Mary Ann Gilleece

1940 - 09

Gilleece

Mary Ann Gilleece (Age 83)

9/3/40 â€" 12/4/23

Mary Ann Gilleece passed away on Monday, December 4th from complications of Alzheimer's which took her away from friends and family too soon. She will be missed!



Mary Ann is survived by her daughter, Tricia Gilleece, her granddaughter, Anelise Gomez, her grandson, Steven Gomez, and Steven's wife Hannah and their newborn daughter Haven. There are no funeral services currently planned.



Mary Ann graduated from the University of Connecticut and then received her Juris Doctorate from Suffolk University Law School in Boston. She received a Master of Laws in Government Procurement Law from George Washington University. She was a member of the Massachusetts and District of Columbia Bars.



In 1972 Mary Ann was appointed an Assistant Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. She then practiced law privately. Beginning in 1977, Ms. Gilleece served for six years as Counsel to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Armed Services, Subcommittee on Investigations. She was responsible for committee functions relating to federal contracting legislation and government procurement methods.



From 1983 to 1985, Mary Ann served as the Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (Acquisition Management), where she served as the principal advisor to the Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering on all matters concerning management and policy for the Department of Defense acquisition and manufacturing processes. She directed the effort to make federal procurement system improvements embodied in Executive Order 12352 of March 17, 1982.



She was active in and served in many leadership positions in defense contractor and professional associations, including the National Defense Industrial Association, Women in Defense, the Association of Old Crows, the American Defense Preparedness Association, and the National Contract Management Association. She also acted as President of the Capitol Hill Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, and was a Vice Chair of the American Bar Association, Section of Public Contract Law.



Mary Ann also volunteered her time with the USO of Metropolitan Washington, The Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program, Signature Theatre, and her alumni associations and their foundations. She was also a long-time participant in the Women's Health Initiative.



Mary Ann loved to entertain and be entertained. Friends fondly remember the many parties she held at her home - "The Pleasure Palace" as well as her annual "Hussie's Nights" where she invited in female-owned small businesses to sell hand-crafted goods while raising money for charity. When not working or entertaining, she could often be found on the golf course â€" her favorite hobby.