Vanessa J.B. Sims, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is the Deputy for Budget, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia, where she is responsible for planning and directing Air and Space Force budget formulation and execution of appropriations. She leads a staff of civilian and military financial managers who develop, defend and execute over $215 billion in funding that supports military operations and Department of the Air Force priorities.

Prior to her current assignment, she was the Deputy Director of Programs, Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Programs, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. She led a staff of military and civilians in the development, integration, evaluation, analysis, and formulation of the Air Force’s ~$1Trillion Future Years Defense Plan.

Ms. Sims was born at March Air Force Base, California, and entered the Air Force as a Palace Acquire. She began her career as a budget analyst and has held positions of increasing responsibility within the Department of Defense in areas of budget formulation, resource management, legislative liaison and political-military affairs.

EDUCATION
2002 Bachelor of Science, Business Administration Finance, Magna Cum Laude, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater 2004 Basic Financial Management Officers Course, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss.
2006 Masters of Business Administration, Summa Cum Laude, Liberty University, Va.
2010 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2014 Defense Financial Management and Comptroller School, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 2014 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2018 Master’s in National Security Studies, Eisenhower, National Defense University, Washington, D.C.

CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. June 2003–September 2004, Financial Administration and Program Analyst, Revolving Fund Division, Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Budget, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
2. September 2004–September 2005, Financial Administration and Program Analyst, Operations and Maintenance Division, Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Budget, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
3. September 2005–August 2006, Financial Administration and Program Analyst, Financial Management Division, Joint Strike Fighter Program Office, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
4. August 2006–January 2008, Financial Administration and Program Analyst, Missiles, Munitions, Space and Other Procurement Division, Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Budget, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
5. January 2008–March 2010, Financial Administration and Program Analyst, Aircraft Procurement Division, Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Budget, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
6. March 2010–November 2012, Deputy Chief Programs and Legislation, Legislative Liaison Division, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
7. October 2012–August 2013, Deputy Chief Rayburn House Office, Legislative Liaison Division, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
8. August 2013–April 2015, Deputy Chief Integration, Budget Operations Division, Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Budget, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
9. April 2015–August 2017, Chief, Budget Operations Division, Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Budget, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
10. August 2017–June 2018, Student, Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
11. June 2018–June 2020, CSLP, Supervisory Strategic Planner, Western Europe and Balkans, Europe/NATO/Russia, J-5, Joint Staff, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
12. June 2020–August 2021, Director, Budget Operations and Personnel, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
13. August 2021–April 2023, Associate Deputy Director for Programs, Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Programs, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
14. April 2023–present, Deputy for Budget, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller, Arlington, Va.

AWARDS AND HONORS
2006 Graduate, Palace Acquire Program
2006 American Society of Military Comptrollers Team Achievement Award, Air Force Budget Hurricane Katrina Team
2007 Notable Achievement, Frequency Relocation Financial Management
2011 Legislative Liaison Civilian of the Year Category III
2011 Headquarters Air Force Civilian of the Year Category III
2014 Meritorious Civilian Service Award
2014 Financial Management Civilian of the Year Category III
2015 FM Special Acts and Service Award
2015 Department of Defense Comptroller Annual Award, Headquarters Team Budget Tool
2017 Meritorious Civilian Service Award
2019 French National Defense Medal
2020 Meritorious Civilian Service Award

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND CERTIFICATIONS
American Society of Military Comptrollers, Certified Defense Financial Manager-Acquisition
Department of Defense Financial Management Certification, Level 3

(Current as of November 2023)