Senior Leadership

Luis A. Lugo, Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Lugo leads LACERA’s operations and strategic direction, serving as the executive and administrative head of the organization. He brings a deep record of administrative and operational leadership across public, private, and healthcare sectors to his role of safeguarding the pensions and benefits of LACERA’s more than 200,000 active and retired members.

As retirement administrator to the Boards of Retirement and Investments, Mr. Lugo implements the boards’ strategic priorities, policies and directives; oversees the delivery of retirement, disability, survivor, and health benefits; and ensures the sound management of the organization. He guides organizational priorities, budget development, compliance, legislative strategy, external partnerships, and member service to support LACERA’s mission and protect the long-term integrity of the retirement system.

Mr. Lugo has served as LACERA CEO since February 2026. He originally joined LACERA in July 2021 as Deputy Chief Executive Officer. In March 2025, he was appointed Acting CEO, a position he held until his permanent selection. Before coming to LACERA, he served as Chief Operating Officer for the Minnesota Public Employees Retirement Association (MN PERA), the state’s largest public pension system, directing critical operational functions that supported public employees statewide. Earlier in his career, Mr. Lugo spent more than a decade with the Social Security Administration, and held various leadership positions overseeing multistate field operations. His professional background also includes leadership roles in the private sector and healthcare organizations, further broadening his operational and managerial expertise.

Mr. Lugo earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Minnesota Duluth and a Master of Business Administration from Hamline University.

Jessica Baxter, Chief Administrative Officer

Ms. Baxter directs LACERA’s business services divisions, including Administrative Services, Financial and Accounting Services, Human Resources, and Communications. She has over 30 years of progressive public-sector leadership experience, with broad expertise in budget oversight, administrative services, operational and human capital management, and procurement.

Ms. Baxter leads LACERA’s core administrative and operational support functions, guiding budget development, financial reporting, workforce strategy, employee relations, facilities and operational services, and communications to ensure that LACERA operates in alignment with the boards’ direction, legal requirements, and strategic priorities. She advances policies, processes, workforce planning, accountability measures, and cross-divisional coordination to support sound governance, operational continuity, and staff engagement across the organization.

Before joining LACERA, Ms. Baxter served as the Chief Human Capital Officer for the United States Marshals Service within the U.S. Department of Justice. Her other previous executive and leadership roles include positions at the Department of Homeland Security, Office of the Inspector General, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, and Department of the Army. As a federal civilian executive, she was a member of the Senior Executive Service (SES). Ms. Baxter holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Baltimore.

JJ Popowich, Chief Benefits Officer

Mr. Popowich leads LACERA’s member benefit operations, providing oversight of the Member Services, Benefits, Disability Retirement, and Quality Assurance divisions. He has over 30 years of experience in customer service management and business administration across multiple industries, including banking, telecommunications, and internet services, as well as the public sector. He specializes in process improvements.

In his role, Mr. Popowich oversees the administration of retirement, disability, and survivor benefits while guiding the delivery of accurate, timely, and responsive member service. He ensures that operational practices align with applicable laws, policies, and Board direction, and leads initiatives that strengthen the member experience and improve operations. He also advances staff development, performance standards, and quality control measures to enhance service delivery, support sound benefit administration, and promote consistency and accountability.

At LACERA, Mr. Popowich held the positions of Manager of the Member Services Call Center and Division Manager of Member Services before joining the executive team. He has also served as a long-time liaison to the Operations Oversight Committee. Mr. Popowich received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from the University of Phoenix.

Steve Rice, Chief Counsel

Mr. Rice is LACERA’s principal legal advisor. He oversees the Legal Division, which includes attorneys and other professional staff specializing in benefits, healthcare, and tax matters; investments and commercial transactions; disability and disability litigation; employment; and other litigation and legal issues relevant to LACERA’s administration of the system.

Mr. Rice advises LACERA’s Board of Retirement, Board of Investments, management, and staff on legal, compliance, and governance issues. He provides legal advice during Board meetings; directs litigation and legal document preparation; coordinates and oversees work of outside counsel; administratively supports LACERA’s ethics and compliance program; and supports the Chief Executive Officer and executive team on complex legal issues and special assignments.

Mr. Rice has practiced law for over 45 years, including more than 25 years representing county retirement systems. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Occidental College and a Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School.

Jonathan Grabel, Chief Investment Officer

Mr. Grabel leads LACERA’s Investments Division, overseeing the nearly $100 billion defined benefit pension fund and LACERA-administered healthcare benefits program on behalf of LACERA's active and retired members.

Mr. Grabel serves as LACERA’s principal advisor to the Board of Investments on matters related to the investment of LACERA assets and legal compliance, and directs all aspects of LACERA’s globally diversified investment portfolio. Over the past decade, he has overseen significant asset growth through a disciplined, total-fund investment approach, focusing on generating and protecting returns to ensure fund sustainability. He also represents LACERA in the investment community, media, legislature, and with stakeholders.

