Leadership

Public Health Surveillance and Informatics Program Office (proposed) (PHSIPO)

Kem Williams, MBA, CACM (Deputy Director)

Mr. Williams has a combined 30 plus years of management and leadership experience (Federal Government and combat Military veteran.)  He began his Government career in 1979 by enlisting in the Air Force.  He served on active duty for 9 ½ years where he obtained the rank of Technical Sergeant.  January 1989, upon completion of active duty, he immediately joined the Air Force Reserves where he obtained in the rank of Major before his retirement April 2007.  At the same time, through the Outstanding Scholar Program, he began his Federal Service career as an Air Force Contracts Specialist and subsequently as a Contracting Officer   His federal career as a Contracting Officer resulted in several changes in duty assignments domestically and overseas.  He was responsible for the negotiation of several fighter aircraft programs valued in excess of 20 Billion Dollars, as well as many other types of acquisitions.  

November 1999, he relocated to Atlanta, Georgia as a Contracting Officer in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Procurement and Grants Office.  Two years later (November 2001) he moved to the CDC National Immunization Program to assume the duties of Project Manager for the Vaccine Safety Datalink Program.  November 2002 to March 20009, Mr. Williams worked in the Coordinating Office of Terrorism Preparedness and Emergency Response (COTPER), initially as a Management and Program Analyst and subsequently promoted the Center’s Management Officer and Director, Division of Business Services.  During his tenure within COTPER, he was the Acting Chief Management Official. 

November 2008, Mr. Williams was requested to detail to the Atlanta Human Resources Office (AHRC) to lead a joint CDC/AHRC initiative to develop an “accelerated hiring model” – reducing the hiring speed from 160 workdays to less than 60.  The hiring model is now used HHS-wide. March 2009, he assumed the role of Director, Strategic Programs Division (SPD).  His responsibilities included the coordination/monitoring of human resource (HR) performance and metrics, HR Policy development, workforce and succession planning, business process improvements, strategic human capital planning, E-Government initiatives, HR information technology support and development, HR training programs and management of the Client Engagement Desk (aka Help Desk).   

Mr. Williams is a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  He holds a Bachelor of Science degree  in Occupational Education from Southern Illinois University and a Masters in Business Administration (Finance) from Saint Martins College, Lacey, Washington.