Karen Downing is a native of the Eastern Shore of Virginia with a background in the U.S. Navy and the Naval Sea Combat Systems Engineering Center in Norfolk. She returned to the Shore in 1990 for employment at the Surface (formerly Aegis) Combat Systems Center in Wallops Island.

She retired in July 2015 after completing 30 years of civilian service which included assignments as: Activity Inspector General and as a Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) Examiner from 1996 to 2015 (responsible for program and compliance inspections at NAVSEA activities), Human Resource Manager for 15 years, Continuous Process Improvement Manager, a facilitator for strategic planning process and several details to serve on other senior level special projects.

Karen is very active in her church and community and serves on several local, regional and state organizations, boards and committees.