Ms. Jamala Peyton is the Deputy Director of Operations for the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID’s) Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU). Ms. Peyton has over twenty-three years of federal service in acquisitions. She joined OSDBU after serving eleven years as a senior contracting official for USAID’s Office of Acquisition and Assistance (OAA) Washington and Foreign Service Operations.  

Ms. Peyton began her career with USAID in 2009 as the OAA Division Chief and senior procurement expert for the Agency’s largest programs in Global Health. Ms. Peyton proudly served eight years as an OAA Office Director in the Foreign Service for USAID Missions in West Africa, Europe and Eurasia and the Latin American and Caribbean regions.  In these roles she had a keen focus on local capacity building and seeking out opportunities for U.S. based small businesses overseas. 

Prior to joining USAID, Ms. Peyton served as the Director for the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Health Affairs Acquisition Division where she led the acquisition workforce in support of the Department’s medical and health security component. She also served as the Department’s Associate Director for Science and Technology Acquisition Division leading various procurement efforts in research and development. Ms. Peyton also led the National Science Foundation’s Complex Agreements Office where she managed a billion-dollar scientific research program. Ms. Peyton began her career in acquisition at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration where she served as a contracting officer and advocate for small disadvantaged businesses. 

She holds a Level III Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting and has served as an unlimited warranted contracting officer. Ms. Peyton received her Bachelor of Science in Communication and Business Management from Bowie State University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix.