Ms. Lara Sayer, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is the Acting Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, Financial Management and Comptroller, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. She oversees the budgeting, cost estimating and financial operations of over $250 billion in annual resources that support Department of the Air Force priorities, in accordance with Congressional, Secretary of Defense, and Secretary of the Air Force direction. Additionally, she is responsible for the professional development of over 13,000 military and civilian members of the Air Force financial management community.

Ms. Sayer began her federal career as a DAF Palace Acquire intern. She has more than 27 years of acquisition and financial management experience and has held positions of increased responsibility in the areas of budget execution and formulation, resource management and program control supporting the Air Force, Navy and United States Special Operations Command. She has served as the Comptroller for Commander, Navy Installations Command and Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, as the Comptroller for the Office of Naval Research, and as the Deputy Chief Financial Officer for USSOCOM. Additionally, she served as Executive Director of the bipartisan legislative commission on PPBE Reform. Her experience spans several appropriations and functional areas, including budget, earned value management, cost and acquisition. Prior to her current assignment, Ms. Sayer was the Deputy Assistant Secretary, Congressional Budget and Appropriations Liaison, where she was the department’s primary liaison to congressional members and staff serving on the House and Senate Appropriations and Budget Committees.

EDUCATION
1995 Bachelor of Music, Vocal Performance, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio
1997 Master of Business Administration, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio
2010 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
2013 Master of National Resource Strategy, the Eisenhower School at National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2019 Leadership at the Peak, Center for Creative Leadership, Colorado Springs, Colo.

CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. 1998–1999, Budget Analyst, Financial Analysis, Operations and Maintenance Division, Space and Missile Systems Center, Air Force Material Command, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif.
2. 1999–2003, SBIRS High Financial Manager, Space Based Infrared Systems, SMC, Air Force Space Command, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
3. 2003–2005, SBIRS Air Force Financial Team Lead, Space Based Infrared Systems, SMC, AFSPC, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
4. 2005–2005, TSAT and Polar EHF Financial Team Lead, MILSATCOM, SMC, AFSPC, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
5. 2005–2006, Executive Officer to the Executive Director, SMC, AFSPC, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
6. 2006–2007, Research and Development, Test and Evaluation Appropriation Manager, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Arlington, Va.
7. 2007–2009, Chief of Program Control, Development Planning, SMC, AFSPC, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
8. 2009–2012, Chief of Program Control, Launch and Range Systems Directorate, SMC, AFSPC, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
9. 2012–2013, Student, Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
10. 2013–2017, Assistant for Special Programs, Budget Investment Directorate, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller, HAF, Arlington, Va.
11. 2017–2019, Deputy Chief Financial Officer/Comptroller, Center for Financial Management, U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill AFB, Fla.
12. 2019–2021, Comptroller, Office of Naval Research, Arlington, Va.
13. 2021–2022, Comptroller, Commander, Navy Installations Command and Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, Washington, D.C.
14. 2022–2024, Executive Director, Commission on Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution Reform, Arlington, Va.
15. 2024–2025, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Congressional Budget and Appropriations Liaison, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va. 
16. 2025–present, Acting Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, Financial Management and Comptroller, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
2024 Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service
2022 Department of Navy Superior Civilian Service Award
2021 Department of Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award
2019 Joint Meritorious Civilian Service Award
2019 Burkhul Leadership award, U.S. Special Operations Command
2016 Air Force Meritorious Civilian Service Award
2014 Outstanding Contribution to Financial Management and Comptroller (Air Staff Level)
2013 Air Force Meritorious Civilian Service Award
2012 American Society of Military Comptrollers Meritorious Award - Acquisition/Cost
2006 Exemplary Civilian Service Award
2000, 2005 Letter of Commendation
2002, 2009 Certificate of Achievement

PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS
DoD Financial Management Certification, Level III
DAWIA Financial Management, Level III
DAWIA Program Management, Level I
Certified Defense Financial Manager with Acquisition Specialty

(Current as of July 2025)