Olivia M. Steve

Regional Director - Great Plains Region

Olivia M. Steve was born in New York City and being of biracial descent, was raised primarily in Tselani Springs on the Navajo Reservation in Arizona by her mother and grandmother. She is a descendant of the Tódích’íi’nii (Bitter Water), Tótsohnii (Big/Great Water), and Kinyaa’áanii (Towering House People) clans within the Diné (Navajo) tribe.

Ms. Steve, a member of the Senior Executive Service, currently serves as the Regional Director for the Great Plains Region for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. In this role, she leads the development and implementation of programs that support the sovereignty and economic resilience of American Indian communities across her region. She focuses on strengthening collaboration between tribes and federal agencies to advance education, natural resource management, and public safety initiatives.

In November 2021, Ms. Steve was selected for the Department of Defense’s enterprise leader development program, the Defense Senior Leader Development Program, as part of Cohort 2022. Through this two-year curriculum, she engaged in studies preparing senior civilian leaders to excel in joint, interagency, and multinational environments. Her participation included studies at the National War College, where she earned a Master of Science in National Security Strategy.

Before her current role, Ms. Steve served as the Senior Security Specialist (2007-2016) and later as the Enterprise Security Programs Chief (2016-2022) within the Force Intelligence Directorate at Headquarters, Naval Special Warfare Command. As the Senior Technical Advisor to the Commander, she provided leadership and technical expertise across multi-disciplinary security programs, supporting eight major and over 40 subordinate commands. She also oversaw intelligence facility accreditations for 20 surface and tactical platforms, ensuring operational readiness for Navy SEAL combat missions.

Ms. Steve began her career in the U.S. Navy as an enlisted Cryptologic Technician, serving in diverse shore and operational roles. Her assignments included service at the Naval Security Group Activity in Winter Harbor, ME, where she worked as a Special Security Representative (1997-1999) and as the Commanding Officer’s Executive Assistant (1999-2001). In operational tours, she served as Assistant Special Security Officer (SSO) on the USS PAUL F. FOSTER (DD 964) during a Middle East deployment and as Special Access Program Security Officer aboard USS NIMITZ (CVN 68) in support of IRAQI FREEDOM and the Global War on Terrorism. Her final tour in uniform was at Naval Special Warfare Command as Deputy SSO and Alternate Security Manager (2004- 2007).

Ms. Steve holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (2006) and a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology (2010) from National University in San Diego, CA. She has also completed 49 credit hours toward a Doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute in Carpinteria, CA. She is a Harvard John F. Kennedy School of Government, Senior Executive Fellows Alumni Chapter member.

Ms. Steve has been recognized throughout her career with multiple awards, including the Department of the Navy Superior Civilian Service Award, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (five awards), and various unit and individual accolades.