Director, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization
Mr. George A. Sears currently serves as the Director for the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU). The OSDBU provides maximum opportunities for small businesses to participate in USDA’s contracting process. As Director, Mr. Sears provides oversight and accountability to the contracting authorities within USDA. Mr. Sears provides leadership to the Department to attain its federally mandated small business goals and contracting portfolio.
Prior to serving as the Director for the OSDBU, Mr. Sears served as the USDA’s Forest Service, Director for Procurement and Property Management. The Forest Service is USDA’s largest purchaser of good and services. As the Director, he led a staff of nearly 750, across the country. Through Mr. Sears’ leadership, approximately 600 procurement actions were administered totaling more than $1.4 billion, annually. Additionally, Mr. Sears provided leadership in awarding grants and agreements, real property leasing and real/personal property asset portfolios.
Preceding Mr. Sears tenure with USDA, he served as the Executive Director for the National Capitol Region Contracting Center Principal Assistant for Responsible for Contracting for the Army Materiel Command. In this position, Mr. Sears oversaw the formation of a National Capitol Region Contracting Center, directing the consolidation of two contracting organizations into a single organization.
Mr. Sears also served as the Director for Information Technology, E-Commerce/Commercial Contracting Center for the Army Materiel Command and Commander for Contracting Center of Excellence for the Army Contracting Agency.
Mr. Sears has more than 40 years of experience, serving his Country and USDA’s customers, partners, and stakeholders.
