Crista Wise serves as the Ombudsman within the Management Bureau’s Office of Acquisition and Assistance (M/OAA). Prior to joining USAID, she worked at the General Services Administration (Federal Acquisition Services) as a Senior Procurement Analyst where she led a team that oversaw initiatives to improve government-wide acquisition. Crista's team led the development of new service offerings, composed policy to make system changes, led and/ or participated in committees that managed changes within the agency, and established and maintained the target architecture of the organization. Crista also worked in GSA's Public Building Service where she performed cradle to grave contracting actions (primarily construction and service procurements) and worked on special projects: (established a regional PALT schedule, and launched the Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting Program at the National Capitol Region). In addition, Crista spent time with DHS/TSA where she oversaw the day to day actions of a training contract valued at approximately $600M, a human resources support contract valued at approximately $1B and managed a portfolio of 176 airports and 355 Federal Security Directors and Contracting Officer Representatives whom received grant funding.
 
Crista has also worked in the private sector as a Paralegal for the National Football League Players Association where she helped to resolve injury grievances for players and administered a payout as a result of the Reggie White Antitrust Settlement. Similarly, Crista spent about 10 years working for an arbitrator where she mediated disputes and ultimately brokered a Consent Decree between the District of Columbia Public School system and children who were disproportionately placed in neighborhood schools, thus resolving a conflict that spanned over decade. 
 
Since joining USAID in 2015, Crista has quickly made significant contributions to the Office of Acquisition and Assistance. Her most notable accomplishments include developing a database to track inquiries submitted to the Ombudsman, standing up the Selection of Instrument Task Force to provide independent reviews of upcoming awards and establishing the first annual Working Group.