Justin Baer Joins Westat as Vice President and Practice Director, Education and Social Policy

Justin Baer, PhD, has joined Westat as Vice President and Practice Director for Education and Social Policy. In this role, he will lead strategy, strengthen client engagement, and oversee program delivery while supporting innovation and growth across the practice.

Baer brings more than two decades of experience in government contracting and has led high-performing research and evaluation portfolios across a range of federal agencies. He is known for building strong client relationships, strengthening portfolio performance, and leading teams that deliver high-quality, mission-driven results for clients.

Most recently, Baer served as Senior Vice President at Coleridge, where he oversaw project delivery, research and training programs, and partnerships supporting education and workforce data initiatives. Prior to that, he led the Program Evaluation and Policy Analysis practice at Fors Marsh, supervising more than 60 staff members and expanding the practice’s work across multiple federal agencies.

“Justin brings a strong combination of strategic leadership, operational excellence, and deep expertise in research and evaluation,” said Scott Royal, PhD, Westat President and CEO. “His experience building high-performing teams and delivering impactful work will continue to strengthen our Education and Social Policy practice and help clients address complex challenges in these important areas.”