SEWP’s long-tenured leader is calling it a career

Joanne Woytek, the long-time leader of arguably the most successful procurement program in history, penned a 52-word LinkedIn post to announce she is calling it a career.

But that is not a complete surprise. Woytek teased her retirement in September 2023, when she said SEWP VI will be her “last hurrah.” She pledged then that she would stick around through the early days of the popular IT contract’s launch.

Woytek did not launch the SEWP program in 1993, but has been running it as the program manager since 1999.

NASA has said it wants to award SEWP VI by the end of April when SEWP V expires, but a group of protests at the Government Accountability Office threaten to force NASA to delay awards and extend SEWP V.

Woytek appears willing to wait out the protests, saying her last day at NASA will be Oct. 17. Decisions are due from GAO in late May and early June.

That should give enough time for her team to make awards and get SEWP VI up and running. NASA would also likely get enough time to see SEWP through its transition to the General Services Administration if GSA goes through with that plan.

But do not expect Woytek to fade away.

“My goal is not to retire but to find a new opportunity which proves a new opportunity for me to use whatever talents and skills I might have,” she wrote.

While her LinkedIn announcement was brief, the reaction has not been. Scores of comments from industry executives, consultants and former federal officials are heaping praise on Woytek and the SEWP program.

“Your leadership, intelligence, vision, work ethic, and creative/technical mind and skills are the stuff "legends" are made of,” wrote Darlene Coen, a former SEWP deputy program director and most recently director of acquisition strategy at CGI Federal.

“While NASA and the Federal Government will miss your skills and expertise, there will be plenty of opportunities for you to continue your service when you're ready to do so,” said Alan Chvotkin, a partner with Protorea Law and former general counsel for the Professional Services Council.

“What SEWP has done for government procurement is nothing short of miraculous,” said Dave Dimlich, president of SD3IT LLC.

Many of the comments spoke about Woytek as a role model, mentor and leader who showed many people the ropes of federal procurement.

“Your expertise, creativity, professionalism, and vision are truly unparalleled, and your impact will continue to resonate for years to come. I am deeply grateful to have had the opportunity to learn from you,” said Lauren Gray, senior director of the GWAC/IDIQ program office at Akima.