GSA announces new political appointees and departure

April 22, 2024

WASHINGTON — The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced a new political appointment and three personnel changes, including the departure of Krystal Brumfield, GSA’s Associate Administrator for Government-wide Policy, effective May 4. Brumfield has served at GSA since 2021, and Mehul Parekh will be Acting Associate Administrator. 

“Under Krystal’s capable and inclusive leadership, GSA’s Office of Government-wide Policy has taken huge strides in reducing barriers for small businesses, using the government’s buying power to fuel clean manufacturing and innovation, and creating more accessible and equitable pathways into federal service,” said GSA Administrator Robin Carnahan. “We are deeply grateful for her service to GSA and the American people and wish her all the best in the future.”

During her tenure at GSA, Brumfield championed equity in the federal marketplace and led many landmark policy initiatives across the finish line, notably: promoting sustainability, equity, and community engagement in decisions on where federal facilities are located; modernizing management of Federal Advisory Committees; expanding opportunities for 8(a) small businesses; extending federal art commission opportunities for artists that reflect the diversity of communities across the nation; and requiring Project Labor Agreements in major federal construction projects. As GSA’s Chief Acquisition Officer, she launched both the GSA Acquisition Policy Federal Advisory Committee to address climate and sustainability in federal buying, and the Acquisition Talent Development program to recruit in-demand entry-level professionals into the acquisition workforce. She also oversaw GSA’s support for the U.S. government’s participation in the global Open Government Partnership, the development of the first federal standards for low-embodied carbon construction materials, and was GSA’s liaison to the White House for their Historically Black Colleges and Universities initiative.

Christine Simpson, joins GSA as the new Senior Advisor to the Deputy Administrator, has served as an independent consultant, executive advisor, strategy and organizational development analyst, and chief operating officer. Prior to that, she was Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President for Analytics Media Group as well as an advisor and strategic initiatives lead for various federal and state government officials. She earned her master’s degree as a Clarendon Scholar at the University of Oxford and her bachelor’s in government and women’s studies from the College of William and Mary. 

Kusai Merchant, GSA’s Deputy Associate Administrator for Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs, will take on a new role as Senior Advisor to the Federal Acquisition Service. Merchant has been instrumental to all aspects of GSA’s work with Congress. Reporting to the FAS Commissioner, this new role will work to advance Administration and agency priorities related to federal acquisition and technology - including making it easier to do business with government, expanding access to the federal marketplace, and delivering cost-effective, world-class goods and services for agency partners.

Jetta Wong, GSA’s Senior Advisor to the Administrator for Climate, will take on a new role as Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy. Over the past two years, Wong has brought together GSA and government-wide efforts to implement the $3.4 billion provided to GSA in the historic Inflation Reduction Act – the largest climate law in U.S. history. In her new role, she will oversee GSA policy more broadly, including sustainability as well as other high-priority areas requiring agency-wide policy development, direction, and significant external and internal coordination and oversight. 

###

About GSA: GSA provides centralized procurement and shared services for the federal government, managing a nationwide real estate portfolio of nearly 370 million rentable square feet, overseeing over $100 billion in products and services via federal contracts, and delivering technology services that serve millions of people across dozens of federal agencies. GSA’s mission is to deliver the best customer experience and value in real estate, acquisition, and technology services to the government and the American people. For more information, visit GSA.gov and follow us at @USGSA.