Title: Lead Defense Travel Administrator and Component Program Manager
Company: U.S. Department of Defense
Location: Stafford, Virginia, United States
Willie H. Harris, lead defense travel administrator and component program manager at the U.S. Department of Defense, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Military for dedication, achievements, and leadership in military service and defense.
Mr. Harris has dedicated his career to optimizing and managing travel logistics for the Department of Defense, with a focus on the Defense Travel System, a seamless, paperless, automated system, for official travel that streamlines the process involved in global travel. Currently, he serves as the lead program analyst and component program manager for Washington Headquarters Services, which provides essential administrative functions for the Department of Defense, a role he has held since 2024. His responsibilities include overseeing various travel operations and managing the Government Travel Charge Card. Previously, he worked as the lead defense travel administrator and component program manager for the Government Travel Charge Card at Washington Headquarters Services from 2015 to 2020. The Government Travel Charge Card is a program that provides travelers with a safe, effective, convenient, and commercially available method to pay for official travel.
Before that, Mr. Harris held roles as a defense travel service analyst at Computer Geeks Solution from 2013 to 2015 and as an executive assistant at Computer Geeks Washington Headquarters Services Enterprise Management from 2011 to 2013. He embarked on his career path with two decades of service in the United States Marine Corps, where he retired as a staff sergeant in 2011.
In addition to these accomplishments, Mr. Harris pursued an education and Kaplan University, graduating magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 2013. He also earned a level-two financial management certificate from the U.S. Department of Defense in 2022. He was honored with various accolades during his service, including the NATO Medal in 2024 and the Icon Award in 2021. He also earned Performance Monetary Awards in 2019 and 2020, Employee of the Year in 2014, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal in 2011, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal in 2009, the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medals in 2003, 2006, and 2009, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal in 2004.
Reflecting on his career path, Mr. Harris recalled that the Marines visited his school, and he knew instantly he wanted to become a Marine to help people and make a difference in the United States. He takes pride in supporting the U.S. Department of Defense’s leadership and caring for troops and their families during deployments. His greatest career achievement is transitioning from military to civilian roles, ensuring everyone he interacts with is taken care of. He attributes his success to the unwavering support of his family and the satisfaction of knowing that he has positively impacted people’s lives. He also underscores the importance of listening to people, learning from them, and having hands-on experience.
In the coming years, Mr. Harris aims to improve the current travel system and rise to the position of director. In offering advice to aspiring professionals, he says to learn everything you can, treat people with dignity, and never think you are better than anyone else. He also advises to earn respect, you must give respect, and be yourself, and do the best you can in every situation.
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