Department FOIA Office

• FOIA Home
• Department of Commerce Chief FOIA Officer
• Department of Commerce Deputy Chief FOIA Officer
• Immediate Office of the Secretary FOIA Officer
• FOIA Council

Department of Commerce Chief FOIA Officer

Dr. Purvis is the Director of the Office of Privacy and Open Government (OPOG) and the Chief Privacy Officer (CPO) at the United States Department of Commerce (DOC).

She is a Senior Executive Service member and performs as the Senior Agency Official for Privacy (SAOP) within the DOC. In this capacity, Dr. Purvis serves as the key policy advisor on implementing the Privacy Act of 1974; the privacy provisions of the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) and of the E-Government Act of 2002; the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA); the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA); the principles of transparency and open government; and leads the Department’s Directives Management Program. Dr. Purvis also represents the Department on the National Science and Technology Council, Federal CIO Council Privacy Committee.

Dr. Purvis served prior as the Chief Information Officer (CIO) for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Satellite and Information Service (NESDIS). As the NESDIS CIO, Dr. Purvis was responsible for ensuring the security posture of ground control systems for critical high impact satellites including: the National Polar-Orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite Preparatory Project (NPP), the National Polar-Orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite (NPOES), the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite - R series (GOES R), and multiple international level agreements for foreign data acquisition and exchange.

Dr. Purvis is an Attorney, a member of the Maryland Bar, and a United States Air Force (USAF) veteran with over 20 years of agency-level leadership experiences in information technology (IT) law, IT privacy, IT architecture, IT security, systems development, acquisitions, operations and maintenance, and program management.

Prior to her federal service, Dr. Purvis served as a Senior Manager Consultant to the government from the Noblis Earth Observation Systems Cyber Security/Information Assurance Group. Her work with Federal Agencies in this capacity dates to 2001. In the Air Force, she was a Communications and Computer Systems Officer who supported the Cyber Criminal Investigations (CCI) program. Her last assignment was at the USAF Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) as Chief of the Computer Operations Division.

Dr. Purvis is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP). She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Southern Illinois University, a dual major Master’s degree in Acquisitions and Procurement, and Computer Information Resources from Webster University in St. Louis, and a Juris Doctor degree from the George Mason University Law School.

She is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Maryland University College (UMUC). Her awards include a Certificate of Outstanding Contribution from Noblis, a Certification of Recognition as a Rising Star from the Government and Defense Technology Awards Conference, an AFOSI Communications and Information Professionalism Award, AF Company Grade Officer of the Year, and four AF Company Grade Officer of the Quarter awards

Department of Commerce Deputy Chief FOIA Officer

The Department of Commerce Deputy Chief FOIA Officer provides policy and operational oversight of the Department's FOIA and Privacy Act programs to ensure bureau and operating unit compliance with the FOIA regulations (5 U.S.C. 552 and 15 CFR Subpart A).

The Deputy Chief FOIA Officer leads the development of: Departmental policies, regulations, procedures and guidelines dealing with FOIA; analysis and interpretation of existing and proposed agency regulations; oversight of bureau compliance with FOIA and central agency guidance; and preparation of replies to correspondence, special reports, and other documents related to Department information matters.

Immediate Office of the Secretary FOIA Officer

The Immediate Office of the Secretary (IOS) FOIA Officer provides policy and operational oversight of the IOS’s FOIA/Privacy Act programs to ensure IOS compliance with the FOIA/Privacy Act regulations (15 CFR § 4. 4a and 4b). The IOS FOIA Officer also assists the Deputy Chief FOIA Officer with development of policies, regulations, procedures and guidelines dealing with FOIA; analysis and interpretation of existing and proposed agency regulations; oversight of bureau compliance with FOIA and central agency guidance; and preparation of replies to correspondence, special reports, and other documents related to Department information matters.

FOIA Council

The FOIA Council is chaired by the Deputy Chief FOIA Officer and is comprised of one designated FOIA Officer representative from each bureau and operating unit. The Executive Council members include the Chief FOIA Officer, the Chief Information Officer, and the Assistant General Counsel for Litigation, Employment, and Oversight from the Office of General Counsel.

The FOIA is a cornerstone of Open Government’s transparency pillar.  The FOIA Council ensures the Department’s effective administration of the FOIA by developing and implementing FOIA policy and guidance and, by promoting increased transparency, FOIA training, best business practices, better collaboration across the Department, and increased outreach and dialogue with the requester community.