I am pleased to announce that as of December 7, 2015, we now have a permanent Ombudsman, Crista Wise.

Crista has a unique background and brings an understanding for different perspectives to the field of government contracts and assistance. She comes to USAID M/OAA from the General Services Administration (Federal Acquisition Services) where she was a Senior Procurement Analyst, leading a team that oversaw initiatives to improve government-wide acquisition. Crista also worked in GSA's Public Building Service where she performed cradle to grave contracting actions and worked on special projects. In addition, Crista has spent time working for DHS/TSA.

To round-out her federal work experience, Crista has also worked in the private sector as a Paralegal for the National Football League Players Association where she helped to resolve injury grievances for players and administered a payout as a result of the Reggie White Antitrust Settlement. Similarly, Crista spent about 10 years working for an arbitrator where she mediated disputes and ultimately brokered a Consent Decree between the District of Columbia Public School system and children who were disproportionately placed in neighborhood schools, thus resolving a conflict that spanned over a decade.

For the last 8-months, Diane Perone has been our Acting-Ombudsman. She has done an outstanding job in this position helping to elevate the role of the Ombudsman both internally and externally. Fortunately for us, she will continue to work in M/OAA for the next few months to provide a transition period as Crista takes on this new role.

During the transition, if you need to contact the Ombudsman office, please use the ombudsman@usaid.gov e-mail address. This will go to both Diane and Crista.

Finally, I have asked that Diane and Crista set-up a time to meet with each of your associations sometime over the next week fews.

Thank you for your continued support and please join me in welcoming Crista!