CHARLESTON, S.C. — Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Atlantic has selected John OConnor as the NIWC Atlantic Deputy Director of the Office of Small Business Programs.
OConnor will continue the NIWC Atlantic’s Small Business Program from the recently retired Ms. Robin Rourk. In this position, OConnor will report to the NIWC Atlantic Executive Director and will advise Command leadership on matters pertaining to NIWC Atlantic’s Small Business Program objectives and status. He will be responsible for ensuring small and disadvantaged, women owned, service disabled and Hub Zone concerns receive a fair proportion of the contract actions for NIWC Atlantic. He will develop and execute the small business strategy and establish and implement program objectives to ensure compliance with legal and regulatory directives governing the small business program. He will liaise with the broad industry partner community (both traditional defense industry and non-traditional commercial industry partners), support and promote NIWC Atlantic’s contract strategy and take action to resolve formal and informal complaints regarding small business areas of concern.  He will collaborate with the Department of the Navy and NAVWAR HQ Offices of Small Business Programs.

OConnor’s career in government service began in the United States Navy. After completing two years of training in the naval nuclear pipeline, he spent the remaining time of a 20-year career operating, overhauling, maintaining and training on numerous submarine nuclear reactors and propulsion plants. 

His civilian career started as a Quality Assurance Specialist with the Defense Contract Management Agency. He worked with defense contractors throughout North Carolina and southern Virginia on contract/order compliance and deliverable acceptance. John started with SPAWAR/NAVWAR in 2006 as a contract specialist and worked on all manner of pre- and post-award contract actions as a warranted contracting officer. Most recently, John has served as the COR Program Manager working with all levels of Command leadership and nearly every competency and project throughout NIWC Atlantic.

He earned Bachelor of Science degrees in Business Administration from Limestone College and Nuclear Engineering Technology from Thomas A. Edison State College; as well as a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Webster University. Prior to Back-To-Basics implementation, OConnor was DAWIA certified Level III in Contracting; Level I in Program Management; Level I in Production, Quality and Manufacturing; and Level I in Information Technology.