USET/USET SPF Leadership

President – Chief Kirk Francis, Sr.

Kirk Francis is the Chief of the Penobscot Indian Nation, which is located at Indian Island, Maine. He has served as Chief of the Nation since 2006 and holds the distinction of being the longest serving Chief of the Penobscot Nation since the electoral system began in 1850. Prior to becoming USET/USET SPF President, he served as Treasurer.

In addition to serving in leadership to his Tribal Nation and USET/USET SPF, he also chairs the Natural Resource Committee of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI).

Chief Francis was born and raised on Indian Island, Maine, the home of the Penobscot Indian Nation. He has deep cultural ties to the people, the land, and the river. He is an avid outdoorsman practicing the traditions of hunting and fishing for which his family is well known.

Vice President – Vice Chairman Robert McGhee

Robert “Robbie” McGhee serves as the Vice Chairman of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians and has been an advocate for Native American issues at all levels of government. Robbie holds a Masters of Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis and an Executive Masters in Business Administration from the University of Tennessee Knoxville. In addition to serving in leadership to his Tribal Nation and USET/USET SPF, he serves on the Board of the National Indian Child Welfare Board, Children First Alabama, is a member of the Secretary’s Health and Human Services Tribal Advisory Committee, and the Board of Advisors for the Center for Native American Youth and the Native American Rights Fund.

Treasurer – Vice Chairwoman Crystal Williams

Crystal Williams, Beaver Clan, serves as the Vice Chairwoman for the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana. Now in her second consecutive term on Tribal Council, Crystal is a strong advocate for Tribal sovereignty, cultural preservation, and Tribal youth. With her leadership in governance, Vice Chairwoman Williams has led various projects to strengthen tribal sovereignty and to improve services within the Coushatta Tribe. Crystal holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from McNeese State University of Lake Charles, serves as the Secretary for the Executive Board for the Intertribal Council of Louisiana, and is a long-time supporter and volunteer for the Coushatta Powwow and Coushatta Princess Pageant Committees. Crystal is a proud mother to two teenaged daughters.

Secretary – Vice Chairwoman Sarah Harris

Sarah Harris serves as Vice Chairwoman of the Mohegan Tribe, a position she has held since October 2019. She is currently in her second term on the Mohegan Tribal Council. Vice Chairwoman Harris has extensive experience in federal law and policy. She spent the first five years of her career in private practice representing Tribal Nations and Tribal entities, as well as investors and developers working with Tribal Nations. In 2010, she left private practice to serve as Special Assistant to then Solicitor of the Department of Interior Hilary Thompkins. In that position, she worked closely with the DOJ to defend agency determinations for Tribal Nations and advanced proactive litigation for Tribal Nations. After spending three years in the Solicitor's Office, President Obama appointed Vice Chairwoman Harris as the Chief of Staff to the Assistant Secretary - Indian Affairs Kevin Washburn. In that role, she worked to support and pursue policies that respect and support Tribal sovereignty, restore tribal homelands and strengthen Tribal communities. Vice Chairwoman Harris is also the proud mother of twins.