Mr. Grabel is actively engaged in industry governance and professional leadership, including membership on the Board of Directors of the Council of Institutional Investors (CII), Investor Advisory Board of the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), CFA Institute Inclusion Steering Committee, and Advisory Board of Global Women in Investment (GWI). He previously served on the PRI Asset Owner Technical Advisory Committee and the Future of Responsible Investing Task Force.

Prior to LACERA, Mr. Grabel was the CIO for New Mexico PERA, where he oversaw the investments for the agency’s defined benefit fund and associated deferred compensation plan. Previously, he was a general partner at a private equity firm, investment banker, and certified public accountant. He received his Bachelor of Science in economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and his MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Jude Pérez, Deputy Chief Investment Officer

Mr. Pérez is part of LACERA’s senior investments leadership team. He assists the Chief Investment Officer in managing LACERA’s Investments Division, pension fund, and healthcare benefits trust.

Mr. Pérez is responsible for overall administration of the Investment Division and day-to-day operations, overseeing staff coordination, Board reporting, policy and procedural consistency, external manager and fund evaluation, compliance and governance initiatives, and Investment Office budgeting. He also supports strategic planning and serves as a liaison with County and public agencies.

Mr. Pérez previously held positions as Deputy Chief Investment Officer for the New Mexico PERA and Investment Officer at the Educational Retirement Board of New Mexico. Earlier in his career, he established and operated a successful retail business and also specialized in underwriting real estate investments. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas; MBA from the Anderson School of Management at the University of New Mexico; and is recognized as a chartered alternative investment analyst (CAIA).

Leisha Collins, Chief Audit Executive

Ms. Collins serves as Chief Audit Executive for LACERA, where she leads the Internal Audit Division in providing independent, objective assurance and advisory services that support the organization’s governance, business objectives, and risk management practices.

In her role, Ms. Collins guides audit strategy, risk assessments, annual audit planning, governance documents, quality assurance, budget and reporting, and the management and development of Internal Audit staff. She works closely with executive leadership and the Audit, Compliance, Risk and Ethics (ACRE) Committee to enhance transparency, accountability, and organizational efficiency by reporting audit results and recommendations, monitoring corrective actions, advising on emerging risks and mitigation strategies. She also serves as the primary liaison for external auditors and consultants.

Ms. Collins has more than 30 years of public sector audit experience with most of her career at LACERA in roles of increasing responsibility. Prior to joining LACERA, she was a senior auditor at Los Angeles County Auditor-Controller. She is a certified public accountant (CPA) and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in accounting from California State Polytechnic University.

Kathy Delino, Chief of Information and Technology

Ms. Delino leads LACERA's information technology (IT) strategy and operations, overseeing the planning, management, and delivery of LACERA’s comprehensive IT program.

Ms. Delino advises LACERA’s Boards, Executive Office, and divisions on technology-enabled business transformation; ensures alignment with organizational priorities and regulatory requirements; manages IT governance, policies, budgets, and reporting; and supports staff training, user collaboration, and the dependable operation of enterprise systems. She and her team partner across LACERA's divisions to modernize member-facing services, strengthen operational resilience, and ensure the secure, reliable delivery of mission-critical technology—powering benefit administration, member engagement, and enterprise automation.

Ms. Delino has more than 30 years of experience in pension administration and systems architecture. She earned a Bachelor of Science in systems engineering with a concentration in management information systems from the University of Virginia.

Chaitanya Errande, Information Security Officer

Mr. Errande is the Information Security Officer for LACERA. He oversees cybersecurity, data privacy, and vendor risk management, helping LACERA advance its technological capabilities while maintaining strong safeguards for its systems, data, and third-party relationships.

Mr. Errande provides strategic leadership to the Information Security Office team, ensuring protection of the organization’s digital assets and information landscape. He evaluates and monitors security risks, advises on the security implications of major technology initiatives, supports disaster recovery and business continuity planning, oversees vendor and contract activities related to security programs, and helps ensure compliance with applicable federal and state laws, regulations, standards, and best practices.

Mr. Errande has 25 years of experience as a technology executive and strategist, operating at the intersection of technology, cybersecurity, and enterprise risk management. He holds an MBA in finance and entrepreneurship from the Pepperdine Graziadio Business School, a Master’s Degree in engineering from Utah State University, and a Bachelor of Engineering from Bangalore University.

Cassandra Smith, Director of Retiree Healthcare

Ms. Smith administers LACERA’s Retiree Healthcare Benefits Program for retired members and their eligible dependents. She oversees the Retiree Healthcare Division’s daily operations and helps advance strategic program initiatives in partnership with LACERA’s Board of Retirement.

Ms. Smith oversees the administration and delivery of LACERA’s Retiree Healthcare services, including strategic planning, financial oversight, vendor management, Board and committee support, and negotiations for annual healthcare contract renewals. She advises LACERA leadership on healthcare issues, helps ensure contractual compliance, resolves complex claims and administrative matters, and works with public sector partners to support the long-term strength of LACERA’s retiree healthcare plans.

Ms. Smith has more than 30 years of public sector leadership experience and brings deep knowledge of the healthcare field to her role. She earned a nursing degree and a Bachelor’s Degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix.