She provides strategic guidance, technical support, and best practices for implementing products and services across the federal Law Enforcement and Financial and Services regions.
SPRINGFIELD, VA, September 30, 2024 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Veva Cousins has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Ms. Cousins is a seasoned professional with a distinguished career in both the government and private sectors. Since 2021, she has been a Business Development Manager at Cisco where she leverages her 28+ years of experience in government contracting and procurement, program management, IT systems, and customer-focused service to identify opportunities and drive the adoption of innovative solutions for government agencies to enhance their operations. She partners with internal and external stakeholders to provide strategic guidance, technical support, and best practices for implementing products and services across the federal Law Enforcement and Financial and Services regions.
Before accepting her position at Cisco, Ms. Cousins dedicated over 25 years to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). She began in 1995 as a GS-5 and ascended to GS-15 Director of Program Control in the Targeting & Analysis Program Office (TASPD)/Office of Information & Technology (OIT). During her time there, she played a pivotal role in budget identification, budget planning, acquisition planning and execution and investment management for mission essential programs, such as the Biometrics/Traveler Verification System (TVS) program and the Secure Freight Initiative (SFI) program. In November 2020, she received the prestigious Diana Dean and Jose Melendez-Perez Anti-Terrorism Award for her work on the Biometrics/TVS program, and in December 2007 she received the DHS Secretary's award for her work on SFI. Under her leadership, the budget for the programs housed under TASPD grew from $5 million annually to over $200 million annually. Her expertise in procurement and program management was instrumental in securing long-term, recurring funding and ensuring the stability and sustainability of projects for the out years.
Ms. Cousins's parents both retired from CBP, and her brother, Mr. Keith Cousins continues to serve as an Officer. Her father, Mr. Donald Cousins was notably the first African American Director of Laboratory & Scientific Services within the agency. Her mother, Ms. Margaret Cousins, worked in the Office of Fines, Penalties and Forfeitures.
Ms. Cousins earned an undergraduate degree in Liberal Arts from Virginia Tech in 1994. She further enhanced her qualifications with a Master's certificate in Project Management from George Washington University in 2007, and attained her Project Management Professional (PMP) certification in 2008. These academic achievements have been foundational to her success, providing her with the skills necessary for effective project management, strategic planning and communication.
Throughout her career, Ms. Cousins has been recognized for her exceptional contributions. In 2015, U.S. Customs and Border Protection honored her as the Financial Manager of the Year, an accolade that underscores her proficiency in managing complex financial operations within large-scale programs. In October 2019, she received the Commissioner's Award for Mission Integration for her work as a member of a 10-person agency-wide Transition Management Team to strengthen CBP's Intelligence, Targeting and Counter Network capabilities. She was also the recipient of multiple CBP Commissioner's awards throughout her career for her unwavering contribution to the programs and missions.
Eager for continued growth in her field, Ms. Cousins aims to expand her knowledge of procurement and acquisition from an industry perspective. Her commitment to learning remains unwavering as she navigates the complexities of business development within the technology sector.
About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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