Iris B. Cooper
Executive Director
Office of Acquisition Operations
Department of Veterans Affairs

As the Executive Director, Office of Acquisition Operations, Ms. Cooper is responsible for providing business and contracting solutions for a variety of major programs, to include the Department’s Major Initiatives.  She leads a professional contracting organization of approximately 500 acquisition professionals in Washington DC; Austin, TX; Eatontown, NJ; Fredericksburg, VA and Frederick, MD.  She is directly responsible for standing up the Strategic Acquisition Center (SAC), an organization which will facilitate strategic sourcing solutions across the Department by 2012.  Prior to joining the Department of Veterans Affairs in 2008, Ms. Cooper held several positions with the U.S. Maritime Administration and, as Director of Acquisition, was responsible for nationwide programs to include ship management for the Ready Reserve Force and ship disposal activities.  As the Deputy Program Manager for the DoD Deskbook Joint Program Office in Wright Patterson AFB, she was responsible for managing procurement solutions in support of the Department of Defense’s Acquisition Reform Initiative.  Ms. Cooper started her career in contracting as an Air Force Coppercap Intern supporting Air Force Programs in Wright Patterson AFB, OH; and Edwards AFB, CA; to include major weapons systems, complex services and research and development efforts.

Born and raised in Germany, Ms. Cooper holds an interpreter’s license from the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Bachelor of Science Degree in Business and Masters of Public Administration Degree from Golden Gate University, and a Master of Science Degree in National Resource Strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.  She is a Certified Professional Contract Manager (CPCM) and Fellow with the National Contract Management Association and a graduate of the Federal Executive Institute.  Ms. Cooper is also a recipient of the DoD Meritorious Civilian Service Award.