Women To Watch Awards 2026 honors Meneshea D. Levy

Meneshea D. Levy is a respected authority in federal IT governance, capital planning, and enterprise portfolio management, with more than 17 years of proven experience managing multimillion-dollar IT portfolios and driving operational excellence across federal agencies including the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Department of Justice (DOJ), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). She has experience as both a federal employee and as a contractor managing IT portfolios at various levels, providing her with a deep understanding of federal IT budgets, operations, and strategic priorities. Her ability to translate complex policies into actionable strategies allows her to deliver measurable process improvements and serve as a trusted advisor to CIOs and executive leaders.

Before opting into the second round of the Deferred Resignation Program at USDA in April 2025, Meneshea served as the Director of the IT Resource Management Division (GS-15) for Rural Development (RD), a core mission area of USDA that works to improve the quality of life and economic opportunity in rural communities across America through loans, grants, technical assistance, and strategic support. In this role, she led a multidisciplinary division responsible for capital planning, acquisition management, and financial oversight, managing a $165 million IT budget and investment portfolio. Through her commitment to transparency, accountability, and collaboration, she strengthened executive decision making, enhanced strategic planning processes, and optimized resource allocation.

Following her departure from USDA, Meneshea redirected her passion and expertise toward broader public service. She remains deeply engaged in her community as an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.®, contributes to impact-driven initiatives such as We the Doers, and founded MDLevy LLC. Based in Alexandria, Virginia, MDLevy LLC provides professional and business services—including strategy consulting, digital design, custom logos and branding assets, notary services, and Virginia small business formation assistance—empowering organizations and individuals to achieve their goals with clarity and confidence.

Meneshea holds a B.S. in Management Information Systems from the Rochester Institute of Technology and a M.S. in Information Systems Management with a concentration in IT Strategy & Governance from Walden University. She is a certified Senior IT Program Manager (FAC-P/PM IT Core+) and a graduate of the Partnership for Public Service & Excellence in Government Fellows Program. Her work has earned recognition from federal agency partners and consulting firms, including honors such as the DHS Small Business Achievement Award and the BRMi Technical Excellence Award.

As a Black woman in leadership and as an entrepreneur, Meneshea is committed to paying forward the mentorship, advocacy, and unwavering support that helped shape her own leadership journey. She believes deeply in lifting as she climbs—empowering future leaders with the tools, confidence, and opportunities they need to thrive. Above all, she leads by example, striving every day to model resilience, tenacity, purpose, and integrity, especially for her daughters, London and Brooklyn, who inspire her to build a legacy rooted in faith, courage, and possibility.