In December 2016, David D. Sanders was appointed as Director of the Acquisition Directorate (AD) for Washington Headquarters Services (WHS), a Department of Defense (DoD) Field Activity. In this capacity, he leads an organization that provides acquisition services to all Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) components, procuring a wide-range of supplies and services totaling $1.4 billion annually. His goal is to make AD the Contracting Office of choice for customers and employees.
Mr. Sanders joined WHS in November of 2015 as Deputy Director for AD. Mr. Sanders began his federal civil service career as Chief of Staff in the Office of Acquisition Management (OAQ), Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Mr. Sanders directly supported the Head of Contracting Activity (HCA) in leading and managing 185 employees, procuring $2.3 billion on an annual basis. Mr. Sanders was later selected to serve as the organization's Acquisition Policy Director (APD), where he led efforts in developing, interpreting, implementing and disseminating acquisition policy.
Prior to his federal civil service career, Mr. Sanders spent 26 years in the U.S. Navy, having enlisted in 1983 and retiring in 2009. During his time in the Navy, he earned his commission as a Navy Supply Corps Officer through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps Program. Mr. Sanders spent his entire career meeting customer demands, and as a member of the Supply Corps, directly supporting operational forces. One of his many assignments included Director of Contracting, Fleet Logistics Center Yokosuka, where his office provided acquisition support to activities located throughout the Far East, with 57 contracting professionals located in Yokosuka, Sasebo and Okinawa, Japan. Mr. Sanders directed contracting efforts that enabled ships based in Japan to complete needed ship repairs and quickly depart in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Under his leadership, Mr. Sanders’ office emphasized innovation and was the first to conduct a reverse auction, maximizing efficiency and reducing procurement lead-time. As Supply Officer of Naval Air Facility, Atsugi, Japan, Mr. Sanders led 300 people and managed multiple business lines that included of the purchase of goods and services, developing and monitoring operating budgets, administering the Travel and Purchase Card Programs, operating shipping and receiving center, overseeing a fuel terminal operation and supervising Quality of Life Programs. Mr. Sanders also served on USS Horne (CG-30), USS Ticonderoga (CG-47) and USS Whidbey Island (LSD-41).
Mr. Sanders is a graduate of Morehouse College where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics. He completed a Master of Science in Contract Management from the Naval Postgraduate School, and later earned a Master of Science from Johns Hopkins University, focusing on leadership. Mr. Sanders is a Certified Professional Contract Manager through the National Contract Management Association and is a member of the Acquisition Professional Community. Mr. Sanders has held numerous leadership roles, bringing with him strong strategic leadership and a background firmly founded on delivering business value through the acquisition process.