After a 30-year career in the federal government, Darlene Bullock has announced her retirement. In a post on her LinkedIn, Bullock shared that she is stepping down from her role as the Executive Director of the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), a position she has held for the past five years.
Over her 18-year tenure at DHS, she played a pivotal role in ensuring small businesses received contracting opportunities, leading to DHS earning 15 consecutive “A” or “A+” ratings on the Small Business Administration Procurement Scorecard. Under her leadership, the Department directed billions of dollars in contracts to small businesses, helping create thousands of jobs across the country.
Before serving as Executive Director, Bullock held several leadership positions at DHS, including Deputy Director of OSDBU and Senior Procurement Analyst, where she managed multiple small business programs and worked to enhance procurement strategies. Her extensive experience also includes key contracting and acquisition roles at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Reflecting on her career, Bullock expressed gratitude to the small business community, partners, and colleagues who have supported her. To conclude her announcement, she hinted at future endeavors and encouraged her network to stay connected for upcoming announcements.