Jason Freihage is the Founder and Principal Consultant for Freefield Strategies LLC. He has over three decades of experience working in national, state, local and international contexts with Federal and state governments, nonprofits, and their private and public sector partners and communities.  Working with a cadre of trusted and diverse experts, Freefield Strategies provides provide Federal budget and appropriations analysis and advice, strategic planning, organizational improvement, and business and policy development.

Jason is collaborative leader and an effective communicator and with a proven track record of effectively engaging and delivering results in a wide range of situations that span from remote, rural West Africa in the Peace Corps, to the White House Office of Management and Budget and Congress, as well as executive level engagement across Interior and with American Indian and Native Alaskan Leaders around the nation. Over his career, Jason has regularly testified before Congress and led many Tribal consultations and other public engagement events.

His awards include a Presidential Rank Meritorious Award – the second highest award for performance in the Federal Government – and the Department of the Interior’s Distinguished Service Award, the highest honor awarded by Interior.

Jason’s background includes management, budget, and strategic planning leadership:

• As the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Management (DAS-M) in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs at the Department of the Interior under two administrations, Jason led an organization of over 400 staff and $600 million budget to advance budget, finance, acquisition, human resources, information technology, facilities management and construction. He oversaw the development and execution of $4.5 billion Indian Affairs budget supporting over 7,000 staff; built out the Tribal self determination lease program which significantly expanded investments in Tribal facilities and infrastructure; created the first program to ensure Indian Affairs owned water systems that met EPA standards; and formulated and led implementation for over $5 billion in COVID, Indian Water Rights Settlements, and infrastructure funding.

• As the Chief of the Budget and Program Review Division within the Interior’s Office of Budget, he led development and review of Interior’s annual budget submission through all stages of the budget formulation cycle.

• As the Budget Officer and lead for Strategic Planning and Performance, at the U.S. Geological Survey; professional staff for the Committee on the Budget at the House of Representatives covering Agriculture, Science and Technology, and Environment and Natural Resource programs; and OMB program examiner for International Affairs and Interior programs, Jason developed extensive expertise in Federal budget and appropriations, Congressional affairs, natural resources and earth science policy and strategic planning.

• Jason started his Federal career advancing rural development with the Peace Corps in Cabo Verde, West Africa.