Wendy J. Kay, a member of the Defense Intelligence Senior Executive Service, is the Deputy Director, Competitive Activities, Headquarters Department of the Air Force, Arlington, Virginia. Ms. Kay assists and advises the Director, Competitive Activities in the formulation, review and execution of plans and assessments; and synchronization, integration and oversight of sensitive activities and special access programs to increase the Department’s competitive posture.
Ms. Kay brings over 36 years of experience in management, security and intelligence to this position. Prior to this appointment, she served as the Assistant Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force, Management and Associate Deputy Chief Management Officer, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, where she was responsible for improving the effectiveness and efficiency of Department of the Air Force business operations and advised senior leadership on strategic performance goals. Ms. Kay was responsible for improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the Department of the Air Force business operations. She advised Department of the Air Force senior leadership on establishing strategic performance goals and managing enterprise – wide cross – functional activities to meet those goals. She also served as the Department of Air Force Assistant Director of Business Transformation, overseeing the implementation of continuous process improvement initiatives across the total force.
Ms. Kay's Department of Air Force career also includes positions such as the Deputy Director of Staff, Headquarters U.S. Air Force and the Director, Security, Special Program Oversight and Information Protection, Office of Administrative Assistant, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force.
Ms. Kay also served in senior executive roles in the Department of the Navy as Senior Director for Intelligence and Senior Director for Security, Deputy Under Secretary of the Navy; and Deputy, Department of the Navy/Assistant for Administration.
She joined Active Duty as a Navy intelligence officer in 1989 and transitioned to the Navy Reserve intelligence program to become a Navy civilian Intelligence Analyst in 1991. Ms. Kay spent 23 years in Navy intelligence, conducting operational, strategic and law enforcement intelligence analysis.
EDUCATION
1988 Bachelor of Arts, History, Briar Cliff College, Iowa
2013 Joint Professional Military Education, Phase One, Naval War College, R.I.
2015 Senior Executives in National and International Security, Harvard Kennedy School, Cambridge, Mass.
CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. 1989–1994, Intelligence Watch Officer, Joint Task Force Four, Key West, Fla.
2. 1994–1998, Department of Defense Liaison Officer, El Paso Intelligence Center, El Paso, Texas
3. 1998–2007, Various leadership positions, Office of Naval Intelligence, Suitland, Md.
4. 2007–2012, Senior Director for Intelligence, Deputy Under Secretary of the Navy, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
5. 2012–2013, Senior Director for Security, Deputy Under Secretary of the Navy, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
6. 2013–2015, Deputy, Department of the Navy/Assistant for Administration, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
7. 2015–2019, Director, Security, Special Program Oversight and Information Protection, Office of the Administrative Assistant, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
8. 2019–2021, Deputy Director Staff, Headquarters Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
9. 2021–2023, Assistant Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force, Management, and Assistant Deputy Chief Management Officer, Headquarters Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
10. 2023–2024, Chief Strategy Officer, The Intelligence and Security Academy, Arlington, Va.
11. 2024–2025, Vice President, Defense Sector, ThinkTek LLC, Fairfax, Va.
12. 2025–present, Deputy Director, Competitive Activities, Headquarters Department of the Air Force, Arlington, Va.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal Navy Commendation Medal
Joint Achievement Medal
Department of the Navy Distinguished Civilian Service Award
Department of the Navy Superior Civilian Service Award
Department of the Air Force Meritorious Civilian Service Award
Meritorious Presidential Rank Award
Department of the Air Force Distinguished Civilian Service Award
(Current as of November 2025)