Arlene Simpson Porter

Ms. Simpson Porter is the Director of the Grants Management Division (GMD) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Acquisition and Grants Office. She is responsible for providing overall direction and oversight of NOAA’s financial assistance management through policy formulation and implementation. NOAA’s GMD awards a billion dollars in financial assistance in support of the National Marine Fisheries Service, National Ocean Service, National Weather Service, National Environmental and Satellite and Data Information Services, Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, Office of Education, and the Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency, Bureau of the Census, International Trade Administration, National Telecommunications and Information Administration and the Office of Secretary financial assistance programs.

Ms. Simpson Porter began her Federal career in 1981 as an intern at the Internal Revenue Service and the General Services Administration. Additionally, Ms. Simpson Porter worked at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (1985 – 1991) in Human Resources and then in Procurement as a Contracting Officer negotiating equipment and material for the Space Shuttle.

In 1991 Ms. Simpson Porter joined the NOAA Grants Management Division serving in multiple assignments including Grants Management Specialist, Team Leader, Minority Serving Institutions Grants Officer, and Chief of Grants Operations Branch. In addition to the day-to-day operations, she developed and implemented broad policy and administrative guidelines involving grants management for Minority Serving Institutions to facilitate building capacity and raising the awareness of NOAA.

Ms. Simpson Porter graduated from Prince George’s Community College (MD) with an Associate of Arts Degree in Business Administration (honors) and from Bowie State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration (honors). Ms. Simpson Porter also completed the Management Concepts Grants Certificate Program.

She is a member of the National Grants Management Association and served on the Board of Directors (1998 – 2000). Ms. Simpson Porter is a lifetime member of the Delta Mu Delta National Business Honor Society. Ms. Simpson Porter was born in New York, reared in Washington D.C., and currently resides in Maryland. Ms. Simpson Porter is married and has one son.