Welcome to RELI Group’s Leadership Spotlight series! In this series, we’ll delve into the background, passions and philosophies of some of Team RELI’s best and brightest minds. Each post includes the same five questions, offering a comprehensive glimpse into the folks that make RELI great.
In today’s Leadership Spotlight, meet Angela Mercado, Senior Director of National Security and Safety at RELI Group. With more than 15 years of experience supporting public health and national security missions, Angela specializes in operational strategy, stakeholder engagement and human-centered delivery. Since joining RELI, she has led initiatives that help modernize and strengthen safety and service delivery across government.
Can you share a pivotal moment in your career that influenced your path in government contracting?
I grew up in a community service–oriented family, so the drive to help others was instilled in me early on. That foundation guided my path into public service, starting with a role on Capitol Hill that deepened my understanding of how government can be a force for good. A pivotal moment came soon after, when I joined a consulting firm and worked on Flu.gov. That experience showed me the real-time impact of connecting people with critical information and services. It confirmed that I could take the values I was raised with and scale them to serve a broader mission, supporting the entire country through better government delivery.
What drives your passion for working in government contracting?
It’s all about connecting people to the services they need. I started my career supporting public health initiatives at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), where the impact on American lives is direct and tangible. Over time, that mission has expanded into national security work, but the core motivation hasn’t changed, ensuring that government programs are accessible, effective and truly serve the public good.
How do you approach leadership and team building?
I lead with a human-centered mindset. Work is just one part of a person’s life, so I focus on supporting the whole person and building teams rooted in empathy, passion, and purpose. I am drawn to people who care deeply about their work, and I use that shared energy to build strong, mission-driven teams.
What innovations or trends in the government sector excite you the most?
The shift toward user-centered service delivery is incredibly exciting. There has been a move away from the old mindset of “if we build it, they will use it” and toward designing services the way the private sector does, with the user experience in mind. It is about meeting people where they are and making it easier for them to access what they need.
Can you discuss a project or initiative you’re particularly proud of?
I am proud of the customer experience (CX) work we have supported at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Advancing a more passenger-focused approach at TSA has been powerful, not just for improving the travel experience, but for strengthening national security outcomes. When people understand what we are doing and why, trust improves. Seeing that shift embraced across leadership was a real milestone.
