Marquiesha Gillispie recognized for federal acquisition leadership and military family advocacy

Influential Women is spotlighting Marquiesha Gillispie, a General Services Administration leader with more than 26 years of public service. Her career spans Army service, federal procurement, and advocacy for military-connected families, spouses, and veterans.

Why it matters: - Marquiesha Gillispie’s career blends federal acquisition leadership with advocacy for military-connected communities. - Her work focuses on the real-world barriers military spouses and families face, including frequent moves that can disrupt stable employment. - Her background across active duty service and civilian federal work gives her perspective on both military life and the federal workforce.

What happened: - Influential Women highlighted Gillispie in a profile published Sept. 4, 2026. - Gillispie serves as a Division Director at the General Services Administration, where she oversees telecommunications operations supporting the federal government. - Gillispie also serves as a warranted contracting officer and acquisition professional. - Her career includes 16 years of active duty in the U.S. Army and more than a decade as a civilian federal employee. - She was born and raised in Las Vegas and entered public service after financial and academic challenges while attending the University of Nevada, Reno. - Her first duty station in South Korea shaped her commitment to service, according to the profile.

The details: - Gillispie has worked on federal acquisitions, telecommunications, small business advocacy, and strategic leadership. - She led high-profile acquisition programs and contributed to governmentwide procurement efforts tied to the $75 billion Alliant Governmentwide Acquisition Contract. - Her work has included efforts to strengthen small business participation and stakeholder engagement in federal procurement. - She previously served as director of the Federal Military Family Network and president of her agency’s Veteran Employee Resources Association. - Those roles involved work with senior federal leaders and interagency partners to expand career opportunities and improve retention for military-connected employees. - Gillispie has supported military spouse hiring authorities and initiatives aimed at more sustainable careers for military families. - Her coalition-building efforts contributed to initiatives connected to the domestic employee telework overseas program and Executive Order 14100. - She has also volunteered with the Federal Employee Education Assistance scholarship committee and advocated for sexual assault survivors in the military. - Gillispie earned a Master of Public Administration in Criminal Justice from Columbia Southern University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Texas A&M University. - She holds the Federal Acquisition Institute FAC-C Professional credential and has completed executive education through the Harvard Kennedy School and American University.

Between the lines: - The profile frames Gillispie’s leadership style as people-centered rather than purely technical. - Her message emphasizes that professionalism does not require conformity, especially for women and African-American women. - She argues that authenticity, discernment, humility, and respect are core parts of effective leadership. - Faith is presented as a major driver of her resilience during both military service and personal hardship. - The profile also positions mentorship as a recurring theme in her career, especially for young women entering federal work.

What's next: - Gillispie says her focus remains on helping others succeed through better acquisition programs, stronger opportunities for military-connected families, and mentorship. - Her continued work at GSA keeps her at the center of federal telecommunications and acquisition operations. - The profile suggests her advocacy will keep centering on PCS-proof career pathways and broader awareness of military spouse employment challenges.

The bottom line: - Gillispie’s story is being presented as a model of public service built on federal expertise, military experience, and advocacy for communities shaped by service.