Burnette named to FEMA post

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has named Tina Burnette to be the deputy director in charge of procurements related to relief efforts for victims of hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Until recently, Burnette served as the deputy assistant commissioner of commercial acquisitions at the General Services Administration's Federal Supply Service. She managed GSA's schedules program, governmentwide acquisition contracts and SmartPay credit card program.

Burnette spent the past three months in Baton Rouge, La., where she worked as the acquisition liaison to Coast Guard Vice Adm. Thad Allen after Katrina and Rita hit the Gulf Coast. Government officials accepted her into the Senior Executive Service for the FEMA position.

Before coming to GSA, Burnette was program manager and leader of the contracting office for the Commerce Information Technology Solutions (COMMITS) contract at the Commerce Department’s Office of Acquisition Management.

“She was instrumental in getting COMMITS off the ground,” said Mike Sade, director of Commerce’s acquisition office. “Tina really represents the business broker, the acquisition leadership that the government has been talking about. She has a keen sense of understanding the business rules and the program needs.”