Rafael Rivera

Mr. Rivera is the Director of the Satellite and Information Acquisition Division (SIAD) of NOAA’s Acquisition and Grants Office. 

Mr. Rivera entered the federal acquisition workforce as an intern contract specialist supporting the Army Contracting Command - New Jersey. He served in support of the Soldier Weapons, Combat Ammunition Systems, and Emerging Technologies Contracting Centers, where he held various assignments including warranted contracting officer, supervisor and mentor. Mr. Rivera is also very proud of his service as an officer within the United States Army which included overseas deployment.

In 2013, Mr. Rivera joined the CENTCOM Joint Theater Support Contracting Command (C-JTSCC) holding various assignments, one of which was serving as the senior contracting officer and branch chief overseeing a diverse and complex portfolio involving multiple actions in litigation. He was ultimately promoted to serve as the Deputy Director of the Regional Contracting Center, responsible for procuring general and specialized theater support services and commodities including, mission support, and base operations. His Division was recognized for their exemplary improvement under his guidance by the commanding general on numerous occasions.

He joined NOAA in 2016 as the Deputy Director of the Satellite and Information Acquisition Division where he was also dual hatted as the branch chief for the ground system contracts of the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite - R Series (GOES-R) and the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS). These programs are amongst the most impactful to the overall mission success of NOAA. In 2018, Mr. Rivera was reassigned serve as the Director of the Satellite and Information Acquisition Division.

Mr. Rivera graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 2004 with a B.S. in Business Administration. He then received a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Florida Institute of Technology in 2009. Mr. Rivera originates from NJ and currently resides in the greater National Capital area. He is a member of the National Contract Management Association,