James Chestnut has joined the Small Business Technology and Development Center at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, according to a news release.

Chestnut is the UNCW SBTDC Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) counselor, stated the release. 

In his role, he will provide provides free and confidential assistance to small businesses to help them sell products and services to local, state and federal governments, stated the release.
 
Chestnut served for 21 years as a senior contracting officer with the federal government. His most recent position was the director and senior contracting officer of the Acquisitions Division for the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, stated the release.

"Prior to the OIG, James worked as the Chief of the Scientific Support Branch (Acquisitions) for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. He also served as a Contracting Officer for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Naval Medical Logistics Command, and the National Cancer Institute," officials said. "After leaving Federal service and before joining the PTAC team he worked as a contracted Senior Contract Analyst for the Defense Health Agency."
 
Chestnut has a master's degree from the University of Maryland University College.

"As an Adjunct Assistant Professor for UMUC, he taught Introduction to Federal Contracting in their undergraduate program," stated the release.
 
He is a retired commissioned officer (major) with 20 years of service with the N.C. Army National Guard in both an active and reserve capacity, officials said.