Nick Wakeman is the editor-in-chief of Washington Technology and joined the publication in 1996 as a staff writer. He's a graduate of Bridgewater College and earned a masters degree from American University. When he isn't writing about government contractors, he's thinking of cooking large pieces of meat over fire and dreaming of ways to embarrass his two sons. Follow him on Twitter: @nick_wakeman. 

Jaclyn Rubino serves as the Executive Director of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Strategic Programs Division (SPD) within the Office of the Chief Procurement Officer (OCPO) where she oversees the Department’s Category Management and Industry Engagement efforts. Ms. Rubino is a recognized leader in Category Management across the Government where she is widely sought after for her strategies and accomplishments in driving more efficient buying behaviors. In February 2016, Ms. Rubino was named by the Office of Management and Budget as the first Government-wide Security and Protection Category Manager responsible for developing and implementing government-wide strategies that align with established category management principles and methodologies.

Ms. Rubino previously served in numerous positions at DHS, most recently serving as the Director of the Strategic Sourcing Program Office. Prior to her Federal Career, Ms. Rubino served as a Principal with E3 Federal Solutions for several years during which time she consulted on DHS procurements. 

Ms. Rubino holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the George Washington University, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management with a concentration in Political Science from Roger Williams University. Ms. Rubino was a co-author of an article published in the Fall 2005 Journal of Organizational Ethics: Healthcare, Business and Policy. She has received numerous awards for her professional efforts while at DHS including the Federal 100,  DHS Management Directorate Partner of the Year Award, and the Multiple-Award in Government and Industry Conference (MAGIC) Small Business Engagement Award.

E. Darlene Bullock was appointed as the Executive Director of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) in January 2020.  She had served as the OSDBU Deputy Director since June 2015. Ms. Bullock is responsible for implementing the Department’s small business procurement programs across DHS’s $18 billion procurement operation, which awards over $6 billion each year to small businesses. 

Ms. Bullock joined OSDBU in January 2011 as the Program Manager for several small business programs to include: 8(a), small disadvantaged, and women-owned. As a Desk Officer, she provided technical procurement and small business support to four DHS operational contracting offices.

Before joining OSDBU, Ms. Bullock was a Division Director and Contracting Officer in the DHS, Office of Procurement Operations (OPO). OPO is one of the largest procurement divisions in DHS obligating about $4 billion a year. Her division was responsible for supporting the Office of the Secretary and other high-visibility offices at DHS Headquarters.  Ms. Bullock oversaw and managed the award process of the first DHS-wide Program Management, Administrative, Clerical, and Technical Services (PACTS) Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity Contracts, which were set-aside for service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSBs). PACTS had an estimated value at $1.5 billion. The award of PACTS I enabled DHS to meet and exceed its three percent SDVOSB goal for the first time in Fiscal Year 2010.  DHS continues to meet or exceed the SDVOSB goal.

With over 28 years of experience in procurement, federal assistance, and acquisitions management, Ms. Bullock has held leadership positions at several Federal and local agencies including DHS, U.S. Agency for International Development, U.S. Department of Commerce, District of Columbia Government, and the U.S. Army. 

Ms. Bullock began her acquisition career with the U.S. Army successfully completing the Department of Defense contract specialist intern program.  She was a Certified Federal Contract Manager with the National Contract Management Association and maintains her FAC-C Level III Certification in Contracting. She has completed various Federal Executive Leadership Courses throughout her career. She has an undergraduate degree in Agricultural Business and Resource Economics from the University of Maryland, College Park, and an MBA in International Management from Southeastern University.