GOVERNOR NAMES SARAH ALLEN STATE PROCUREMENT ADMINISTRATOR

News Release from Office of the Governor Nov 20, 2013

HONOLULU — Gov. Neil Abercrombie today announced the appointment of Sarah Allen as administrator of the State of Hawaii Procurement Office. The appointment is for a 4-year term that expires Oct. 15, 2017, and is subject to confirmation by the state Senate.

“Sarah’s considerable experience in contracting, acquisition and financial management will be extremely beneficial to the state,” Gov. Abercrombie said. “Her astute knowledge of contracts, cost and audit methodologies will offer constructive solutions and a tactical eye on behalf of Hawaii taxpayers to the management of state procurement operations.”

From 2007 to 2013, Allen was a senior manager for ASI Government, Inc. in Arlington, Va. During this time, she acted as executive advisor to the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA) Senior Procurement Executive and advised on the implementation of an agency-wide Agile Acquisition Initiative. Prior to that, she was a senior acquisition analyst from 2006 to 2007 for Arlington-based CACI at the Pentagon, served in the U.S. Air Force as a commissioned contracting officer from 2004 to 2006 and a non-commissioned officer at Hickam Air Force Base from 2000 to 2004. Abroad, she was president of Leisure Accounting, an accounting and auditing consulting firm, from 1997 to 1999, and chief financial officer of Dockside Internet Ltd. from 1995 to 1997.

Allen is a licensed Hawaii real estate agent, and holds certifications in the Acquisition Professional Development Program and National Contract Management Association Leadership Development Program. She is a member of the American Institute of CPAs, International Association for Contract and Commercial Management, National Contract Management Association (national board member from 2007 to 2009), and Delta Epsilon Tau Honor Society.

Her various honors and awards range from a NGA Unit Meritorious Award (2011), to an USAF SPACECOM MAJCOM Company Grade Contracting Officer of the Year award (2006), to Hickam Air Force Base Volunteer of the Year and Airman of the Year awards (both in 2003).

An accomplished speaker and author, she was editor and originator of “ACA Messenger” for the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency Acquisition Directorate ACA Division from 2009 to 2010, authored “Contracting’s New Heroes – More is More” in NCMA Contract Management Magazine (2007), and served as editor for various newsletters. Her speaking engagements include presentations on several key innovative best practices and leadership in contracting.

Allen earned a Global Executive Master of Business Administration from George Mason University, a Master of Acquisition Management (Summa Cum Laude) from American Graduate University in California, and a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting and Auditing from the University of South Africa.

She is currently a resident of Ewa Beach, Oahu.

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