Commission Staff
Lara Sayer
Executive Director
Ms. Lara Sayer is the Executive Director for the Commission on Planning, Programming, Budgeting and Execution (PPBE) Reform. Prior to joining the Commission, Ms. Sayer served as a part of the Senior Executive Service as the Comptroller for Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC) and Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC), where she had oversight of annual appropriations in excess of $12B. Ms. Sayer also served as the Comptroller for the Office of Naval Research (ONR) and the Deputy Chief Financial Officer for United States Special Operations Command. Ms. Sayer has also served in several senior positions in the acquisition, budget, and resource management sectors throughout her career. Ms. Sayer holds a Bachelor of Music 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 the National Defense University.
Annie Crum
Director of Operations
Ms. Annie Crum is the Director of Operations for the Commission on Planning, Programming, Budgeting and Execution (PPBE) Reform currently serving part-time. Ms. Crum also serves as the Comptroller Liaison for the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). Prior to this position, Ms. Crum served the Coordination Branch at the United State Marine Corps Headquarters Program and Resources Department, where she worked her way through the ranks and ultimately was the Head of the Branch. Ms. Crum holds a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and graduated Cum Laude from Southern Methodist University.
Elizabeth Bieri
Director of Research
Ms. Elizabeth Bieri is the Director of Research for the Commission on Planning, Programming, Budgeting and Execution (PPBE) Reform. Ms. Bieri has spent her career in financial management, logistics, and as a cost and price analyst in the national defense space. Prior to this position, she was the Deputy Director for Budget in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict, Secretariat for Special Operations. Ms. Bieri holds a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the College of Naval Warfare at the Navy War College and a Bachelor of Arts from Grinnell College.
Rachel Conway
Director of Outreach
Ms. Rachel Conway is the Director of Outreach for the Commission on Planning, Programming, Budgeting and Execution Reform. Prior to this position, Ms. Conway was the Chief of Communications and Strategic Planning in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics. Ms. Conway holds a Bachelor of Arts in Government and International Politics and a Master of Public Policy from George Mason University.
Kelle McCluskey
Senior Researcher
Ms. Kelle McCluskey currently serves as Senior Researcher for the Commission on Planning, Programming, Budgeting and Execution Reform. Prior to this position, Ms. McCluskey was the Division Chief of the Advanced Intelligence Capabilities Division in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition, Technology & Logistics), Special Programs. Ms. McCluskey also served as a Budget Analyst Team Lead in the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Financial Management and Comptroller), Budget Investment Directorate (SAF/FMBIB). Prior to entering civil service, Ms. McCluskey worked in industry supporting budget and acquisition across the federal government. Ms. McCluskey holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Salem State and Master of Science in Management, focused on Federal Acquisition and Contract Management, from the Catholic University of America.
Greg Davis
Senior Researcher
Dr. Gregory Davis currently serves as Senior Researcher for the Commission on Planning, Programming, Budgeting and Execution Reform. Prior to this position, Dr. Davis worked for the Institute for Defense Analyses for over fifteen years as a Research Staff Member where he studied and wrote about a broad range of subjects for many different sponsors around the government and served a one-year tour in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics. Before coming to government, Dr. Davis was a particle physicist for Northwestern University at Fermilab and CERN. Dr. Davis holds a Bachelor of Arts in Physics and a minor in Mathematics from Kenyon College and a doctorate in Physics from the University of Rochester.
Priya Harmon
Senior Researcher
Ms. Priya U. Harmon currently serves as Senior Researcher for the Commission on Planning, Programming, Budgeting and Execution Reform. Prior to this position, Ms. Harmon served as the Installations Program Evaluation Group (II PEG) Administrator for the Program Integration Division at the U.S. Army, Deputy Chief of Staff, G-9. She holds a M.B.A. with a concentration in business analytics from Syracuse University, an executive M.P.A. from Syracuse University, and a B.A. in Political Science with a minor in Economics from the University of Virginia.
Caroline Bledsoe
Senior Researcher
Ms. Caroline Bledsoe currently serves as Senior Researcher for the Commission on Planning, Programming, Budgeting and Execution Reform. Prior to this position, Ms. Bledsoe served as the Growth Lead for a venture-backed AI startup. Prior to that, Ms. Bledsoe served in several positions in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, to include the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center, Office of the DoD Chief Information Officer, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs and the Immediate Office of the Secretary of Defense – White House Liaison. Ms. Bledsoe holds a Bachelor of Science in political science pre-professional legal studies from Appalachian State University.
Soleil Sykes
Senior Researcher
Ms. Soleil Sykes currently serves as Senior Researcher for the Commission on Planning, Programming, Budgeting and Execution Reform. She previously served as the research assistant for the Senate Armed Services Subcommittees on Cybersecurity and Personnel and staff assistant for the Subcommittee on Personnel. Ms. Sykes holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Economy with a concentration in French language from Antioch College.Senior
Brooks Minnick
Senior Researcher
Mr. Brooks Minnick currently serves as Senior Researcher for the Commission on Planning, Programming, Budgeting and Execution Reform. Mr. Minnick is a career acquisition professional, who has worked on major Air Force Acquisition Programs (F-15, KC-46, and F-35), Headquarters Air Force Cost and Economics, the Legislation Liaison Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, and the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics. He holds a graduate certificate in legislation affairs from Georgetown University GAI, a M.S. in national defense resource strategy from the National Defense University Eisenhower School, a M.B.A. with a concentration in Finance from Wright State University, and a B.A. in finance with a minor in commercial real-estate from Toledo University, along with six professional certifications.
John Roth
Senior Consultant
Mr. John Roth currently serves as Senior Consultant for the Commission on Planning, Programming, Budgeting and Execution (PPBE) Reform. Mr. Roth served as Acting Secretary of the Air Force from January to August 2021. Before that he performed the duties of the Under Secretary of the Air Force and served as the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller from 2018-2021. Mr. Roth holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Virginia and a Master of Science in Administration from George Washington University.
Hannah Francis
Senior Consultant
Ms. Hannah Francis currently serves as Senior Consultant for the Commission on Planning, Programming, Budgeting and Execution (PPBE) Reform. Ms. Francis has worked at the Department of Defense in a variety of financial management and program administration positions at different components and echelons. Ms. Francis attained a Doctor of Business Administration degree from the University of Phoenix School of Advanced Studies, and Executive Master of Business Administration from Troy University.