Mission-Driven Program Executive (SOCOM)

LEONA DICKENS-ADAMS

MISSION-FOCUSED OPERATIONS & GOVERNMENT PROGRAM EXECUTIVE

Upper Marlboro, MD 202-***-**** *****.*****@*****.***

EXECUTIVE PROFILE

Senior operations and people leader with 29 years of experience directing regulated, mission-driven programs, including 18 years leading a $3M+ annual-budget organization located at NASA Goddard. Converts complex government standards and stakeholder priorities into executable programs, operating controls, workforce systems, and measurable outcomes. Trusted partner to boards, public agencies, regulators, families, and cross-functional teams; experienced in organizational turnaround, policy advocacy, budget stewardship, contract and vendor oversight, and high-stakes compliance.

LEADERSHIP CAPABILITIES

Strategic Program Leadership

Government Stakeholder Engagement

Requirements-to-Execution Translation

$3M+ Budget & Fiscal Oversight

Organizational Turnaround

Board & Executive Communications

Policy, Compliance & Risk

Contracts, Vendors & Procurement

Talent & Leadership Development

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Program Director — NASA Goddard Child Development Center, Greenbelt, MD 2008–Present

Direct enterprise operations for a $3M+ annual-budget organization and staff of up to 27, aligning workforce, facilities, vendors, procurement, safety, finance, program quality, and regulatory obligations with mission requirements.

Led a four-year quality transformation from Maryland EXCELS Level 1 in 2022 to Level 3 in 2026, personally driving the evidence, documentation, implementation, and validation of hundreds of program standards.

Rebuilt operations after enrollment fell from approximately 129 to fewer than 40 children and 27 of 32 teachers were lost; restored staffing and program systems while achieving zero deficiencies on the most recent licensing inspection.

Own annual budget development, financial reporting, audit readiness, grant administration, and performance reporting; brief the governing Board and family stakeholders on results, risks, priorities, and resource needs.

Translate regulatory and operational requirements into policies, training, handbooks, emergency protocols, and accountability systems; a second organizational site adopted the emergency framework for its launch.

Serve as senior relationship lead with government agencies, regulators, community partners, vendors, and program stakeholders, resolving operational barriers and sustaining trust across competing priorities.

Built an internal leadership pipeline and full-lifecycle talent system covering recruiting, hiring, onboarding, evaluation, coaching, succession development, and separation.

Secure and administer state grant funding, including $13,000+ in the most recent cycle, with complete compliance, documentation, and reporting.

Director, Preschool Development Grant / VQB5 — Fairfax County Government, Office of the County Executive, Fairfax, VA 2020–2021

Directed planning for universal early-education quality implementation and statewide measurement infrastructure during a one-year appointment away from NASA GCDC.

Advised county and state leaders on implementation strategy, translated complex standards into site-level requirements, and coordinated readiness across government and community-provider stakeholders.

Represented the Office of the County Executive in interagency policy and funding discussions and provided advocacy and testimony to the Virginia General Assembly on standards and investment priorities.

Used operator-level insight to identify implementation barriers, shape practical guidance, and align quality-improvement plans with public-sector objectives.

Program Director — Community Development Institute – Head Start, Washington, DC 2007–2008

Directed operations across three Head Start/Early Head Start center clusters and a satellite home-based provider network under federal, state, and local requirements.

Managed staff development, grant preparation, budget oversight, public relations, Policy Council engagement, and multi-site program administration.

Designed an internal audit process to assess performance against Head Start Monitoring Protocols and improve compliance readiness.

Social Service Specialist — DC Department of Human Services (ECEA), Washington, DC 2005–2006

Managed a high-volume caseload of 500–800 families, applying state and federal rules to eligibility, documentation, case planning, and annual recertification decisions.

Earned team recognition for disaster-response service supporting Hurricane Katrina evacuees at the DC Armory under the Mayor’s direction.

BOARD, ADVISORY & EARLY-CAREER LEADERSHIP

Member-at-Large, Prince George’s County Maryland State Child Care Association Board

Apprenticeship Board Member, Harford Community College Early Childhood Apprenticeship Program

Independent CLASS Observer/Evaluator, including ongoing Fairfax County engagements

Earlier leadership included subsidy-division supervision, oversight of 26 home-based providers and approximately 12 before-/after-care programs, Head Start program review, and pediatric clinical-study team leadership.

EDUCATION & CREDENTIALS

Bachelor of Social Work, Virginia State University One year completed toward M.S., Nonprofit Management

Human Resources Certificate, SkillPath CLASS Certified & Reliable (Infant, Toddler, Pre-K), 5 consecutive years

Approved Trainer, Maryland and Virginia MSDE Validator MSDE Certified Trainer First Aid/CPR Train-the-Trainer

Recognized as an International Early Childhood Expert by Exchange Magazine

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