Dwight Deneal

Dwight Deneal is the assistant administrator for the Office of Small Business Programs at NASA Headquarters in Washington. In this role, Deneal provides executive leadership, policy direction, and management for programs that help ensure small businesses are given a fair chance to work with the agency.

Having joined NASA Feb. 14, 2024, Deneal brings over a decade of experience leading small business and federal acquisition programs to the agency. Prior to his arrival at NASA, he served as the director for the Defense Logistics Agency’s Office of Small Business Programs, where he supervised all small business programs and contracting activities.

Prior to that, Deneal also served as the director for the Small Business and Industry Liaison Programs at the U.S. Coast Guard, part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. In this capacity, he led all small business and socio-economic related guidelines, policies, regulations, and was the authority for planning and carrying out acquisition activities in support of small business programs. Deneal’s experience also includes supporting the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Education, and U.S Department of Navy.

In addition to his NASA role, Deneal serves as the vice chairman of the Federal Interagency Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization Directors Council. This organization of federal small business program officials meet regularly to exchange and discuss information on small business methods, issues, and strategies.

A native of Columbia, South Carolina, Deneal graduated from Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia, where he earned a bachelor’s in Business Management. He also is a graduate of Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government Executive Education program. Deneal was the recipient of the 2018 U.S. Department of Homeland Security Chief Procurement Officer Excellence in Industry Engagement Award. He is married and has two children.