Ms. Christy Nolta, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Reserve Affairs and Airman Readiness. Her responsibilities include planning, establishing policy for and implementing activities crucial to the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, as well as Total Force Airman Readiness. Ms. Nolta’s Reserve Affairs duties encompass the policy and oversight for mobilization, organization, training and equipping and peacetime support activities. Policy for health affairs, transition and veterans programs, family support, commissaries and chaplain programs are included under Airman Readiness responsibilities.
Prior to this assignment, Ms. Nolta was the Deputy Director, Headquarters Air Force Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. She assisted the Director of the Air Force Staff in leading headquarters staff actions, providing advice and assistance to the Secretary, Chief of Staff, Under Secretary and Vice Chief of Staff on key aspects of Air Force policies, plans and programs. She maintained a continuing, extensive interface with other elements throughout the Air Force, the White House, Department of Defense, National Security Council and State Department.
Ms. Nolta entered the Air Force Reserve in 1986 after receiving her commission through the Air Force ROTC. During her career, she held a variety of assignments in operations management, personnel and public affairs. She separated from active duty in 1993 and was employed for five years by United Services Automobile Association as a senior claims adjuster in the Property and Casualty division. She continued as an active part-time reservist until 2001.
After Sept. 11, 2001, Ms. Nolta was mobilized to active duty and served until October 2006. She served as the chief plans officer for the newly established Secretary of the Air Force Office of Communication where she established strategic communication processes. In the later part of 2006, she entered federal service and was selected to be the civilian Deputy Director for Integration for the Office of Communication. In 2007, she became Deputy Director, Secretary of the Air Force, Office of Communication. From 2008 to 2014 she served in a variety of positions within the office of the Secretary of the Air Force, Office of Public Affairs including as Deputy Director. From 2014 to 2016, she served as Deputy Director, Secretary of the Air Force, Office of Legislative Liaison, Headquarters Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia.
EDUCATION
1985 Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg
1994 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
2001 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2005 Masters, Strategic Studies, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2008 Air Force Civilian Leadership Development Course, Federal Executive Institute, Charlottesville, Va.
2012 Vanguard Senior Executive Leadership Program, Washington, D.C.
2015 Leadership Decision Making, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.
2017 Advanced Senior Leader Development Program Strategic Engagement Seminar
2019 Vanguard Senior Executive Development Program
CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. 1986–1988, Adjutant, 496th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Hahn Air Base, Germany (Active Duty)
2. 1988–1989, Wing Executive Officer, 50th Tactical Fighter Wing, Hahn Air Base, Germany (Active Duty)
3. 1989–1991, Command Post Controller, 513th Airborne Command and Control Wing, RAF Mildenhall, England (Active Duty)
4. 1991–1992, Tactical Deception Plans Officer, 513th Airborne Command and Control Wing, RAF Mildenhall, England (Active Duty)
5. 1992–1993, Flight Training Officer, Officer Training School, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland Air Force Base, Texas (Active Duty)
6. 1993–1994, Flight Training Officer, Officer Training School, JB San Antonio-Lackland AFB, Texas (Reserve)
7. 1993–1998, Senior claims adjuster, Property and Casualty Division, U.S. Automobile Association, San Antonio, Texas and Reston, Va.
8. 1994–1997, Personnel Programs Officer, Air Force News Agency, Kelly AFB, Texas (Reserve)
9. 1997–2001, Public Affairs Officer, Secretary of the Air Force Office of Public Affairs, National Media Outreach, New York, N.Y. (Reserve)
10. 1998–2001, Information Technology Teacher, Bonn International School, Bonn, Germany
11. 2001–2006, Active duty: Mobilized and served limited extended active-duty tour
12. 2001–2003, Public Affairs Officer, Air Force Media Operations, Secretary of the Air Force Office of Public Affairs, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va. (Active Duty)
13. 2003–2004, Executive Officer to Director of Public Affairs, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va. (Active Duty)
14. 2004–2005, Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala. (Active Duty)
15. 2005–2006, Deputy Director Executive Issues Team, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va. (Active Duty)
16. 2006–2007, Individual Mobilization Augmentee to Deputy Director of Public Affairs, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
17. 2006–2007, Deputy for Integration, Secretary of the Air Force Office of Communication, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
18. 2007–2015, IMA to the Chief of the Air Force Senate Liaison Office and IMA to PA Strategic Planning, Washington, D.C.
19. 2007–2008, Deputy Director, Secretary of the Air Force Office of Communication, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
20. 2008–2009, Director of staff, Secretary of the Air Force Office of Public Affairs, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
21. 2009–2014, Deputy Director, Secretary of the Air Force Office of Public Affairs, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
22. 2014–2016, Deputy Director, Secretary of the Air Force Office of Legislative Liaison, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
23. 2015–2016, Mobilization Assistant to the Director of Public Affairs, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
24. 2016–2018, Deputy Director, Headquarters Air Force Staff, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
25. 2018–present, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Reserve Affairs and Airman Readiness, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Public Relations Society of America Silver Anvil, Best of the Best awarded to Secretary of the Air Force Office of Public Affairs
Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service
The Legion of Merit
(Current as of August 2022)