Carol DiBattiste served as Under Secretary of the Air Force, Washington, D.C., from 1999 to 2001. She was responsible for all actions of the Air Force on behalf of the Secretary of the Air Force and served as Acting Secretary in the Secretary's absence. In that capacity, she oversaw the recruiting, training, and equipping of more than 690,000 active-duty, Guard, Reserve, and civilian personnel and managed a budget of approximately $68 billion.
Ms. DiBattiste has had an extensive career in public service across the Department of Defense and the Department of Justice. Prior to her appointment as Under Secretary, she was the Deputy U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida in Miami. Before that, she served as the Principal Deputy General Counsel of the Navy and as Director of the Executive Office for United States Attorneys in Washington, D.C., where she oversaw and provided support to the 94 offices of the United States Attorneys nationwide. Ms. DiBattiste has also served as Director of the Office of Legal Education for the Department of Justice and as an Assistant U.S. Attorney prosecuting felony narcotics cases.
In 1971, Ms. DiBattiste enlisted in the Air Force, serving five years as an accounting and finance specialist and recruiter. In 1976, she was commissioned after completing Officer Training School. She subsequently served as an operations officer in a recruiting squadron, a judge advocate, a circuit prosecutor, and on the faculty of the Air Force Judge Advocate General School. She achieved the rank of major before retiring from active duty in 1991.
EDUCATION
1971 Air Force Basic Military Training, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
1976 Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Criminal Justice (magna cum laude), La Salle University, Philadelphia, Pa.
1976 Distinguished Graduate, Air Force Officer Training School, Medina Annex, Lackland AFB, Texas
1977 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence
1981 Juris Doctor, Temple University School of Law, Philadelphia, Pa.
1981 Outstanding Graduate, Air Force Judge Advocate Staff Officer Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
1984 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
1986 Master of Laws, Columbia University School of Law, New York, N.Y.
CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. 1971–1972, Disbursement Accounting Specialist, Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, D.C.
2. 1972–1974, Disbursement Accounting Specialist, Hickam AFB, Hawaii
3. 1974–1976, Recruiter, 3515th USAF Recruiting Squadron, Philadelphia, Pa.
4. 1976–1978, Chief, Operations Branch, 3518th USAF Recruiting Squadron, New Cumberland, Pa.
5. 1978–1981, Student, Temple University School of Law, Philadelphia, Pa.
6. 1981–1982, Prosecutor and Chief of Preventive Law, Dover AFB, Del.
7. 1982–1983, Prosecutor and Chief of Military Justice, Osan Air Base, South Korea
8. 1983–1985, Circuit Prosecutor, USAF Trial Judiciary, Yokota AB, Japan
9. 1985–1986, Student, Columbia University School of Law, New York, N.Y.
10. 1986–1989, Faculty Member, Air Force Judge Advocate General School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
11. 1986–1989, Member, American Bar Association Standing Committee on Military Law, Chicago, Ill.
12. 1986–1992, Faculty Member, National Institute for Trial Advocacy (New Orleans, La.; Philadelphia, Pa.; Berkeley, Calif.; and New York, N.Y.)
13. 1989–1991, Chief Recruiting Attorney, Office of Professional Development, Office of The Judge Advocate General, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
14. 1989–1991, Chair, American Bar Association Standing Committee on Military Law, Chicago, Ill.
15. 1991–1993, Assistant U.S. Attorney, Southern District of Florida, Miami, Fla.
16. 1992–1993, Director, Office of Legal Education, Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.
17. 1993–1994, Principal Deputy General Counsel, Department of the Navy, Washington, D.C.
18. 1993–1996, Trustee, Air Force Judge Advocate General School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
19. 1994–1997, Director, Executive Office for United States Attorneys, Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.
20. 1996–1999, Member, Board of Visitors, Temple University School of Law, Philadelphia, Pa.
21. 1998–1999, Deputy U.S. Attorney, Southern District of Florida, Miami, Fla.
22. 1998–1999, Adjunct Faculty, Trial Skills Program, University of Miami School of Law, Miami, Fla.
23. 1999–2001, Under Secretary of the Air Force, Washington, D.C.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Distinguished Public Service Award, Department of the Navy
Younger Federal Lawyer Award, Federal Bar Association
Outstanding Young Women of America
Temple University School of Law Award for Outstanding Contributions and Service
Best Advocate and Best Brief Awards, Samuel Polsky Moot Court Competition, Temple University School of Law
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
American Bar Association
Board Director, Leadership Crucible Foundation
Board Director, AerSale, Inc. (Nasdaq: ASLE)
Member, National Association of Corporate Directors
Member, International Association of Privacy Professionals
Member, Air & Space Forces Association Advocacy Committee and D.W. Steele Chapter
Volunteer, Office of the State Attorney 15th Judicial Circuit, Palm Beach County, Florida
Member, Judge Advocates Association
(Current as of August 2026)