Small Business Updates from the Directors of the Army, Navy and Air Force Office of Small Business Programs

Ms. Kimberly D. Buehler was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in August 2019. She currently serves as the Director for the Army Office of Small Business Programs, where she provides executive leadership for all aspects of the Army's small business mission, including advocacy and outreach for all small business programs, development and dissemination of policies and procedures for execution of small business functions, and oversight for the execution of the small business program at the Army’s contracting activities--equating to more than $20 billion dollars of annual spending.

Ms. Buehler represents the Secretary of the Army at congressional committee and subcommittee hearings on small business matters, and leads strategic inter-agency communication with the Small Business Administration, the Office of Federal Procurement Policy, the Minority Business Development Agency (Department of Commerce), and other agencies and presidential commissions.

Ms. Washington was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in November 2023 as the
Director, Office of Small Business Programs after 15 years of civilian service. In this role
she serves as the principal advisor to the Secretary of the Navy on all small business
matters. Ms. Washington has been charged with overseeing small business acquisition
policy; strengthening government and private sector partnerships; and fostering
opportunities to leverage small business as a strategic advantage for the benefit of our
warfighters. From April 2018 until October 2023, Ms. Washington served as the Deputy
Director in this office.

Scott A. Kiser, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is the Director of Air Force Small Business Programs, located in the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. He is responsible for policy, advocacy, execution, and advice pertaining to Small Business Programs and personnel throughout the Department.

He served as the Air Force Head of the Contracting Authority and provided policy, guidance, and oversight of Air Force Acquisition and Contracting Operations. Mr. Kiser retired from active duty as a colonel in August 2012 and entered Senior Executive Service in June 2014

Mr. Carkhuff is responsible for leading the life cycle activities of assigned Small Business Professional (SBP) learning assets.  He also serves as a professor for all instructor-led SBP courses.  He was the first DoD acquisition professional to earn the new DoD Small Business Professional Credential in May 2021.

He is a retired naval officer and former SH-60B helicopter pilot with over 2500 flight hours.  He is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy (BS, Physical Science), the Naval War College (MA, National Security and Strategic Studies), the Naval Postgraduate School (MS, Contract Management) and Liberty University (EdS, Educational Leadership).  He is a member of the Defense Acquisition Corps.