Who Is Melissa Dalton?
Melissa Dalton currently serves as under secretary of the Air Force, a role she assumed in May. In this position, she oversees the organizing, training and equipping of the U.S. Air Force and Space Force to aid global military operations.
Dalton is a foreign policy expert and has held numerous roles focused on Department of Defense policies regarding Middle Eastern nations. Along with her position in the Air Force, she is currently a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Melissa Dalton’s Career Background
Dalton began her career as an intelligence analyst for the DOD and later held roles focused on policy associated with Syria, Lebanon and Afghanistan as she climbed to the position of special assistant to the under secretary of defense for policy. She took a brief hiatus from the department to serve as a visiting fellow at the Center for a New American Security before returning as senior advisor for force planning.
In 2014, Dalton joined the Council on Foreign Relations as an international affairs fellow, later ascending to a term member at the organization. She then joined the Center for Strategic and International Studies, where she held a variety of roles, most recently senior fellow and deputy director of the International Security Program and director of cooperative defense.
She returned to the DOD in 2021 and served in three roles before stepping into her current post:
- Principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for strategy, plans and capabilities
- Assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense and hemispheric affairs
- Performing the duties of deputy under secretary of defense for policy
Melissa Dalton’s Efforts in National Security
Dalton has publicly shared many of her thoughts on Middle East policy. In March 2023, Dalton and other DOD officials spoke to the House Armed Services Committee about evolving threats posed by U.S. adversaries. Some of her key points include:
- China is the pacing challenge and is likely “using nonkinetic means to subvert our ability to project power.”
- The U.S. should “be braced to respond to threats to logistics and supply chains and natural disasters.”
- Missile and cyber defense programs are critical for defending against airborne and maritime threats.
She has also penned multiple opinion pieces covering a variety of topics, including:
- Realigning Middle East policy to prioritize competition with China and Russia
- Addressing issues associated with DOD-civilian partnerships
- Scenarios policymakers should focus on as they develop strategies for the Middle East
Melissa Dalton to Headline 2024 Air Defense Summit
Dalton will kick off the Potomac Officers Club’s 2024 Air Defense Summit on July 23 as the opening keynote speaker. Her remarks will offer a look into the Air Force’s top challenges and priorities and the ways in which the service branch is preparing for the future. She will be joined by fellow USAF officials as well as industry experts, who will also weigh in on the direction of the service branch.
Click here to access additional information about the event. To dive into key Air Force focus areas with these leaders, register to attend the 2024 Air Force Summit.
