WASHINGTON (May 23, 2024) – Yolonda D. Lockamy hails from Zebulon, North Carolina, and arrived at Howard University on a women's basketball scholarship. During her time at The Mecca, she led the Lady Bison to three Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Championships. The North Carolina native wrapped up her collegiate career as the MEAC All-Time assist leader (648) and was a finalist for the MEAC 50^th Anniversary All-Time Team.
 
In 1990, she graduated with a bachelor's degree in administration of justice.
 
Shortly after graduation, Yolonda began her federal career as a general investigator with the Office of Personnel Management in 1990. She moved to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) a year later (1991), where she worked as a personnel security specialist. As a result of her meticulous investigating and reporting skills, she was encouraged to expand her talents to a more challenging career field as a criminal investigator.
 
Within a year, she transitioned to a position as a criminal investigator with the U.S. Information Agency/State Department, Office of Inspector General (OIG). Yolonda remained at the State Department for four (4) years, at which time she felt a need to test her entrepreneurial prowess and create opportunities for others.
 
She teamed with a friend and co-founded YoSha Connections, a unique, heart-centered marketing company with a team of several hundred representatives across the globe. Over the next three (3) years, Yolonda became a sought-after marketer and trainer, traveling the country conducting leadership workshops and mentoring representatives.
 
Armed with new leadership skills and a reputation for "doing the right thing," Yolonda returned to the federal workforce as a proven criminal investigator for the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) OIG in May 2000 and remained with DISA until 2006.
 
She then joined PFPA's Internal Affairs Division (currently, the Office of Professional Responsibility). In August 2013, Yolonda was transferred to the PFPA Special Events Unit, her current assignment, to lead the planning/coordinating of special events and dignitary visits to support the Secretary of Defense, Deputy Secretary of Defense and other Department of Defense leadership. Her duties include the supervision of high-profile visits by the U.S. President, Vice President, and First Lady; cabinet officials; congressional members and foreign Heads of State.
 
Yolonda has more than 27 years of distinguished investigative experience. In 2015, she received the PFPA Mission Excellence Award for assisting and escorting a critically ill comrade home while on an overseas protective service mission. In February 2021, Yolonda was selected to greet the President & Vice President of the United States during their first official visit to the Pentagon, hosted by Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.
 
Currently, she serves as Supervisory Special Agent for the Pentagon Force Protection Agency (PFPA), becoming the first African American female in PFPA history to achieve such an honor.
 
During her spare time, Yolonda enjoys watching sports [especially basketball], writing and spending time with her Maltipoo, WinFree.
 
About Where Are They Now?
 
The weekly series of "Where Are They Now?" appears on Thursdays throughout the year.
 
The series will feature former student-athletes from all sports and eras, highlighting their careers as athletes at the University and what they are presently doing.
 
All interested former athletes and their coaches should submit a short bio, a recent head shot and contact information on how they can be reached via email to Derek W. Bryant (derek.bryant@howard.edu).
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.