An accomplished nonprofit leader and Cabinet-ranked government executive, Janice Lachance is the interim Executive Director and CEO at AGU, the world's largest Earth and space science association. Lachance has served AGU for seven years in senior leadership roles, first as interim Chief Operating Officer and, most recently, as Executive Vice President of Strategic Leadership and Global Outreach.

As interim Executive Director and CEO, Lachance supports AGU’s mission to advance discovery in Earth and space sciences and its benefit for humanity and the environment. AGU publishes 24 peer-reviewed journals, convenes thousands of scientists annually through its meetings and supports career development for all. Under her leadership, AGU has strengthened its international presence, expanded its role in climate action and increased engagement with policymakers to support research funding and uphold scientific integrity. She was instrumental in transforming AGU's 62,000-square foot headquarters into a net zero energy consumption building—the first renovation of its kind in Washington, D.C.

Prior to her work in the nonprofit sector, Lachance was nominated by President Clinton and unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as the Cabinet-ranked Director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, where she was responsible for policy and programmatic leadership of the nation’s 2.1-million-member civil service.

President Biden appointed Lachance to two positions focused on federal employee compensation: Chair of the Federal Prevailing Rate Advisory Committee and member of the Federal Salary Council.

Janice also holds two appointments in the Biden-Harris Administration focused on federal employee compensation. She is Chair of the Federal Prevailing Rate Advisory Committee and a member of the Federal Salary Council.

Her experience in the not-for-profit sector includes service as CEO of the Special Libraries Association for more than 10 years, leading the global association of 9,000 librarians and information professionals and their business partners located in 75 countries.

She is a Fellow of the American Society of Association Executives, an elected Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration, Vice Chair and member of the Board of Directors of the Wise Giving Alliance, a former member of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Postsecondary Education Value Commission, and 2017-2018 President of the American Society for Public Administration.

Born and raised in Biddeford, Maine, and the first in her extended family to attend college, Lachance graduated from Manhattanville College and earned her law degree from Tulane University. She is admitted to practice law in the State of Maine, the District of Columbia, and the United States Supreme Court.