Ruby B. Harvey, CEO

Helping Others Reach Their
Greatest Potential

Ruby B. Harvey is a former member of the U.S. Senior Executive Service (SES) whose life’s work is to help others achieve their greatest potential. In her most recent role as Executive Director for the Office of Small & Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) for the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA), Ruby established the first Federal woman veteran owned small business training cohort program to help these business owners navigate the process for successfully securing government contracts, effectively increasing their competitive edge. The impact of her work throughout her career led to Ruby receiving the 2020 VA Distinguished Career Award and being inducted into the VA Acquisition Hall of Excellence for 2019 in recognition of her contributions to the field.

Prior to her position with OSDBU, Ruby served as Chancellor of the VA Acquisition Academy (VAAA) where she found she could open doors to opportunities for others through education. She worked hard to make every minute of her time count towards bettering the lives of others while directing and managing the training of the VA’s acquisition workforce. During her tenure at VAAA, Ruby developed the first VA Federal Senior Acquisition Leadership Training (SALT) program and also received the 2018 Director’s Award for Excellence in Innovation and Competitiveness from the Department of Education through a White House Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Initiative. Prior to her position with the VA Acquisition Academy, Ruby served as the Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary (ADAS), Acquisition Program Support in VA’s Office of Acquisition and Logistics (OAL), where she provided executive direction regarding business services, information technology, and financial operations management.

Ruby not only champions educational opportunities for others, she also strives to be a lifelong learner herself. She earned her Master of Science degree in Information and Telecommunications Systems at Johns Hopkins University, she also completed her post-graduate studies in Electronic Commerce from there as well. Ruby attained a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Jackson State University, and she is a graduate of the Federal Executive Institute and a certified Project Management Professional (PMP). 

With more than 25 years’ experience, Ruby has demonstrated her success as a leader and has woven servant leadership into the fabric of her work, factoring in the humanity of those she partners with and leads. She knows that accepting the role of leader means being ready to serve the needs of others. She continues to practice her leadership philosophy as a member of multiple industry boards, providing guidance on project management, federal contracting, and workforce development.