Small Business Programs .
Prior to coming to the Office of Education , Ms . Davis was the Lead Procurement Analyst at NASA Headquarters for the Johnson Space Center and advisor to the Office of Education . Ms . Davis provided acquisition expertise to the procurement and technical personnel on procurement activities associated with Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate ( HEOMD ) portfolio of contracts that have national and international significance ; namely , the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle and the International Space Station ( ISS ). In this position , she developed procurement strategies , implores project management principles to ensure critical procurement milestones are achieved , reviewed draft and final solicitations for contracts , reviewed solicitations for grants or cooperative agreements , and provided dayto-day advice and guidance to ensure that critical acquisitions are executed , with the least risk and timely , in support of the Agency ’ s mission . Ms . Davis was a key player in the strategy development for the Commercial Resupply Services - 2 , the ISS Vehicle Sustaining Engineering Contract Extension , and the Integrated Mission Operations Contract II procurement requirements . Ms . Davis was recognized as a 2015 Space Flight Awareness Honoree in light of her contributions to the NASA mission . Additionally , Ms . Davis was the primary Procurement liaison to the Office of Education and was responsible for ensuring solicitations for grants and cooperative agreements were in compliance with the NASA Grant and Cooperative Agreement Manual .
Prior to arriving at NASA , Ms . Davis ’ contracting career began at the Naval Air Systems Command ( NAVAIR ) as a Naval Acquisition Intern in the Outstanding Scholars Program , working on programs such as the High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile ( HARM ), F / A-18 F-404 / 414 Engines , and Avionics . In 2001 , she transitioned to the IRS Office of Procurement as a senior contract specialist and later became a contracting officer with an unlimited warrant in support of the Business Systems Modernization Program and promoted to Branch Chief supporting the Office of Modernization Acquisition , Total Information Processing Support Services ( TIPSS ) -4 Pre-award Team , and Office of Information Technology Acquisition , Modernization Branch .
Ms . Davis is a native of Shallotte , NC , and a graduate of North Carolina Central University with a B . S . in Biology and minor in Chemistry . In 2000 , she received an M . B . A . from Johns Hopkins University . She is DAWIA and FAC-C Level III in Federal Government Contracting , holds a Master ’ s Certificate in Program Management from George Washington University School of Business , and is an adjunct professor with Webster University . She is a member of the National Contract Management Association , National Black MBA Association , former National President of the North Carolina Central University Alumni Association , Inc ., member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority , Inc ., and Trustee-in-Training at The Sanctuary at Kingdom Square in Capitol Heights , MD .
In her spare time she enjoys traveling , performing community service projects , baking , and watching professional football , basketball , golf , and tennis . She continues to be a mentor and coach to former employees , peers , and students .
“ Expanding Sponsored Programs and Research Possibilities With Contracts : Understanding The Requirements For Success ” June 7-10 , 2016 Sheraton Pentagon City Hotel , Arlington , VA
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