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, a native of Ohio, began her civil service career at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, in 1982 and has over 30 years of experience in the Department of Defense. She 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, a combatant command, 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, 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 AFB, 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. She 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
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace Certificate, University of South Florida, MUMA College of Business
Joint Professional Military Education (JPME) 2 (Qualified)
DoD Financial Management Certification Program (DFMCP), Level 3
Certified International Affairs (IA) Professional, Level III
DAWIA, Bus-CE, Cost Estimating and Analysis, Level III
Certified Defense Financial Manager - Acquisition Specialty (CDFM-A)
Certified Defense Financial Manager (CDFM)
DAWIA, Bus-FM, Financial Management, Level III
DAWIA, Program Management, Level I
Language Skills: French
MAJOR AWARDS
Air Force Chief of Staff Team Excellence Award
Exemplary Civilian Service Award, AF/A4/7-FVB
AFA AF Civilian Senior Manager of the Year - Nomination (4-Star CCDR Endorsed), USSOCOM
Senior Civilian of the Quarter, 4th Quarter, USSOCOM
Joint Civilian Service Achievement Award, USSOCOM
Federal Employee of the Year - Team Nomination (USSOCOM Portfolio Management)
Joint Meritorious Unit Award, US SOUTHCOM
Senior Civilian of the Quarter, 4th Quarter, USSOCOM
Joint Meritorious Civilian Service Award, USSOCOM
SECDEF/USD AT&L Award for Excellence, USSOCOM
Civilian of the Year (Joint Civilian Service Achievement Award), USSOCOM
Meritorious Civilian Service Award, ACC/FM
Quality Step Increase, SAF/FMT, Director, Financial Management Career Field Team
PROFESSIONAL PUBLICATIONS
2014, “Learning to Lead: My Journey in the AF Civilian Strategic Leadership Program,” Armed Forces Comptroller
2017, “It Starts by Picking up a Mirror: An Introspective Look at Inclusive Leadership,” Armed Forces Comptroller
2018, “Learning to Lead - Take 2! Completing My Journey in the AF Civilian Strategic Leader Program,” Armed Forces Comptroller
2019, “The Wright Brothers” by David McCullough – A Book Review, SAF/FM AF Comptroller Magazine, summer (Vol. 52)
2021, “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 Online Newsletter, October 2022 (Vol. 18, Issuer 8)
2023, “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)
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Women in National Security-Eisenhower Chapter, Executive Committee
Acquisition Corps Member
DoD Senior Professional Women’s Association
American Society of Military Comptrollers, Alamo Chapter; Past President Hampton Roads Chapter, Air Force Asst. Vice President, Washington Chapter, and other various chapters and board positions
Greater Dayton Emmaus, Director/Chairman/Post-Chair/Chair
(Current as of April 2024)