Daniel E. Blake, Jr., a member of the Senior Executive Service, is the Deputy Director of Staff, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, Headquarters Department of the Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. In this capacity, he assists the Director of Staff in executing the responsibilities of the office. Mr. Blake also assists in providing advice and assistance to the Secretary, Under Secretary, and Department of the Air Force Secretariat while managing the day-to-day administration and integration of the Department of the Air Force. Prior to assuming his current position, Mr. Blake served as the Director, Business Governance and Performance, Deputy Under Secretary of the Department of the Air Force, Management, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. He was responsible for leading, establishing, assessing, and improving Department of the Air Force corporate governance processes. This included the oversight of strategic business improvements, reform initiatives and performance reporting for Department of the Air Force leadership. Mr. Blake also provided oversight for the $11 billion Department of the Air Force services acquisition portfolio.
Mr. Blake entered the Air Force in 1987, received his commission in 1991 and served on active duty through 2015. Blake held several key operational and staff positions at the Squadron, Group, Air Staff, and Joint Staff levels.
EDUCATION
1987 Bachelor of Science, Accounting, State University of New York
1989 Master of Business Administration, Golden Gate University, San Francisco, Calif.
1995 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2001 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFG, Ala., by correspondence
2005 Master of Science, Management, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
2007 Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
2009 Master of Science, National Resource Strategy, Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. October 1991–August 2001, Various space operational assignments
2. August 2001–May 2004, Division Chief of Staff, Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Programs, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
3. May 2004–May 2005, Student, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio
4. May 2005–May 2006, Operations Officer, Operations Directorate, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Alrington, Va.
5. May 2006–August 2008, Deputy Executive Assistant, Director, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
6. August 2008–May 2009, Student, Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, Lesley J. Fort McNair, Washington D.C.
7. May 2009–August 2011, Deputy Division Chief, Congressional Action Division, Legislative Liaison, the Pentagon, Arlington Va.
8. August 2011–August 2012, Deputy Group Commander, 738th Air Expeditionary Advisor Group, Kandahar, Afghanistan
9. August 2012–August 2015, Director of Staff, Air Force Legislative Liaison, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
10. September 2015–November 2017, Director of Staff, Air Force Audit Agency, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
11. November 2017–November 2018, Director of Staff, Office of the Secretary of Defense Logistics Reform Team, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
12. November 2018–May 2022, Director, Business Governance and Performance, Deputy Under Secretary of the Department of the Air Force, Management, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
13. May 2022–present, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force Deputy Director of Staff, Headquarters Department of the Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Bronze Star
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border
NATO Medal
Exemplary Civilian Service Award
(Current as of April 2023)