Virginia “Ginny” Odierno Cosentino ’10

Virginia “Ginny” Odierno Cosentino ’10 graduated with a major in Economics and a minor in American Sign Language (ASL) and Deaf Studies before going straight into public service as a government contractor. She’s spent the past 15 years climbing the ranks at the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and currently serves as a contracting officer.

A blonde woman smiles in a black blazer and a white shirt.

Virginia “Ginny” Odierno Cosentino ’10 graduated with a major in Economics and a minor in American Sign Language (ASL) and Deaf Studies before going straight into public service as a government contractor. During her time on the Hill, she participated in track, the Westminster Symphony Orchestra, and the Eye to Eye Club (now the ASL Club). Since graduating, she’s spent the past 15 years climbing the ranks at the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). Currently, she serves as a contracting officer, helping coordinate and manage NNSA’s Nuclear Security Enterprise of institutions reminiscent of those seen in “Oppenheimer.” Ginny balances it all by using the “broader perspective” and skills in critical thinking and problem solving that she developed at McDaniel.

What originally drew you to McDaniel and Economics?

When I started looking at colleges, a family friend mentioned McDaniel, and after doing some research, I decided to apply. When I attended Admitted Student Day, I fell in love with the campus and loved how friendly and down-to-earth all the students I met were. Originally, I thought I wanted to be a Math major, but after a couple of semesters, I found myself less interested in the higher-level math courses. I decided to take Principles of Economics during the first semester of my sophomore year, and I immediately loved how heavily economics relies on math and statistics. I found myself drawn to economics because it applies those abstract concepts to real-world behaviors, which made it so much more interesting to me. I declared my major later that year.
What was Economics at McDaniel like when you were a student? What changes are you hoping to see in the new School of Business & Technology?: When I was at McDaniel, the Economics program was rather small. Most of my classmates were Business majors, so I would love to see the Economics program continue to grow as part of the new School of Business & Technology. Some of my Economics electives were my favorite classes at McDaniel. I hope the new school continues to offer more Economics electives and give students opportunities to explore how economics connects with business and technology.
What part of your McDaniel education still sticks with you today in your professional life?: I hate to go with the old cliché, but I love that a liberal arts education teaches you how to think. The ability to think critically and problem solve has really served me well throughout my professional career. My work often involves navigating complex issues, analyzing information, weighing different considerations, and figuring out a path forward. Those are skills I developed throughout my McDaniel education and continue to rely on today.

I love that a liberal arts education teaches you how to think.

Ginny Odierno Cosentino ’14

How did McDaniel change your life?

McDaniel allowed me to learn about a variety of subjects and focus on topics I never knew I was interested in, like ASL and Deaf Studies, while pursuing my Economics degree. I loved how student-focused my education was. McDaniel helped me become a well-rounded individual and allowed me to make lasting personal connections. My best friends to this day are my McDaniel friends!

One of the most important things I took away from McDaniel was learning to push myself out of my comfort zone. That has really helped me learn and grow over the years and has given me the confidence to take on new challenges and opportunities. I really believe my liberal arts education gave me a broader perspective that has served me well in my career and throughout life.

I had such a great experience at McDaniel that my younger brother went there too — Joseph “Joe” Odierno ’14. He’s an emergency doctor now at Anne Arundel Medical Center. Sadly, we didn’t overlap at all, but maybe that was for the best!

A young man and a young woman smile in front of McDaniel's football stadium. — Ginny and her younger brother, Joseph "Joe" Odierno ’14.

In terms your average person would understand, what does NNSA do?

NNSA is responsible for the nation’s nuclear security mission. Its major responsibilities include maintaining a safe, secure, and reliable nuclear stockpile; preventing nuclear weapon proliferation and reducing the threat of nuclear and radiological terrorism around the world; responding to nuclear or radiological emergencies; and powering the nuclear Navy.

For anyone who saw the movie “Oppenheimer,” there’s actually a direct connection to the work NNSA does today. Los Alamos National Laboratory, where much of the Manhattan Project work in the movie took place, is one of the laboratories that is part of NNSA’s Nuclear Security Enterprise. Today, NNSA’s mission is carried out across eight national laboratories, production plants, and sites that are operated by Management and Operating (M&O) contractors on behalf of the federal government.

A blonde woman in professional wear stands in front of a sign for the Office of the Associate Administrator for Partnership and Acquisition Services at the United States Department of Energy. — Ginny at the United States Department of Energy, home of NNSA.

What do you currently do for them as a contracting officer?

As an M&O contracting officer, I manage the contracts between NNSA and the organizations operating these highly complex facilities. A big part of my job is making sure the contracts support NNSA’s mission while also protecting the government’s interests and taxpayer resources. In simple terms, I help connect what NNSA needs to accomplish with the contractors responsible for actually doing the work.

How does your Economics degree inform your work?

Economics gave me a strong background in statistics and analytical thinking, which has been really useful when negotiating and managing complex procurements. It also taught me to look at problems from different perspectives and think through the tradeoffs involved in making decisions, which is a big part of what I do.

There’s also a pretty direct connection between my degree and how I got into the contracting field. The federal government requires 24 credit hours in business, finance, economics, or law for contracting roles, so my Economics degree helped give me the academic background I needed to get started.

What was your greatest McDaniel experience?

One of my greatest college experiences was attending McDaniel College Budapest my junior year. I think it really helped me build adaptability and resiliency, experience new perspectives, and become more independent. It also prepared me to live on my own after college. I moved to Washington, D.C., less than a year after graduating from McDaniel, and I think my experience in Budapest gave me the confidence to go out into the real world. I also made some amazing lifelong friends during my time there.

A young woman dressed for cold weather stands in front of a landmark in Budapest. — Ginny studied abroad at McDaniel College Budapest.

Virginia “Ginny” Odierno Cosentino ’10

About Ginny