R. (Thea) Miller-Smith, Ed.D.
- Adjunct Associate Professor
Education
Doctor of Education, Organizational Change and Leadership, University of Southern California. Dissertation: Examining The Underrepresentation Of African Americans in the Senior Executive Service Within the United States Federal Government’s Civilian Workforce. Nominated for Dissertation of Distinction Award
Master of Arts, Management and Leadership, Webster University
Bachelor of Arts, Business Management, Charleston Southern University
Expertise
- Dr. Thea Miller-Smith collectively has 25 years of experience in contract administration and currently serves as a Supervisory Contracting Officer for the federal government, where she is responsible for the total contract administration, leading teams of contract specialists to provide a full range of contract administration functions and actions for pivotal contracts, with the goal of ensuring mission continuity for America’s Warfighters. She also served on her agency’s (Defense Logistics Agency [DLA]) Committee to Advance Equity & Inclusion, formerly the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) Committee, completing service as the chairperson when dissolved by Executive Order in January 2025. She was passionate about being an influencer and change agent to ensure workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion were achieved. In addition, her passions include providing supports and guidance to current adult learners who are looking to achieve success in their educational pursuits. As a former adult learner, she thoroughly enjoys sharing her own journey as encouragement to others. She also serves as a personal care attendant to assist and advance the lives of high functioning Autistic young adults with learning basic life skills, with an emphasis in budgeting.
Bio
R. (Thea) Miller-Smith, Ed.D., CRA
Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Southern California
Supervisory Contracting Officer, Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) - Energy
Dr. Thea Miller-Smith collectively has 25 years of experience in contract administration and currently serves as a Supervisory Contracting Officer where she is responsible for the total contract administration; providing a full range of contract administration functions and actions for pivotal contracts, with the goal of ensuring mission continuity for the Warfighters. She also served on her agency’s (Defense Logistics Agency [DLA]) Committee to Advance Equity & Inclusion, formerly the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) Committee, completing service as the chairperson when dissolved by Executive Order in January 2025. She was passionate about being an influencer and change agent to ensure workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion were achieved.
Before transitioning to civilian service, Dr. Miller-Smith was the Associate Director of Operations with the Office of Grants & Contract Accounting Services at George Washington University (GWU). Prior to her appointment at GWU, she served as a Senior Accounting Manager (3 years) and Sponsored Research Financial Analyst (5 years) at Emory University.
In service, Dr. Miller-Smith holds the position of Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Southern California, where she teaches doctoral-level students a myriad of subjects. She is a proud graduate of the University of Southern California where she earned a Doctor of Education, with a focus in Organizational Change and Leadership. Her dissertation, entitled “Examining the Underrepresentation of African Americans in the Senior Executive Service Within the United States Federal Government’s Civilian Workforce,” was nominated for the Dissertation of Distinction Award. Lastly, her passions include providing mentorship to current adult learners who are looking to achieve success in their educational pursuits. As a former adult learner, she thoroughly enjoys sharing her own journey as encouragement to others. She also serves as a personal care attendant to assist and advance the lives of high functioning Autistic young adults with learning basic life skills, with an emphasis in budgeting.
Awards and Grants
Nominated for Dissertation of Distinction Award
Courses Taught
- EDUC 523: Challenges in Urban Education: Diversity, 1st Year Doctoral Students, Synchronous
- EDUC 732: Building Capacity for Organizational Change, 3rd Year Doctoral Students, Synchronous
Publications
Professional Affiliations and Memberships
As a Supervisory Contracting Officer with the Department of Defense, I lead a team responsible for managing complex, high-dollar acquisitions in support of critical federal programs. My role involves overseeing the full contract lifecycle—from acquisition strategy and solicitation to negotiation, award, and post-award management—while ensuring full compliance with the FAR and agency-specific regulations. I regularly advise senior leaders on procurement planning, risk mitigation, and fiscal responsibility, and I play a key role in mentoring junior acquisition professionals to build capacity and ensure workforce readiness. In parallel with my government service, I serve doctoral students, as an Adjunct Associate Professor, teaching courses in leadership theory, organizational behavior, and equity management in organizational contexts. I draw on my real-world experience in federal leadership to enrich classroom discussions, emphasizing ethical decision-making, change management, and business accountability. This dual role enables me to bridge theory and practice while contributing to the development of future leaders in both public and private sectors.
Certifications
Department of Defense (DoD) Certified Acquisition Professional, Contracting: Level III. Issued By: Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA), No Expiration
Harvard University Executive Education, Kennedy School of Government – Emerging Leaders Executive Certification
Certified Research Administrator (CRA). Issued By: Research Administrators Certification Council (RACC), Expires December 31, 2027