Ms. Chantele M. Dow, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is the Deputy Chief Financial Officer/Comptroller, U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. She assists the Chief Financial Officer in performing financial management responsibilities related to special operations budget and execution issues totaling more than $13 billion annually. Her office provides fiscal direction and guidance to the four USSOCOM component commands, a sub-unified command and seven theater special operations commands, and regularly interfaces with the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the military services and Congressional staffs.
Ms. Dow began her civil service career at Wright-Patterson AFB Ohio in 1982 and has over 30-years’ experience in the Department of Defense and has held positions of progressively more responsibility in the areas of major weapon systems acquisition, multinational security assistance and foreign military sales, joint and contingency operations, budget formulation and execution, resource management, program control and workforce development. Her experience spans assignments at the Air Staff, multiple major commands, including geographical and functional combatant commands, and numerous major weapon systems acquisition program offices. Ms. Dow is experienced in several appropriations and functional areas, including budget, cost estimating and analysis, acquisition, foreign military sales, program management and human capital management.
Prior to her current assignment, Ms. Dow was the Director of the Financial Management Career Field Team, Air Force Personnel Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas. Serving over 13,000 Air and Space Force financial management professionals around the world, she ensured the successful integration and communication of key workforce management and development initiatives throughout the AF financial community, and advocated for programs that benefit all Financial Management and Comptroller personnel including force renewal, force development, education, training, recruitment, and work force shaping to secure the long-term viability of the Financial Management community.
EDUCATION
1989 Bachelor of Science, Management, Park College, Parkville, Mo.
1995 Master of Science, Business Administration, University of Dayton, Ohio
1996 Professional Military Comptroller School, Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2011 Leadership Enhancement Program, Center for Creative Leadership, Greensboro, N.C.
2012 Air War College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2012 Federal Executive Institute, Air Force Civilian Leadership Course, Charlottesville, Va.
2020 Master of Science, National Resource Strategy, National Defense University (Eisenhower-SAC), Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2023 Enterprise Leader Seminar, Executive Development Kenan-Flagler Business School, Chapel Hill, N.C.
2023 Senior Leader Orientation Course, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. 1982–1989, Various Administrative Positions, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio
2. 1989–1991, Financial Manager, Sensors Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
3. 1991–1992, Financial Manager, Aircraft Systems Program Office, Aeronautical Systems Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
4. 1992–1996, Financial Manager, F-16 Program Office - Foreign Military Sales, ASC, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
5. 1996–1996, Financial Manager & Quality Program Coordinator, Comptroller Office, ASC, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
6. 1996–1997, Financial Manager, F-15 Program Office - Foreign Military Sales, ASC, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
7. 1997–2001, Adv Financial Analyst (Industry), F-16 and B-1 System Program Offices, ASC, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
8. 2001–2006, Senior Financial Analyst (Industry), B-1 System Program Office, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
9. 2006–2007, Senior Cost Analyst (Industry), Global Hawk System Program Office, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
10. 2007–2008, Financial Manager, DEAMS Program Office, Electronic Systems Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
11. 2008–2009, Lead Cost Analyst, Air Force Fleet Viability Board, Headquarters Air Force (AF/A4/7-FVB), Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
12. 2009–2012, Chief Financial Officer, AF Fleet Viability Board, HAF (AF/A4/7-FVB), Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
13. 2012–2013, Chief Financial Management, Acquisition Center of Excellence Directorate, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
14. 2013–2016, AF CSLP, Combating Terrorism Portfolio Manager (SC/J3)/Headquarters Cross-Cutting Portfolio Manager (SC/J8), U.S. Southern Command (Joint), Doral, Fla.
15. 2016–2017, Senior Financial Analyst, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, Financial Management and Comptroller, Directorate of Cost and Economic Analysis, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
16. 2017–2019, Deputy Comptroller, Headquarters Air Combat Command/Financial Management, Headquarters ACC, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.
