Deputy Director for Strategy and Implementation

CDC role

As principal advisor to the Director, Locola spearheads health protection and health equity goals management, strategic planning, evaluation, policy, and legislation. She is responsible aligning goals with resources, measuring and reporting performance and enhancing strategic priorities through the development and implementation of cross-cutting office initiatives. She currently serves as the Agency champion for health equity and health equity science and leads the CDC Health Equity Science Management Development Program.

Previous experience

Locola began her career in the CDC Office of the Director as a fellow in the HHS Emerging Leaders Program. During her fellowship, she worked in the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, the National Center for HIV, Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, and the HHS Region 4 Office of Minority Health. Prior to joining CDC, Hayes worked as a contractor in CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report office.

During her tenure at CDC, Locola has worked in various aspects of program management including strategy, management and operations, policy, and performance. Most recently, she served as the Management Official for the Office of Science, providing day-to-day oversight and management of budget, staffing, and other operational aspects of the office. Before joining the Office of Science, she was the Deputy Director for the Program Performance and Evaluation Office in CDC's Office of the Associate Director for Policy and Strategy. She has also worked in several key roles including Risk Management Lead, Senior Public Health Advisor for Health Systems Reconstruction, and Deputy Director for the Ebola Affected Country Office in the CDC Center for Global Health's Division of Global Health Protection. Locola also served as the International Task Force Deputy during the 2014 Ebola response and as Special Projects Lead and Performance Management Lead in the Office of the Associate Director for Program (now the Office of Policy, Performance, and Evaluation).

Education

Locola holds a bachelor's degree in sociology and master's degree in business administration, with a concentration in program management. She is currently earning her doctoral degree in health law, policy and management.