Diann Dawson, Director, Office of Regional Operations

Diann Dawson serves as the Director of the Office of Regional Operations within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U. S. Department of Health and Human Services.  As principal advisor to the Assistant Secretary regarding field operations, she provides executive leadership and direction to ACF’s ten regional offices on the integration and coordination of more than 65 human service programs to promote the well-being of children, families and communities.  Such programs include Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), Child Care, Child Support Enforcement, Head Start, Foster Care and Adoption, Responsible Fatherhood, Healthy Marriage and Human Services Emergency Preparedness and Response.

Ms. Dawson enjoys a distinguished public service career with more than 30 years in federal and state governments and is a member of the Federal Senior Executive Service.  She has been recognized for her accomplishments with numerous awards including the Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Service which recognizes outstanding achievement by members of the Senior Executive Service.

Prior to her current position, Ms. Dawson was Deputy Director of the Office of Family Assistance, ACF.  She has served the agency in numerous positions including responsibilities as Acting Assistant Secretary during the transition between Administrations.  Key initiatives that she spearheaded included the African American Healthy Marriage Initiative that provided the foundation for culturally competent strategies in the implementation of healthy marriage and responsible fatherhood programs and directing implementation of key components of federal welfare reform efforts.

Ms. Dawson holds a J.D. Degree from Catholic University of America and is admitted to the DC and MD bars; a M.S.W. degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a B.A. from Bennett College.

She is married and the mother of one adult son.