Mr. Trent Dudley, a member of the Senior Executive Services, is Director of Integration for the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. In this capacity, he is responsible to the Secretary of the Air Force and Chief of Staff for formulating policy supporting air, cyberspace, irregular warfare, counter-proliferation, homeland security and weather operations. Mr. Dudley is further responsible for policy and processes for operational and capability planning, operational requirements and training necessary to support national security objectives and military strategy. He represents the operational community at the Air Force Council, the Joint Staff and Office of the Secretary of War planning, requirements and acquisition forums. Mr. Dudley also serves as the Executive Director of the Department of War’s Policy Board on Federal Aviation consisting of a cross-departmental team conducting interagency coordination on matters affecting military and civilian aviation integration.
Mr. Dudley served on active duty in the Air Force from 1987 to 2007 as an evaluator and instructor pilot and served in a variety of training, operational and staff assignments and participated in operations Allied Force, Northern Watch, Southern Watch and Enduring Freedom. In addition to his flying experiences, in 1995, Mr. Dudley deployed as the coalition spokesman for Operation Provide Comfort, the humanitarian relief mission for Kurdish refugees fleeing Iraqi aggression into southeastern Turkey.
Prior to assuming his current duties, Mr. Dudley was acting Associate Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
EDUCATION
1986 Bachelor of Arts, History, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas
1993 Defense Information School, Fort Benjamin Harrison, Ind.
1995 Master of Political Science, Auburn University at Montgomery, Ala.
1998 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
2004 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2016 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2016 Master of Arts, Strategic Studies, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2018 Administration of Justice Certificate, Summa Cum Laude, Northern Virginia Community College, Alexandria, Va.
2019 Leadership Development Career Studies Certificate, Summa Cum Laude, Northern Virginia College, Alexandria, Va.
2021 Senior Executive Fellow, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.
2023 Air Force Enterprise Leadership Seminar, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
2024 Enterprise Perspective Seminar, Alan L. Freed Associates, Washington, D.C.
2025 Upgrading Your Executive Leadership Approach, Federal Executive Institute, Charlottesville, Va.
2025 U.S. Air Force Senior Leader Orientation Course, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
2025 U.S. Air Force Advanced Senior Leadership Development Seminar, Arlington, Va.
CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. January 1987–February 2007, Active-duty U.S. Air Force
2. February 2007–April 2009, Senior Project Manager/Analysis II ICF International, Fairfax, Va.
3. April 2009–March 2011, Senior Personnel Readiness Systems Analyst, Personnel Readiness Division, Directorate of Personnel Policy, Deputy Chief of Staff Personnel, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
4. March 2011–July 2016, Deputy Division Chief, Current Operations Division, Directorate of Operations, Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations, Plans and Requirements, HAF, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
5. July 2016–May 2018, Program Analyst, Air Force Wargaming Division, Directorate of Strategy, Concepts and Assessments, Deputy Chief of Staff Strategic Plans and Requirements, HAF, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
6. May 2018–February 2020, Deputy Director, Air Force Operations Group, Directorate of Current Operations, Deputy Chief of Staff Operations, HAF, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
7. February 2020–March 2023, Associate Director for Current Operations and Operations Civilian Career Field Manager, Deputy Chief of Staff Operations, HAF, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
8. March 2023–October 2025, Acting Associate Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Operations Civilian Functional Manager, HAF, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
9. October 2025–present, SES, Director of Integration, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Operations Civilian Functional Manager, Headquarters, U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Flight hours: 2,893 hours (over 300 combat and combat support hours)
Aircraft flown: KC-10, T-37 and T-38
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal Aerial Achievement Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal
2014 Air Force Operations Group, Category III, Civilian of the Year
2014 Air Force Association Outstanding Civilian Employee of the Year (AFOG)
2025 Air Force Meritorious Civilian Service Award
PUBLICATIONS
“The Evolution of Dual Status Command Authorities: A New Construct for Implementation,” Air University Press, May 2016
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Life Member Tuskegee Airmen Incorporated
(Current as of December 2025)