Lee Ann Pender has been appointed director of the Department of Procurement and Material Management (DPMM). She succeeds Cathy Muse, who retired earlier this year.

Pender began her career with Fairfax County government in 2014 as director of contracts and procurement management with what was then the Department of Administration for Human Services (DAHS). She was later promoted to deputy director and then acting director of the agency.

In 2019, Pender was appointed deputy director of DPMM, where she provided supervision, oversight, direction and guidance to the agency’s five business areas and management of day-to-day operations, including the allocation of funding and staff resources. Pender also oversaw strategic, workforce and succession planning in that role. She has served as acting director since Muse’s retirement.

Prior to moving to county government, Pender served with Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), where she began her career in 1990. She served in various procurement positions with FCPS, moving up through the ranks to become director of the Department of Administration for the Department of Facilities and Transportation Services in 2013.

Pender has a bachelor’s degree in English from Mary Washington College and a master’s degree in Public Administration from George Mason University. She is a Certified Professional Public Buyer.

DPMM provides the county government with overall procurement and material management support, managing a portfolio of more than 2,000 active contracts. In addition to the savings attained through competitive sourcing in FY 2021, DPMM programs produced $3,492,777 in revenue and delivered significant administrative efficiencies for the county. The department is also responsible for material management, overseeing storage space at the county’s central warehouse and supporting the transfer of 2.42 million library books annually from branch to branch.

DPMM is committed to leadership in sustainable procurement and its supplier diversity program continues to play a vital role in the equitable economic recovery from the COVID-19 health emergency.

To learn more about the agency, visit the DPMM website.