DeAnna G. Randolph is a senior budget analyst with the U.S. Department of Defense, where she has dedicated more than a decade and a half to finance, specializing in budgeting and accounting. Since 2023, she has managed an $850 billion budget for research and development and procurement purchases. She collaborates closely with Congress and the White House to ensure budgetary needs align with national security priorities, reallocating funds swiftly to respond to urgent military needs and supporting foreign partners.
Prior to her current role, Ms. Randolph served as a senior budget analyst at the Defense Security Cooperation Agency with the U.S. Department of Defense in 2023, where she oversaw budgetary allocations for training foreign military partners and allies, contributing to regional stability without necessitating the deployment of U.S. forces. From 2018 to 2021, she was a resources manager at the Pentagon Force Protection Agency, where she managed the budget for the police protecting the Pentagon, encompassing budgeting, accounting, and financial systems for the entire agency.
Ms. Randolph’s career began at the Defense Logistics Agency with the U.S. Department of Defense, where she held various roles from 2010 to 2018. She started as a budget analyst focusing on fuel budgets crucial for military operations before transitioning to an accountant role, preparing and analyzing financial statements. She later became a financial management analyst.
Laying the foundation for her career pursuits, Ms. Randolph earned a Bachelor of Science in accounting from the Costello College of Business at George Mason University in 2012 and a graduate program certificate in Department of Defense Financial Management from the Naval Postgraduate School in 2022. She also holds a level III financial management certification from the U.S. Department of Defense. As a board member of the Society of Defense Financial Management, Ms. Randolph remains committed to advancing financial management practices within defense sectors.
Ms. Randolph’s professional journey began during her college years when she pursued a major in accounting. Recognizing an opportunity within the federal government, she started her career at 20 years old, working on the budget for fuel, a crucial role in supporting a wide range of military operations, from blimps to submarines. After graduating, she transitioned into financial reporting for the U.S. Department of Defense, preparing and analyzing financial statements. She later moved to a headquarters role, assembling budgets for the fuels program, gaining eight years of experience in this area. Shifting her focus to law enforcement, Ms. Randolph managed the budget for Pentagon police operations for four years before transitioning to foreign operations, where she ensured military partners received the resources needed for stability. In January 2023, she took on her current role supporting service members, which she describes as the most rewarding job of her career.
Ms. Randolph has always been inspired by the military and their contributions to the country. When the opportunity arose to use her accounting degree to support the military, she knew it was the perfect fit for her. Her most notable achievement is receiving the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Civilian Service in 2021, a distinguished honor recognizing civilian contributions to the military. For her, this recognition reinforced the impact of her work despite not wearing a uniform herself. Ms. Randolph was also honored with the Director’s Award from the Defense Security Cooperation Agency in 2021. Her passion for supporting her country and those who fight to protect it has been a key driver in her success.
Outside her professional life, Ms. Randolph enjoys music and serves as director of music at her local church. She is involved with Reach and Journey to Destiny Ministries and finds joy in playing with her dog. As a stepmother to two stepsons, she works hard to balance her family life with her career aspirations. Looking to the future, having recently achieved her goal of securing a position as a secretary, Ms. Randolph now aims to advance to the senior executive service.