Mr. William “Billy” Clayton is the Deputy Director, Manpower, Organization and Resources, Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower, Personnel and Services at Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. He co-leads the management and oversight of the Air Force’s manpower enterprise encompassing more than 757,000 Total Force personnel and the programming of more than $61 billion in annual funding for the manpower portion of the Air Force Program Objective Memorandum. Additionally, he sets the standard and policy for strategic manpower sourcing, performance management, organizational structure, and manpower data systems.
Mr. Clayton enlisted in the Air Force in April 1995 as an A-10 Aircraft Maintenance Technician. He was commissioned through the Officer Training School program, as a distinguished graduate, at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama in December 2002. As a former Manpower and Force Support Officer, he has held a myriad of positions at various levels to include Office of the Secretary of War, Headquarters Air Force, Major Command (Air Force Special Operations Command), Field Operating Agency (Air Force Personnel Center), and Squadron level. He has deployed in support of Operation Southern Watch, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn.
EDUCATION
2002 Bachelor of Arts, Workforce Education, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale
2003 Air and Space Basic School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2003 Distinguished Graduate, Basic Manpower Officer Course, Keesler AFB, Miss.
2004 Master of Science, Management, Troy State University, Ala.
2008 Squadron Officer School Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2012 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2014 Distinguished Graduate, Master of National Security and Strategic Studies, Naval Command and Staff College, Newport, R.I.
2019 Air Force Fellow, Institute for Defense Analyses, Arlington, Va.
CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. September 2002–December 2002, Student, Officer Training School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2. January 2003–July 2006, Manpower Resources Manager, Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
3. July 2006–November 2006, Squadron Section Commander, 16th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
4. November 2006–May 2007, Squadron Section Commander, Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
5. May 2007–July 2009, Air Force Manpower Exercise Control, Headquarters Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
6. July 2009–July 2010, Executive Officer to Manpower Directorate, HAF, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
7. July 2010–July 2011, A1 Action Group Action Officer, Air Force Manpower, Personnel and Services, HAF, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
8. July 2011–July 2013, Operations Officer, 45th Force Support Squadron, Patrick AFB, Fla.
9. July 2013–June 2014, Student, Naval Command and Staff College, Newport Naval Station, R.I.
10. June 2014–August 2015, Chief, Personnel Officer Assignments, Air Force Personnel Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas
11. August 2015–July 2017, Commander, 20th Force Support Squadron, Shaw AFB, S.C.
12. July 2017–December 2018, Associate Director, Military Manpower Requirements, OSD, Personnel and Readiness
13. December 2018–July 2019, Chief, Total Force Manpower and Resource Division, OSD, Personnel and Readiness
14. July 2019–June 2020, Air Force Fellow, Institute for Defense Analyses, Arlington, Va.
15. June 2020–June 2021, Deputy Director, Air Force Talent Management and Innovation, HAF, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
16. June 2021–June 2022, Director, A1 Action Group, Air Force Manpower, Personnel and Services, Arlington, Va.
17. June 2022–October 2023, Chief, Workforce Futures Division, Manpower Directorate, HAF, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
18. October 2023–January 2025, Chief, Career Field Management and Readiness Division, Plans and Integration Division, HAF, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
19. May 2025–May 2026, Director of Staff, Air Force Manpower, Personnel and Services, Arlington, Va.
20. May 2026–present, Deputy Director, Manpower, Organization and Resources, Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower, Personnel, and Services at Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
Iraq Campaign Medal
(Current as of July 2026)