Barb Brown

As Chief People Officer at Clay Lacy Aviation, Barbara Brown is a strategic leader driving the company’s people operations, talent strategy, and organizational excellence. With over 25 years of experience in human capital leadership across transportation, hospitality, higher education, and corporate sectors, she specializes in fostering high-performance cultures, optimizing workforce strategies, and aligning people initiatives with business objectives. Barbara oversees key areas, including employee relations, compensation, benefits, payroll, employee experience, and talent development, ensuring Clay Lacy Aviation remains an employer of choice in the aviation industry.

Barbara’s expertise includes leading large-scale workforce initiatives, negotiating complex labor agreements, and implementing leadership development programs that enhance operational efficiency. Prior to joining Clay Lacy Aviation, she held senior leadership roles at the University of Southern California, where she managed strategic business operations for a $300M enterprise, spearheaded talent acquisition and culture transformation initiatives, and played a pivotal role in shaping the organization’s long-term people strategy. She holds an Executive MBA and B.S. from USC’s Marshall School of Business, along with an MBA in Human Resources Management, and is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and SHRM-SCP. Her commitment to excellence and innovation continues to shape the future of Clay Lacy Aviation’s workforce.