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Regional Administrator, Region VI (Dallas)
Leon R. McCowan serves as the Regional Administrator for the Administration for Children and Families, Region VI, in Dallas, Texas. He provides executive leadership, direction, and coordination for all ACF programs in the region, consisting of the states of Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. The Administration for Children and Families is responsible for programs that promote the social and economic well-being of children and families. The following ACF programs are under his direction: Head Start, Child Care, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), Child Support Enforcement, Tribal programs, Developmental Disabilities, Child Welfare programs, Youth programs, and Community Service programs. Nationally, he serves as the Lead Regional Administrator for Child Support Enforcement, Technology, and Positive Youth Development.
With more than 30 years of professional federal service, Mr. McCowan began his career in the Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service. He has held various program and management positions within the Department of Health and Human Services, including: Regional Hub Director, West-Central Hub; Deputy Program Manager for the Office of Family Assistance; and as the Deputy Regional Representative for Child Support Enforcement.
In 2001, Mr. McCowan was recognized with the prestigious "Presidential Rank Award" for Meritorious Executives, and was presented with two "Secretary's Award for Distinguished Service" by the Department of Health and Human Services. The first award commended his creativity, initiative and vision in developing approaches to partnerships for results with Hub Stakeholders and inventing a model organizational strategy for the West-Central Hub. The second lauded his efforts with the Department of Health and Human Services National Fatherhood Initiative. He received the Secretary's Award in 2000 as well, for outstanding performance of Y2K activities.
Mr. McCowan is a member of the International Who's Who of Professionals. The North Texas Chapter of Blacks in Government honored Mr. McCowan with a "Career Achievement Award." He was named "Manager of the Year" by the National Treasury Employees Union and was presented the "Unsung Hero Award" by the Dallas Chapter of Federally Employed Women.
Mr. McCowan received his B.A. in Sociology from Wiley College in Marshall, Texas, and his M.A. in Public Administration from the University of North Texas in Denton.
He is married to Curtistene McCowan; they have two married sons and three granddaughters.