5 programs/departments at ORAU and how they each contribute to the overall mission of the organization

The mission of ORAU is to advance national priorities and serve the public interest by integrating academic, government, and scientific resources across the globe. Our employees are the catalyst behind the mission and the driving force behind performance and innovation. Let’s take a look at five departments within ORAU and how they contribute to the mission that’s continued to grow and expand since the organization was established in 1946:

1. Research and University Partnerships Office
   One of the main missions of ORAU is to help keep our nation on the leading edge of science and technology. This is accomplished in many ways, including by supporting scientific research, helping to build STEM capacity and capability in the U.S. workforce, and creating university partnerships to tackle some of the most critical challenges in the STEM fields and beyond. Through our Research and University Partnerships Office, ORAU is helping our nation achieve this. From the creation of our organization back in 1946, advancing science and education has always been a part of our mission. Our company was founded in partnership with 14 southern research universities. Today, our University Consortium has more than 150 member institutions comprised of major universities, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and minority serving institutions. We also added our first tribal university to the consortium in 2023. Ken Tobin, Chief Research & University Partnerships Officer, and his staff bring together university faculty and students to collaborate with ORAU experts on major scientific initiatives that strengthen America’s competitiveness in STEM.
   

   

2. Human Resources
   As with any organization, the Human Resources department at ORAU is responsible for the organization’s most valuable asset: our people. The HR team at ORAU strives to obtain the best talent, remain competitive in the industry, achieve strategic goals to advance the ORAU mission and uphold ethical principles every step of the way. ORAU is committed to its employees and creating a culture that celebrates our diversity, encourages our passion for the mission, treats everyone as a leader, and fosters a feeling of family and comradery among all employees. The ideas of flexibility and work-life balance are an utmost priority at ORAU. Meghan Millwood, Chief Human Resources Officer, and the team in the Human Resources department is always looking for skilled, creative and talented people to add to the ORAU team. Whether you are just beginning your professional career or looking for a change in direction, ORAU can help you find the right opportunity.
3. Business Development

   

   
   Wanda Gamble, ORAU’s Chief Business Development Officer, and the rest of the Business Development team is crucial to the work that ORAU does. They play a major role in helping ORAU programs win work by providing capture management of business opportunities all the way through proposal development and submission. “We’re about creating a win-win-environment, where we ensure our clients and respective industry partners get their problems solved and needs met while also allowing us to do sustainable, meaningful, and profitable work,” said Gamble. “If everyone can come together around a business opportunity feeling like they’ve won something, that’s a win-win environment where enduring business relationships and partnerships can succeed.”
4. Procurement & Partnerships
   

   

   ORAU’s Procurement & Partnerships department provides support for all ORAU programs/departments through quality and timely procurement of goods and services. “Procurement far exceeds the simple transactional aspect of buying goods and services - it is about managing acquisitions and processes. It involves strategic planning, thorough market research, and careful supplier selection while focusing on integrity, fairness, competition, openness, and efficiency,” said Cindy Snow, director of Procurement & Partnerships. “The success of the ORAU procurement organization relies on shared engagement among procurement staff and ORAU programs and departments.”  Procurement & Partnerships works with small businesses and minority owned businesses to the maximum extent possible that is consistent with the efficient performance of ORAU’s prime contracts. This office also utilizes the System for Award Management (SAM) and the Dynamic Small Business Search (DSBS) managed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) to identify potential sources, along with outreach at small business events.
5. Facilities and Transportation
   

   

   
   ORAU’s Facilities and Transportation department provides high-quality services in many different areas, including facility operations, maintenance services, transportation, records management, and property and vehicle management. The main priority of this department is to continuously improve services using customer feedback and other improvement techniques. They also plan for future requirements needed to meet changing contractual requirements. The department is composed of three sections: Facilities Management Services, Transportation Services, and Records, Property, & Relocation Services. “One thing that is of the utmost importance to this department and to the organization is safety,” said Chad Becker, director of Safety and Facilities Operations. “Working with ORAU means you have a partner who is committed to your safety, whether you are an employee, a business partner, a local subcontractor, or research participant.” ORAU operates under the principles and functions of the Integrated Safety Management (ISM) system that calls for analyzing each component of our work activities and placing accountability for safety at every level from front-line office workers and maintenance crew all the way to the CEO’s office.

Would you like to learn more about ORAU and the work that we do? Be sure to check out our About ORAU page to learn about our history, capabilities, community relations, values, and much more! Also, be sure to follow along and look for upcoming pieces about the other programs/departments of ORAU and how we move our organization and its customers further, together.