District of Columbia Department of Health Care Finance

Melanie Williamson, Chief Operating Officer & Chief of Staff

Melanie Williamson serves as Chief Operating Officer and Chief of Staff at the Department of Health Care Finance, where she provides strategic and operational support to agency leadership across administration, policy, and program operations. Her responsibilities include oversight and coordination of key administrative functions, including budget, procurement, information technology, human resources, labor relations, risk management, and agency-wide operational planning, with a focus on supporting effective management and cross-functional coordination.

In her Chief of Staff role, she advises on executive operations, legislative and policy matters, stakeholder engagement, and strategic priorities, while coordinating activities involving the Executive Management Team and agency leadership. Her work includes supporting major operational initiatives, aligning internal decision-making, and helping manage complex issues that affect agency performance and service delivery.

Before joining DHCF, Ms. Williamson served in legal and policy roles with the DC Health Benefit Exchange Authority and the Council of the District of Columbia, following earlier work as an attorney in private legal practice. She holds a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and a B.A. from Howard University.