Susan Brownell was named Vice President, Supply Management in March 2006. In this role, Brownell reports to the Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President and is responsible for all Postal Service supply management activities. Brownell manages the Postal Service’s supplier relationships with nearly $13 billion in expenditures annually and the inventory and distribution system for repair parts and operational supplies that provide more than 4 million orders annually.

Under Brownell, Supply Management is implementing the best practices of supply chain management including strategic planning, policy modernization, process improvement, strategic sourcing, strengthening of supplier relationships and diversity, technology enhancements, and inventory management.

Earlier, Brownell served as manager, mail equipment portfolio, responsible for supporting postal operations nationwide by obtaining state-of-the-art automated mail processing, material handling and mail transport equipment, including services and parts.

Brownell came to the Postal Service in 1991 from the Naval Sea Systems Command, where she was a contract specialist working on major system acquisitions in shipbuilding. She received the Postmaster General’s Award in 2004.

Brownell holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Catholic University of America’s School of Business and an Executive Master’s of Business Administration degree from the Florida Institute of Technology. She is a Certified Professional Contracts Manager and a member of the Institute of Supply Management; the Conference Board's Purchasing and Supply Leadership Council; and a member of the Center for Advanced Purchasing Studies (CAPS) International Procurement Roundtable. In October 2007, she became a member of the CAPS Research Board of Trustees which provides direction for CAPS supply chain management research activities. Brownell is also a member of the Procurement Strategy Council.

March 2008