Lauren Ayers

Vice President, Defense and Intelligence 
      

Lauren Ayers is the Vice President of Defense and Intelligence for the Professional Services Council. In this role, she leads PSC’s policy, advocacy, and education efforts in areas related to the U.S. Department of Defense, the agencies of the Intelligence Community, and related organizations.

Prior to joining PSC in October 2022, Lauren was the Director of Program Analysis and Business Transformation for the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Procurement) (DASN(P)), responsible for providing strategic advice and direction on over $300B of procurements across the FYDP. Before joining the Navy Secretariate, Lauren spent nearly 10 years in the Naval Sea Systems Command’s (NAVSEA) Shipbuilding Contracts Division, leading and directing contracts and procurement efforts for the Navy’s surface combatant platforms (i.e., DDG 51, DDG 1000, and LCS). During her tenure as a Contracting Officer with an unlimited warrant, Lauren provided strategic direction and execution of efforts on existing portfolios in excess of $40B, and the award of nearly $20B in new ship construction contracts.

Prior to joining NAVSEA in 2010, Lauren worked for the private investment firm of Bernstein Global Wealth Management in Seattle, Washington. As a Senior Associate with NASD Series 7 and 63 licenses, she led a diverse team in the management of a $3B high net worth client base while focusing on client engagement as well as financial projections and risk management analyses.

Lauren earned a Master of Science in National Resource Strategy as a Distinguished Graduate of the National Defense University’s Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy. Lauren also holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance with a minor in Economics from James Madison University.