Melissa R. Sampson

Ms. Sampson is the Director of the Eastern Acquisition Division (EAD) of NOAA’s Acquisition and Grants Office.  Ms. Sampson has a broad 37-year contracting background covering all aspects of federal acquisition, both in operations and policy. She is responsible for providing the overall direction and oversight of a very large and expansive operational Division with offices in Norfolk, VA and Kansas City, MO. Ms. Sampson’s organization executes a variety of complex acquisition actions in support of the National Weather Service (NWS) Headquarters offices; specifically within the Office Planning and Programming for Service Delivery, as well as serving the entire Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO) and the National Ocean Service (NOS), acquiring various critical supplies and services in support of NOAA’s programs.

Since starting her career in the contracting field, Ms. Sampson has performed a variety of acquisition assignments in support of the USA Troop Support Agency, at the North East Commissary Region (NECOR) in Fort Meade, MD, U.S. Coast Guard Supply Center in Curtis Bay, MD and U.S. Coast Guard Maintenance & Logistics Command Atlantic in Norfolk, VA.  She has extensive experience and depth in the contracting arena in performing all aspects of the cradle-to-grave acquisition cycle in procuring supplies, services, major construction and Architect and Engineering services.  She worked many years in a contract management policy role where she was responsible for conducting high-level acquisition reviews; internal contract audits; developing and implementing contracting policies, processes and procedures; and, preparing and presenting training on various relevant contracting matters.

Ms. Sampson joined the NOAA team in December 2004 filling various roles of responsibility to include EAD Branch Chief overseeing support to each of EAD’s NOAA clients.  In addition to the day to day acquisition operations in support of NOAA clients, Ms. Sampson has been involved in major programs such as the NWS Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (AWIPS), Automated Surface Observing Systems (ASOS), National Mesonet Program, Weather and Climate Computing Infrastructure Services (WCCIS), NOS Shoreline Mapping and Hydrographic Surveys and Habitat Restoration as well as technical support service and support of OMAO’s fleet of ships. 

Ms. Sampson was born in Baltimore, Maryland.  She moved to the Norfolk, VA area in 1996 and currently resides in Chesapeake, VA.  She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Saint Leo University in 2005 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology.  

Ms. Sampson has received numerous awards and recognition to include the Department of Commerce GOLD award, Department of Commerce Bronze Medal award for Superior Federal Service and the Federal Executive Board’s Excellence in Federal Career Bronze Medal award.  Mrs. Sampson is a member of the National Contract Management Association.