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Office of the Chief Counsel for the Minority Business Development Agency (OCC-MBDA)

The Office of the Chief Counsel for the Minority Business Development Agency (OCC/MBDA) provides legal and policy advice to the MBDA National Director, and to the Agency’s headquarters offices, covering all aspects of MBDA's operations and programs. MBDA functions as a primary operating bureau of the U.S. Department of Commerce and is authorized by Executive Order 11625. MBDA’s mission is to foster the establishment, growth and global competitiveness of the nation’s minority business enterprises (MBEs). OCC/MBDA is led by the Chief Counsel, who is resident in MBDA’s headquarters office in Washington, D.C. The Chief Counsel provides legal and strategic counseling to MBDA with respect to the Agency’s powers, duties and responsibilities, as well as its relationship with the Department of Commerce, other federal government agencies and external stakeholders. MBDA’s programs and initiatives are varied and range from the provision of strategic business consulting to MBEs, assisting MBEs in competing for contract opportunities and in securing public and private business financings, to a robust knowledge management and information dissemination program. In addition, MBDA maintains an active portfolio of over 44 financial assistance awards (structured as cooperative agreements) to support public and private organizations that operate minority business centers located throughout the Nation and the Chief Counsel provides advice to the Agency on legal and program matters pertaining to such awards. The Chief Counsel further advises the MBDA National Director and senior Agency staff on constitutional, administrative law and legislative matters potentially affecting the MBE community and MBDA programs.