C. Ford Heard
Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary — Office of Policy and Oversight
Office of Acquisition and Logistics
Department of Veterans Affairs

Mr. Heard is a member of the United States Senior Executive Service and is currently serving as the first Executive Director, Center for Acquisition Innovation (CAI), located in Austin, TX, Frederick, Maryland and Washington, DC.

Prior to assuming his current position in November 2007, Mr. Heard was OAL’s Director of Acquisition Resources Service in VA Central Office.  In that role, he was responsible for developing, implementing, and managing VA acquisition policy.  On a Departmental level, he was responsible for management and oversight of VA’s acquisition system; training and warranting of its acquisition work force; and analytical support for its procurement programs.  Mr. Heard managed staff located in various parts of the country.  He was also responsible for business development and marketing of OAL’s acquisition and logistic programs.

Mr. Heard’s VA career in logistics spans nearly 33 years.  His background includes experience in various VA Health Care Facilites managing Acquisition and Logistics programs.  Mr. Heard holds a Bachelor’s degree from Framingham State College.  He is also a graduate of Leadership VA and the Federal Executive Institute.