As Deputy Director of Washington Headquarters Services (WHS), Mr. Jae W. Lee is at the forefront of modernizing the organization's business operations.  He leads the strategic implementation of a new Customer Relationship Management (CRM) solution, a transformative initiative designed to redefine how WHS interacts with its diverse partners across the Department of War (DoW) and the public.  Mr. Lee's primary objective is to elevate the WHS shared service baseline, equipping employees with advanced tools to build stronger relationships and deliver superior services.  

Mr. Lee's leadership has been instrumental across multiple senior roles within WHS.  Prior to his appointment as Deputy Director, he served as the Director of the Financial Management Directorate (FMD) from March 2019, following his tenure as Deputy Director of the same directorate which began in July 2017.  In these capacities, he provided executive oversight for the Planning, Programming, Budgeting, Execution, and Assessment (PPBE) process for key Defense Agencies and DoW Field Activities (DAFAs).  His portfolio included the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Pentagon Force Protection Agency, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, and various DAFAs, where he was responsible for the development, justification, and execution of programs and budgets valued at $18 billion annually.

Before his career at WHS, Mr. Lee served as a Senior Budget Analyst within the Operations Directorate, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) (OUSD(C)).  In this capacity, he developed and oversaw the civilian labor budget across the Department of Defense (DoD), including three Military Departments, 27 DAFAs, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and 9 U.S. Combatant Commands.  The $80 billion annual civilian labor program supports approximately 770,000 DoD civilians via 32 DoD appropriations.  Mr. Lee was also responsible for overseeing the Department’s $10 billion efficiency efforts and reporting the results to external entities such as the United States Congress, the Office of Management and Budget, and the Government Accountability Office.

Mr. Lee's career is marked by significant financial management roles, including senior-level positions at the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management & Comptroller) and the Headquarters Marine Corps, Programs & Resources.  His comprehensive expertise spans the full spectrum of the Department's PPBE system.

Mr. Lee received his Bachelor’s degree in Individualized Study with emphasis on Statistics and Management Information Systems from George Mason University.  A member of the DoD Financial Management Community, he holds a DoD Financial Management Certification Level III, and is a Certified Defense Financial Manager (CDFM).  He also graduated from the Federal Executive Institute Leadership for a Democratic Society program, and completed Senior Executive Fellows program, John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, Executive Education.