ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 24, 2025—President and CEO of National Industries for the Blind Soraya Correa has been appointed as vice chair of the National Contract Management Association’s (NCMA) recently launched Acquisition Efficiency Working Group.
Prior to working for NIB, Correa spent 44 years in government as a career contracting and acquisitions professional and information technology expert. She developed extensive skills in government procurement, coupled with many years of experience leading and transforming organizations. A member of the Senior Executive Service, Correa was a founding member of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and served as its chief procurement officer and senior procurement executive from 2011 until her retirement in 2021.
At DHS, she successfully transformed the acquisition community into an innovative, mission-driven and customer-focused organization, building collaboration with industry, academia, and other federal agencies to improve outcomes. She is best known for the creation of the Procurement Innovation Lab, Reverse Industry Days and Strategic Industry Conversations.
From 2023 until 2024, Correa was executive director of NCMA’s Contract Management Institute, which provides research, studies and analyses to enhance procurement and contracting business practices.
In 2024, Correa became president and CEO of National Industries for the Blind, the country’s largest employment resource for people who are blind. Together, NIB and its nationwide network of associated nonprofit agencies are America’s largest employer of people who are blind. She leads this community in delivering U.S.-based professional services and critical products to the federal government and commercial customers, which creates opportunities for people who are blind to become wage earners and taxpayers, reducing their reliance on government support and empowering them to build a career, support a family and achieve economic independence.
Convened by NCMA, the Acquisition Efficiency Working Group serves as a non-lobbying forum for collaboration on reform efforts—starting with efficiency opportunities in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). It aims to serve as a trusted resource to policymakers, including the Executive Branch, Congress and the acquisition community at large.
“This is a high-powered group,” said Correa. “These experts represent the full spectrum of acquisition management, from frontline contracting officers to strategic policy leaders. They’ve experienced the system’s challenges, dismantled barriers, led transformative efforts and are uniquely positioned to drive enduring cultural and operational change.”
The Acquisition Efficiency Working Group is chaired by Wes Bennett, an NCMA board member and vice president of contracts at Booz Allen Hamilton. Formed in response to Executive Orders and Presidential mandates focused on transforming federal acquisition, members will bring their collective expertise to help policymakers quickly implement meaningful reform.
In addition to Bennett and Correa, the working group is currently comprised of 14 experts from publicly traded corporations and private equity-backed new entrants to academia and public agencies. It represents organizations of all sizes that provide software, hardware and services to the government, as well as federal agencies that purchase them. All have experience in federal procurement. As it evolves and expands its work, additional members may be added.
The Acquisition Efficiency Working Group will draw on research initiatives of the Commercial Contract Management Institute, an organization created by NCMA and World Commerce & Contracting – the same organization Correa led before joining NIB. It is the driving force behind NCMA’s data analysis and cross-sector insights. By relying on the Institute’s extensive research expertise, these experts will develop practical recommendations to streamline regulations and promote the adoption of NCMA’s Contract Management Standard® (CMS™).
“The National Contract Management Association is proud to convene a group of true changemakers united by a shared goal: delivering results that matter,” said Kraig Conrad, CEO, National Contract Management Association. “With Wes Bennett and Soraya Correa at the helm, this working group is turning reform from concept to capability. Their experience, credibility, and commitment are unmatched, and I’m confident they’ll leave a lasting mark on federal acquisition.”
For more information on the Acquisition Efficiency Working Group, visit https://www.ncmahq.org/acquisitionefficiency. For more information on National Industries for the Blind, visit www.nib.org.
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About National Industries for the Blind
Incorporated in 1938, NIB is the nation’s largest employment resource for people who are blind, and through its network of associated nonprofit agencies, the largest employer of people who are blind in the U.S. NIB creates opportunities for people who are blind to become wage earners and taxpayers, reducing their reliance on government support and increasing engagement in their communities. The organization offers career training and assists employers and employees in developing mutually beneficial workplaces. NIB’s vision is that blindness is not a barrier to employment. In 2021, NIB launched a national talent management enterprise known as NSITE. NSITE provides a continuum of employment services that connect employers with talented, dedicated people who are blind or visually impaired, including veterans. For more information, visit www.nib.org or www.nsite.org.