Cherissa Tamayori

Cherissa Tamayori is the Director of Acquisition and Senior Contracting Official for the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU). In this role, she serves as the senior acquisition advisor to the Director of DIU and is responsible for the development, implementation, and execution of all phases of the DIU project lifecycle across the six technology portfolios. 

Prior to accepting this role, Cherissa served as the Deputy Director of Acquisition at DIU where she was responsible for oversight and execution of contracting activities utilizing Other Transaction Authority. Additionally, she coordinated contracting activities between DIU and its support entities to execute projects for a customer base that spans the entire Department of Defense.

Prior to joining DIU, Cherissa served as a contracting officer at the Naval Sea Systems Command where she managed multi-billion dollar contract portfolios for various undersea systems programs. As a contract specialist, she negotiated and administered complex shipbuilding procurements including the refueling, overhaul, and modernization of a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and the design and construction of auxiliary ships and patrol boats. In addition to these roles, Cherissa has served in various contracting positions within the Navy.

Cherissa graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. She holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Chaminade University of Honolulu and a Certificate in Management from the University of Virginia Darden School of Business. Cherissa is Level III certified in Contracting and has been a member of the Defense Acquisition Corps since 2012.