
A career perspective in a changing FM landscape with Melissa Blakesly
From All Things Financial Management by Guidehouse
April 29, 2026 · 32 min · Episode 40
About this episode
Melissa Blakesly discusses her career in financial management and the importance of mentorship and AI in the field.
In this episode of the "All Things Financial Management" podcast, presented by the Society of Defense Financial Management and Guidehouse, Melissa Blakesly, Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary for Congressional Budget and Appropriations Liaison, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller (SAF/FML), sits down with host Tom Rhoads to reflect on a career shaped by mobility, mentorship, and a willingness to take on new challenges. Tune in for a wide-ranging conversation about navigating a nonlinear career in public service, the important of developing and supporting the FM workforce, and how practical applications of AI may help FM professionals turn data into actionable insight.
People in this episode
Host: Tom Rhoads
Guest: Melissa Blakesly
Topics covered
- career development
- financial management
- public service
- mentorship
- artificial intelligence
- workforce development
Keywords
- financial management
- career mobility
- mentorship
- AI applications
- public service
- workforce support
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Society of Defense Financial Management, Guidehouse, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller, SAF/FML
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