Byron Adkins, Jr.

My grandfather was a World War II veteran who served in the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion, an all-Black battalion that fought on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day. My uncles served in Vietnam. This legacy inspired me to serve our country. After attending North Carolina A&T State University, I was commissioned into the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. As a U.S. Army Officer, I served in our military for five years. My grandmother, Iona W. Adkins was the first African American to be elected to a court of record in the United States since reconstruction, serving 21 years as circuit court clerk. My father, Byron M. Adkins, Sr. served over 40 years as Charles City County Director of Social Services and my mother, Bernice P. Adkins served over 30 years as a public-school teacher. Both my grandmother’s and parents’ legacy of service have inspired me to continue my public service in several civilian federal roles.

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I currently serve in the U.S. Department of the Interior where I am the Director of the Interior Business Center (IBC) within the Office of Policy, Management and Budget. With over 18 years of public service both in the military and the federal civil service, I have had the opportunity to serve overseas and in multiple federal agencies and Congress. I’ve served in many roles, but they all have one thing in common: taking care of people. I love people and I am grateful to have the opportunity to lead and mentor people throughout their careers and serve as a catalyst for positive change. I have had the privilege to be the benefactor of many mentors and superb leaders and I am immensely proud of the fact that I have been able to lead and manage some of the most intelligent and capable people in government.

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