The Honorable Donald “Don” R. Cravins, Jr. serves as President and CEO of the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC). A nationally recognized leader in public service, business development, and advocacy, Don was named to the inaugural Forbes Black 50 list for his impact and accomplishments.

Previously, he served as the nation’s first Under Secretary of Commerce for Minority Business Development, leading the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) in its mission to support the country’s 9.7 million minority business enterprises. Appointed in 2022 and unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate, he oversaw the agency’s expansion and historic elevation into a permanent federal institution.

A graduate of Louisiana State University (B.A., Political Science) and Southern University Law Center (J.D.), Don began his career in elected office, serving in both the Louisiana House of Representatives and the Louisiana State Senate. In the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, he was a strong advocate for business owners navigating recovery and rebuilding efforts.

On Capitol Hill, Don served as Staff Director and Chief Counsel for the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, where he helped craft and pass the landmark Small Business Jobs Act of 2010. He later became Chief of Staff to U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana.

In addition to his civilian leadership, Don is a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army National Guard. He is a Life Member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and The Rocks, Inc., and a member of the 100 Black Men of Prince George’s County. His honors include induction into the Southern University Law Center Hall of Fame, recognition as a Distinguished Alumnus of LSU, and he was named Advocate of the Year by the
National Bar Association in 2020.

Don and his wife, Yvette Puckett Cravins, Esq., have three children and reside in Maryland.