Director, Financial Improvement and Audit Remediation, Department of Defense

Calandra D. Layne is the Director, Financial Improvement and Audit Remediation (Senior Executive Service) at the Department of Defense, under Secretary of Defense Comptroller at the Pentagon. She serves as the principal advisor to the Deputy Chief Financial Officer, spearheading strategic financial improvements, audits, and planning initiatives to uphold the integrity of the department’s enterprise-level financial management. Previously, Calandra was Senior Manager at Risk Advisory Services and Financial Management Service Lines at Grant Thorton, LLP.

Calandra, an advocate for women’s empowerment, mentorship, and inclusion and belonging, has extensive community service. As the first African American president in the Junior League of Annapolis’ 40-year history, Calandra championed efforts to integrate diversity, equity, and inclusion into the culture by leading the adoption of a league-wide Diversity & Inclusion pledge and securing a permanent Diversity & Inclusion Officer on the board. In 2022, Calandra received CFAAC’s Carroll H. Hynson, Jr. Award for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Philanthropy. In addition, she received The Daily Record, Top 100 Women of Maryland in 2022 and the AGA Journal of Accountancy’s National Author Award in 2021, along with many other recognitions.

Calandra is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority; Treasurer, Executive Board of Jack and Jill America, Inc.; and a board member, DEIA Council, for the Association of Government Accountants. Calandra resides in Anne Arundel County with her husband Lamar, daughter Caitlyn, and twin boys, Collin and Cameron.