Michael Leist, Director, DFAS Strategy, Policy and Requirements

Mr. Michael Leist, a member of the Senior Executive Service, currently serves as the Director, Strategy, Policy and Requirements, Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS).

In this role, Mr. Leist is responsible for several key and essential missions within DFAS.  He delivers Financial Management Policy for the Department of Defense, leads the planning and execution of the Agency’s Strategy, as well as the Agency’s Internal Controls and Enterprise Risk Management, and provides Business Management Support to the DFAS Directors and Strategy and Support through Agency-level budgeting, financial management, purchasing and performance monitoring support. 

Mr. Leist joined DFAS in 1992 and entered the Senior Executive Service in January 2016.  He has served in a variety of leadership positions.  Prior to his current assignment, Mr. Leist served as the Director, Enterprise Management Services, from 2016 to 2019, where he also served as the Agency’s Component Acquisition Executive.  Other previous assignments include: Chief of Staff for the Deputy Director, Operations, the Director, Integrated Services Office and the Agency’s Transformation Initiatives Program Manager. 

Mr. Leist has earned a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Indiana University Federal Executive Institute and holds a Level III Department of Defense Financial Management Certification.

Page updated October 31, 2019