Courtesy Photo | Keisha Dawn Bell was appointed as general counsel of the Defense Contract Management...... read more read more
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FORT LEE, Va. - Keisha Dawn Bell was officially appointed as general counsel of the Defense Contract Management Agency last week by Secretary of Defense Ash Carter. Bell served as the acting general counsel since early 2015 and as deputy general counsel since 2013, when she joined DCMA. In announcing her appointment, Air Force Lt. Gen. Wendy Masiello, the director of DCMA, noted that Bell “served with excellence as acting general counsel and will continue to lead the DCMA legal community to outstanding results and success.”
Prior to joining DCMA, Bell served as the deputy general counsel of the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board for five years. Before her tenure with the MSPB, Bell served almost 14 years with the U.S. Department of Justice in both the Civil Division and the Civil Rights Division as a trial attorney, senior litigation counsel and senior trial attorney. Immediately prior to joining the MSPB, Bell was deputy chief of the Housing and Civil Enforcement Section of the Civil Rights Division.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to serve as general counsel of DCMA in the Richmond area, a place about an hour from Powhatan County where I grew up and where my journey to make a positive difference in the lives of others began so many years ago,” said Bell. “Since joining DCMA, I’ve had the opportunity to work with so many amazing people who are dedicated public servants supporting our workforce across the globe. They are committed to making a positive difference and I am honored to have the opportunity to serve with them and be one of their leaders.”
As the general counsel, Bell supports an agency with more than 1,000 locations around the world overseeing over 340,000 active contracts with a total value of more than $6.5 trillion. The total DCMA workforce is comprised of more than 11,000 civilian and military acquisition professionals handling contracts for the Department of Defense, 14 federal agencies and NATO allies.
Bell received her Bachelor of Arts in economics/business from Randolph-Macon College where she was an honors program graduate and an All-American basketball player. She received her Juris Doctor from the T.C. Williams School of Law, University of Richmond, where she was a member of the Moot Court Board and recipient of the Bureau of National Affairs Law Student Award. She is also a graduate of the Federal Executive Institute’s Leadership for a Democratic Society Program. Bell credits her family with creating the foundation for her success in life.
Bell said the trajectory of her life, her passion for the pursuit of justice and strong commitment to service can be traced back to her family and its roots in Powhatan County.
“When you grow up in a family of trailblazers who are so committed to the pursuit of justice and equality and who believe so strongly in the importance of service, your perspective on life is built upon the inextinguishable belief that you can — and must — make a positive difference in the lives of others,” she said.
“My parents ensured that all five of their children understood the importance of faith, integrity and service. They instilled in each of us a passion for making a positive difference in the lives of others. Their example of courage and abiding resolve has always been a source of strength for me and my older siblings who boldly paved the way for me to discover my potential. I wouldn't be here today without my family’s many efforts, sacrifices, love and support. I’m excited about my appointment as general counsel and I am looking forward to continuing my partnership with the other senior leaders of the agency, as well as the talented DCMA workforce, to accomplish great things and make a positive difference.”
| Date Taken: | 02.24.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 02.24.2016 14:14 |
| Story ID: | 189955 |
| Location: | FORT LEE, VA, US |
| Hometown: | PETERSBURG, VA, US |
| Hometown: | POWHATAN, VA, US |
| Hometown: | RICHMOND, VA, US |
| Web Views: | 1,048 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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