Dawn In Washington: Alumna Talks White House Fellowship

It’s never too late to appreciate the complexities of governance. For Dawn Oliver ’97, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity allowed her to not only observe the inner workings of the nation’s capital, but to play an active role in it.

The lead attorney for commercial partnerships at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, she was one of a select few to participate in the White House Leadership Development Program (WHLDP). The yearlong opportunity to live in Washington, D.C., attend unique leadership training sessions, and work at the center of government was exactly the kind of personal-professional experience Oliver desired.

“I’ve worked for NASA for 24 years, and I have only worked for NASA, so this was not only an opportunity for me to stretch myself outside of NASA, but also outside the legal profession,” said Oliver. “I wanted to get some experience leading teams, being a part of teams, and learn more about how the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) operates. Being in Texas, I’m so far removed from Washington D.C., I was not completely aware of how NASA or other agencies interacted with this part of the government, so that was what I was seeking in addition to enhancing my leadership skills.”

Just one of 18 selected for the FY2024 WHLDP cohort, Oliver accepted a role in the Office of Federal Financial Management, part of OMB under the Executive Office of the President, giving her a chance to experience a side of the government most never see.

The Business of Governance

Oliver majored in political science while at Auburn and later earned her law degree from the University of Alabama, where she was president of the school’s Black Law Student Association. She knew that she wanted to be a lawyer, and she knew that she wanted to commit her life to public service.

In 2003 she was hired by NASA as assistant chief counsel for Kennedy Space Center, an opportunity that turned into a lifelong career. She now serves as acting deputy chief counsel and lead attorney for commercial partnerships at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, she oversees the daily operations and workflow of NASA’s legal office staff.

“Be curious and always be open to new opportunities,” said Oliver. “You never know where they might lead you.”

Selected for the WHLDP in 2022, much of Oliver’s time in Washington was spent working on matters related to the Payment Integrity Information Act (PIIA), a piece of 2019 legislation providing guidelines to government agencies about improper payments. PIIA is a law that requires federal agencies to identify and review programs and activities that may be susceptible to improper payments.

Oliver was tasked with consolidating and updating OMB guidance related to PIIA to so that the guidance included only statutory requirements, reduced the burden on agencies, and focused on prevention of improper payments. Rewriting this guidance was in line with the President’s Management Agenda vision of strengthening financial management articulated in Priority 3: Business of Government.

Powerful Moments

Though they worked individually in various offices contributing to the work of the Executive Office of the President, Oliver and the WHLDP cohort had the opportunity to attend some of the most high-profile events at the White House—state visits from the presidents of Australia and Kenya, as well as the official celebration for team U.S.A.’s return from the 2024 Paris Olympics.

“We were just like a little family—we bonded very well together. It was good to learn about people’s jobs and their work at other federal agencies.”

Though she has no children of her own, for the White House’s “Bring Your Kids to Work” day she invited a close friend and her children to come visit. It is important to Oliver to inspire the next generation, and she saw a perfect opportunity to share her experience with others. After a tour of the White House, they sat down for an event on the South Lawn—presided over by none over than Vice President Kamala Harris.

“After [Vice President Harris] spoke, she shook the hands of most of the kids. My friend’s kids had the opportunity to meet the Vice President of the United States and take a picture with her. I was grateful that I was able to enable that opportunity for those young ladies.”

Oliver herself was also able to achieve a lifelong dream while in D.C.—admission to the Supreme Court of the United States Bar. Though already a member of the Alabama Bar, attorneys can be admitted when sponsored by two current members of the SCOTUS bar and a procedural motion before the court. To qualify, attorneys must be admitted to practice in a state’s highest court, must not have been the subject of any adverse disciplinary action, and must appear to be of good moral and professional character.

All nine Supreme Court Justices were seated during Oliver’s swearing in ceremony. One of Oliver’s NASA coworkers made the motion that requested her admission to the bar, which Chief Justice Roberts granted.

“Then I looked over and saw Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, and she smiled at me,” recalled Oliver.

Working on the White House complex each day, you never knew who you would see, said Oliver. One day she saw Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy walk out of the West Wing of the White House. Another day she saw Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg walking up the Eisenhower Executive Office Building steps, and pop star pianist John Legend.

“When you see them, it’s just like, ‘Wow, I’m walking where these people are walking,’ but they’re no different than anybody else,” said Oliver. “That’s another takeaway—we all are human beings, and we all are here to do the best we can. All of us are human beings who have feelings, who have jobs to do, and we’re all doing the best we can.”

By Derek Herscovici

The statements Ms. Oliver shared for this article are her own, expressed in her personal capacity, and reflect only her own thoughts, impressions, and experiences. Ms. Oliver’s statements do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, policies, or positions of the U.S. or any agency thereof.