Ms. Lara Sayer is currently serving as the Executive Director for the Commission on Planning, Programming, Budgeting and Execution (PPBE) Reform. The Commission on PPBE Reform was established as a legislative advisory commission by the FY2022 National Defense Authorization Act (Section 1004). As the Executive Director she is responsible for leading the Commission’s research and analysis, and for developing recommendations for improving the Department of Defense’s resourcing process in order to speed the delivery of capability to the warfighter.

Prior to this position, Ms. Sayer was a member of the Senior Executive Service and served as the Comptroller for Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC) and Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC). Ms. Sayer was responsible and accountable for financial operations for all financial management activities supporting Navy shore installation support for Fleet, Fighter and Family under the cognizance of CNIC and life-cycle technical acquisition solutions aligned to Fleet and Marine Corps priorities of NAVFAC, enabling overwhelming Fleet and Marine Corps lethality. As the Comptroller for these commands, she had oversight of annual appropriations in excess of $12B.

Prior to this position, Ms. Sayer served as the Comptroller for the Office of Naval Research (ONR). At ONR she was directly responsible for building and leading a team of professionals in the management and oversight of $3.3B that enabled the research, development, test and evaluation and related activities that propelled future capabilities for the Department of the Navy.

Ms. Sayer was appointed to the Senior Executive Service on January 27, 2017, as the Deputy Chief Financial Officer for United States Special Operations Command. As the Deputy Chief Financial Officer she was responsible for special operations budget and execution activities totaling more than $13 billion annually. She provided fiscal direction and guidance to the four USSOCOM component commands, a sub-unified command and 7 theater special operations commands.

Prior to her selection to the Senior Executive Service, Ms. Sayer served as the Assistant for Special Programs for the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, Financial Management and Comptroller, Office of Budget (FMB). In that capacity, she was responsible for the formulation, distribution, & execution of an annual budget in excess of $33 billion of O&M, RDT&E, procurement, MILCON and Intelligence funding in support of the Air Force, Navy, Army, COCOMs, and numerous federal agencies. Prior to serving at FMB, Ms. Sayer held several challenging positions in Air Force Space and Missile System Program Offices, a pre-curser to the U.S. Space Force, rising to the position of Chief Financial Officer for the Launch and Range programs at the Space and Missile Systems Center.

Ms. Sayer began her federal career in September 1998 as a Department of the Air Force Palace Acquire intern. She has more than 20 years of acquisition experience supporting numerous major defense acquisition programs. She has held positions of increased responsibility in the areas of budget formulation, resource management and program control. Her experience spans several appropriations and functional areas, including budget, earned value management, cost and acquisition.

Ms. Sayer holds a bachelor of Music Degree in Vocal Performance and a Master of Business Administration from Wright State University. She also has a Masters in National Resource Strategy from the Eisenhower School at National Defense University. Ms. Sayer has received numerous awards including the Joint Meritorious Civilian Service Award, one Navy Superior Civilian Service award, one Navy Meritorious Civilian Service award, two Air Force Meritorious Civilian Service Awards, and the Air Force Exemplary Civilian Service Award. She has a Level 3 DoD FM Certification, is DAWIA Level 3 certified in Financial Management and Level 1 in Program Management and is a Certified Defense Financial Manager with Acquisition Specialty.