EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP
Tamara J. Cox, Principal Executive Officer
Tamara J. Cox retired from public service, after serving over 23 years as a senior federal official and seven years in senior leadership positions within local government. Her last position was with the now shuttered United States Agency for International Development (USAID), where she served as the inaugural Director for Health Equity and Inclusive Development within the Bureau for Global Health, Office of HIV/AIDS based in Washington, D.C. Tamara provided direct senior leadership for the USAID Office of HIV/AIDS’ Budget and Operations Division and the Priority Population Integration and Rights Division, and collaboratively directed and provided senior leadership for a workforce of 387 with an overall operational budget of $70M. She also served as the USAID President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Core Deputy Principal for the Dominican Republic, and the African countries of Eswatini and Namibia.
Prior to relocating to Washington, D.C. and beginning her tenure with USAID, Tamara served over twenty years with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), where she received numerous leadership awards, and was considered a Master Manager of People and Programs. Her last two immediate past positions with HHS were, the Regional Administrator for the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs, and simultaneously the Acting Regional Health Administrator for the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH), both in HHS/Region 5 (Chicago). HHS/Region 5 encompasses the Midwest states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. For seven years, she served under the Assistant Surgeon General, as the Regional Program Consultant for the $36M Region 5 National Title X Family Planning Program. She also previously served with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, and TuberculosisPrevention (NCHHSTP), and was placed with the Chicago Department of Public Health, where she served within the Division of STD/HIV as the Director of Correctional Health and simultaneously the Director of Adolescent Health. Furthermore, during the height of one of the largest syphilis outbreaks, Tamara worked as a Supervisory Epidemiologist for the Cook County Department of Public health, which is part of the second most populous county in the nation, where she conducted surveillance activities for reportable sexually transmitted diseases.
Tamara earned a Master of Public Administration with a special concentration in healthcare administration from Roosevelt University, Chicago. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and minor in Chemistry from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. Tamara has certifications in Disease Intervention for STI/HIV/AIDS; HIV/AIDS Counseling and Testing; Correctional Health Care; Congressional – Legislative Affairs; Adult Learning; Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility; Prosci Change Management and Artificial Intelligence and Career Empowerment. Ms. Cox serves on several public health related advisory groups, including the immediate past co-chair of the HRSA National HIV/AIDS Workgroup. She is also a leader and champion for addressing the non-health related concerns of adolescents, justice involved, geographically isolated, and otherwise marginalized individuals and communities. In addition, for nine years, Tamara served as a non-partisan elected official for the Village of Broadview, Illinois. Always in the backdrop of her work, she ensures time is allotted in her week to provide official professional mentorship to several individuals.
Steve L. Cox, Director of Operations
Steve L. Cox retired from public service after serving over 27 years in state government and ten years at the local not-for-profit level. He retired from the Illinois Department of Corrections, where he served as Commander for the Illinois Division of Parole District 2, which encompassed nine counties within the northern region of Illinois. CDR Cox provided senior supervisory leadership to a diverse staff of 16 State Parole Agents, and two administrative personnel.
During his tenure, CDR Cox directed and guided tactical operational plans for parole agents, who executed professional field work in the case management of adult and juvenile parolees; provided counseling and referral services; assisted in the apprehension of parole violators, and in the transportation of same; monitored movement of parolees; and ensured that electronic equipment was operational. He set up successful partnerships with statewide law enforcement agencies, officers of the court, and community-based organizations. His strategic collaborative efforts with local, state and federal agencies on a variety of court mandated, diversion, health, social, and other issues, allowed parolees a smooth reentry into society. CDR Cox continues to maintain compliance in weapons qualifications and other armed administration related requirements.
Prior to serving as Commander for the Division of Parole, Steve served as a Senior Juvenile Justice Youth and Family Services Specialist for the State of Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice. He provided oversight on a range of prescribed treatment services to incarcerated youth following policy and case management. He facilitated counseling services to youth and conducted assessment to evaluate youth and determined the proper and effective facility placement. During his extensive career, Mr. Cox also served as a Child and Welfare Protection Specialist with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. Through this position, Steve managed extensive cases which involved the protection and advocacy of vulnerable and at-risk children. He was instrumental in executing and providing technical assistance with several innovative inaugural initiatives and programs throughout the state of Illinois and provided oversight of operational aspects of various grant awarded projects to ensure compliance.
CDR Cox earned a Master of Arts in Adolescent Psychology from National-Lewis University, Chicago. He also holds a Bachelor of Science from Clarion University, Pennsylvania, where he received a full athletic scholarship. He has certifications in auxiliary police academy; Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 (PREA); child protection and child welfare. In addition, outside of his career with the State of Illinois, for 16 years, Steve developed and actively executed standard operating procedures and technical assistance for personal protection security measures for both profit and not-for-profit entities. He maintains a consistent calendar for conducting compliance related audits for national correctional accreditation granting institutions and is highly sought after for his sound advice and solid counseling on best practices for targeted analysis, implementation and execution.
Our Difference
Cox Consultancy is led by retired public servants with more than 60 years of combined experience in senior leadership roles across local, state, and federal programs. Our deep understanding of government operations and policy environments uniquely positions us to help organizations navigate complex challenges and align public-sector insight with corporate strategy.
We are steadfast in our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our team has dedicated entire careers to amplifying the voices of vulnerable populations and ensuring their needs are understood, prioritized, and effectively addressed within programs and systems.
Our award-winning leadership reflects a proven track record of managing and developing large, high-performing teams through senior-level supervisory structures. This experience enables us to deliver strategic guidance, operational excellence, and scalable solutions that drive meaningful, measurable outcomes.
