Wanda Rogers might not known outside the confines of her position at the U.S. Treasury, but her story is worth sharing. Ms. Rogers achieved a series of firsts within the Treasury Department, rising from an entry-level position into one of the most powerful positions with the federal agency.
A native of Pleasantville, N.J., Rogers graduated from Rider University in 1979. Her initial career path was to become a teacher. Instead she took a job at the Treasury as a secretary, making significant strides despite her non-executive start.
Rogers was the first African-American to become a deputy commissioner with the now-defunct Financial Management Service. She is also the first African-American to serve as the federal agency’s assistant commissioner and its U.S. Chief Disbursement Officer. Essentially, Rogers was part of a management team responsible for disbursing 85 percent of the federal government’s payments.
Along with the aforementioned achievements, Rogers was first African-American woman to hold a position within the federal government’s Senior Executive Service. Presently, Rogers is the Deputy Commissioner for the Bureau of the Fiscal Service, overseeing a staff of over 1,400.
Little Known Black History Fact: Wanda Rogers was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
