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Murray Schooner, Veteran Business Advocate - GovernmentMurray Schooner Pic

As veteran business advocate - government, Murray Schooner is the interface to federal government agencies, charged with sharing with them the benefits of NaVOBA, and encouraging them to actively participate in the support of veteran and disabled veteran-owned small businesses through membership in NaVOBA. Murray brings nearly three decades of supplier diversity and small business experience to NaVOBA.

Prior to joining the staff of NaVOBA in June 2006, Murray enjoyed a 27-year career with nationwide responsibility for procurement and small/minority business development from Unisys's corporate offices located in Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia.

A native Bostonian, Murray graduated from Boston University with a degree in business administration in 1958. He then served 21 years as a Regular Army Infantry Officer, retiring at the rank of lieutenant colonel in 1979. Murray’s assignments took him to a number of locations including Europe, Korea and Vietnam. Murray spent a distinguished year-long tour as a provincial senior advisor to the South Vietnamese Army (1968-69). He earned the Bronze Star Medal, The Air Medal, the Vietnamese Crosses of Gallantry (three awards), and the coveted U.S. Army Combat Infantryman’s Badge for his combat service.

For the last 27 years, Murray has served on numerous panels and conferences, speaking on socioeconomic subcontracting issues, including:

  • Former chairman, Metropolitan Washington Minority Purchasing Council.
  • Vice president, Maryland/D.C. Minority Purchasing Council.
  • Board of Directors, National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC).
  • Board of Directors of Diversity Information Resource/Try Us.
  • Board of Directors of The Virginia Minority Supplier Development Council.
  • National Co-Chairman of TRIAD, the Small Business Advisory Panel to Industry and the Federal Government.
  • Procurement Planning Committee and the Contract Management Subcommittee, National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA), serving as the National Association’s expert on Small Business.
  • Member, DOD Mentor-Protégé Round Table.
  • Member, NASA's Prime Contractor Round Table.

Individual Awards:

  • Lifelong Achievement Award, Asian American Business Roundtable (AABR).
  • "Commitment to Excellence Award" from NASA for "Industry Advocate of the Year" (2002).
  • "Commitment to Excellence Award," NASA (1995).
  • "MBE Advocate of the Year" Award from the Virginia Regional Minority Supplier Development Council (1998).
  • "Parren J. Mitchell Small Business Advocate of the Year Award" from the Department of Defense Regional Council for Small Business Education and Advocacy (1998).
  • Howard Cork Memorial Award (1998), The National Defense Industry Association (NDIA) for "grateful recognition of important contributions to Government and Industry in the field of Defense Procurement."

Guest lecturer on subcontracting procedures at:

  • The American University
  • The Howard University Law School
  • The Defense Systems Management College
  • Also served as a professorial lecturer at The American University's School of Public Affairs.

Murray received a master's degree in procurement and contracting from George Washington University in 1974.




 

NaVOBA is the Voice of the Veteran Business Movement.

 

NaVOBA advances the veteran business movement by unifying and providing a voice for veteran-owned businesses.

 

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