Speakers

Mr. William D. Dries, Jr., a member of the Senior Executive Service, is the Principal Deputy Director, Headquarters Air Force Studies & Analysis, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. He is responsible for the development of Air and Space Force-wide policy, guidance, modeling, simulation, and analyses that inform Air and Space Force leadership decisions concerning current and future warfighting capabilities. Mr. Dries served on active duty in the Air Force from 1988 to 2011 in a variety of operational, training, and staff assignments. He commanded at the squadron level, deployed three times, and accumulated more than 3,000 flying hours, including over 500 combat hours. Following his active-duty retirement, he transitioned to federal civil service in 2012. Prior to his current position, Mr. Dries served as Deputy Director of Training and Readiness on the Air Staff, responsible for policy, guidance, and oversight of Air Force operational training infrastructure, officer and enlisted operations career field management, operational readiness and reporting, and aircrew management. Mr. Dries was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in 2022.