17. 2019–2020, Student, Dwight D. Eisenhower School of National Security and Resource Strategy, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
18. 2020–2023, Director, Financial Management Career Field Team, Air Force Personnel Center, Randolph AFB, Texas
19. 2023–present, Deputy Chief Financial Officer, USSOCOM, MacDill AFB, Fla.
CERTIFICATIONS/SKILLS
Inclusive and Ethical Leadership Certificate, University of South Florida, MUMA College of Business, 2022
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace Certificate, University of South Florida, MUMA College of Business, 2021
Joint Professional Military Education 2 (Qualified), 2020
DoD Financial Management Certification Program, Level 3, 2014
Certified International Affairs (IA) Professional, Level III, 2012
DAWIA, Bus-CE, Cost Estimating and Analysis, Level III, 2012
Certified Defense Financial Manager - Acquisition Specialty, 2010
Certified Defense Financial Manager, 2008
DAWIA, Bus-FM, Financial Management, Level III, 1994
DAWIA, Program Management, Level I, 1992
Language Skills: French
MAJOR AWARDS
Quality Step Increase, SAF/FMT, Director, Financial Management Career Field Team, 2022
Meritorious Civilian Service Award, ACC/FM, 2019
Civilian of the Year (Joint Civilian Service Achievement Award), USSOUTHCOM, 2016
SECDEF/USD AT&L Award for Excellence, USSOUTHCOM, 2016
Joint Meritorious Civilian Service Award, USSOUTHCOM, 2016
Senior Civilian of the Quarter, 4th Quarter, USSOUTHCOM, 2015
Joint Meritorious Unit Award, USSOUTHCOM, 2012-2015
Federal Employee of the Year - Team Nomination (USSOUTHCOM Portfolio Management), 2014
Joint Civilian Service Achievement Award, USSOUTHCOM, 2014
Senior Civilian of the Quarter, 4th Quarter, USSOUTHCOM, 2014
AFA AF Civilian Senior Manager of the Year - Nomination (Four-Star CCDR Endorsed), USSOUTHCOM, 2014
Exemplary Civilian Service Award, AF/A4/7-FVB, 2012 AF Chief of Staff Team Excellence Award, 2004
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS/AFFILIATIONS
Women in National Security-Eisenhower Chapter, Executive Committee, 2019-present
Acquisition Corps Member, since 2009
DoD Senior Professional Women’s Association, 2016
American Society of Military Comptrollers, Alamo Chapter; Past President Hampton Roads Chapter, AF Asst. Vice President, Washington Chapter, and other various chapters and board positions, 1985–present
Greater Dayton Emmaus (5,500+ members), Director/Chairman/Post-Chair/Chair, 2003-2010
PROFESSIONAL PUBLICATIONS
“Learning to Lead: My Journey in the AF Civilian Strategic Leadership Program,” Armed Forces Comptroller, fall, 2014
“It Starts by Picking up a Mirror: An Introspective Look at Inclusive Leadership,” Armed Forces Comptroller, fall, 2017
“Learning to Lead – Take 2! Completing My Journey in the AF Civilian Strategic Leader Program (CSLP),” Armed Forces Comptroller, winter, 2018
“The Wright Brothers” by David McCullough – A Book Review, SAF/FM AF Comptroller Magazine, summer (Vol 52), 2019
“An Opportunity to Engage with Your Leaders—We Want You!,” SAF/FM AF Comptroller Magazine, spring (Vol 54 Issue 1), 2021
“C-D-E: Easy as 1-2-3!” SAF/FM AF Comptroller Magazine, fall (Vol 54, Issue 3), 2021
“It’s Fall Ya’All” SAF/FM On-Line Newsletter, October 2022 (Vol 18, Issuer 8), 2022
“Leadership DNA Training: A Day with Hero Lee Ellis: How We Can Make the Most of our Natural Behavior and Unique Leadership Style,” SAF/FM AF Comptroller Magazine, summer (Vol 56 Issue 2, 16-17), 2023
(Current as of June 2024)