In January 2021, Mr. Christopher Parker was appointed as the Associate Executive Director of the Strategic Acquisition Center (SAC), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). In this role, he is the Head of the Contracting Activity and responsible for providing guidance and oversight to a multi-disciplined organization with over 200 acquisition professionals and support staff in Fredericksburg, VA and Frederick, MD, who manage a portfolio of strategic contracts valued at over $340 billion. Under his leadership, the SAC strives to provide world-class care and services for Veterans and their families by offering customer organizations innovative acquisition and business solutions for critical supplies, equipment, and services necessary to fulfilling VA’s mission.
Prior to joining VA, he served in the U.S. Navy as a Supply Corps Officer, retiring with over 29 years of service. He was the Director of Contracting for the Navy’s Office of Special Projects, where he supported many of the Navy’s highest priority programs. He also served as the Division Chief for Strategy and Readiness on the Joint Staff at the Pentagon, where he developed joint logistics doctrine and strategy in support of the new National Defense Strategy that shifted defense priorities to effectively compete against global near-peer adversaries.
Mr. Parker earned his Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) from the University of Virginia and Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA. In addition to his B.A. and M.B.A, Mr. Parker completed a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College and is a graduate of the Darden School of Business Executive Program. He holds Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) Level III Certifications in both Contracting and Budget/Financial Management and a DAWIA Level II Certification in Program Management.
