Department of the United States Air Force LogoBiography
                  United States Air ForceSES Nancy Balkus Bio
            NANCY J. BALKUS, P.E.Nancy J. Balkus, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Environment, Safety and Infrastructure, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Arlington, Virginia. She provides executive leadership on all matters pertaining to formulation, review and execution of plans, policies, programs and budgets for Air Force built and natural infrastructure, environmental, installation energy, safety and occupational health programs. These include facility management, military construction, utilities privatization, energy security, contingency energy, environmental compliance and restoration, occupational safety and workplace health.
Ms. Balkus graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1988. She has served in a variety of positions at the squadron, base, forward operating agency, major command and headquarters level in the contiguous United States and overseas. She is a registered professional engineer in the state of Texas. Her joint experience includes the Joint Staff Strategic Plans and Policy Assistant Deputy Director for Strategic Stability where she formulated Joint Staff positions and recommendations regarding strategic deterrence, nuclear policy, combating weapons of mass destruction and international arms control agreements. As the Assistant Deputy Director for Global Security Affairs/Partnership Strategy, she provided leadership for building national security partnerships and partner capacity for U.S. missions in Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya; reviewed and oversaw all Department of Defense security cooperation plans, authorities and budgets; directed Joint Staff engagement for all international security assistance programs; and provided oversight for the Chairman’s mission to the United Nations in New York.
Prior to her current assignment, Ms. Balkus served as the Deputy Director for Civil Engineers, Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Engineering and Force Protection at Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. As a civil engineer she has served as the Programs Division Deputy Chief in the Office of the Civil Engineer at Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Deputy Base Civil Engineer at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, Deputy Chief of Readiness at Headquarters Air Combat Command, Project Management Branch Chief for the Aviano 2000 Program Management Office, and multiple positions at the Air Force Center for Engineering and Environment, Brooks AFB, Texas.**EDUCATION**
1988 Bachelor of Science, Biology, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
1994 Master of Science, Civil Engineering, University of Texas at San Antonio
2003 Master of Science, National Security Strategy, National War College, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2003 Information Studies Concentration Program, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2007 Executive Leadership in a Changing Environment, Brookings Institution, Washington, D.C.
2008 Air Force Enterprise Leadership Seminar, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
2008 Federal Executive Institute, Civilian Leadership Course, Charlottesville, Va.
2009 Center for Creative Leadership, Leadership Development Program, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2011 Senior Executive Fellows, Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Cambridge, Mass.
2012 National Security Executive Leader Seminar, Department of State, Foreign Service Institute, Washington, D.C.
2016 Certificate in Public Policy, Brookings Executive Education, Washington, D.C.
2017 Leading Strategic Change and Transformation, Office of Program Management Senior Executive Service Leading Edge, Washington, D.C.
2018 Inspiring and Engaging a High-Performing 21st Century Workforce, OPM SES Leading Edge, Washington, D.C.
2021 Center for Creative Leadership, Leading Strategically, Greensboro, N.C.**CAREER CHRONOLOGY**
1. June 1988–March 1990, Aerospace Physiologist, Biomedical Science Corps, School of Aerospace Medicine, Brooks Air Force Base, Texas
2. April 1990–January 1991, Research Aerospace Physiologist, Krug Life Sciences, School of Aerospace Medicine, Brooks AFB, Texas
3. January 1991–May 1993, Environmental Project Manager, Modern Technologies Corporation, San Antonio, Texas
4. May 1993–March 1996, Supervisory Environmental Scientist, Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards AFB, CA., assigned to the Air Force Center for Engineering and the Environment, Brooks AFB, Texas
5. March 1996–December 1999, Major Command Program Manager and Special Projects Integrator, Environmental Restoration Division, Air Force Center for Engineering and Environment, Brooks AFB, Texas
6. January 2000–August 2002, Chief, Project Management Branch, Aviano 2000 Program Management Office, Headquarters 16th Air Force, Aviano Air Base, Italy then Major Command Program Manager, Headquarters U.S. Air Forces Europe, Ramstein, Germany assigned to Aviano Air Base, Italy
7. August 2002–July 2003, Student, National War College, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
8. July 2003–August 2004, Deputy Chief, Readiness Division, Air Combat Command, Langley AFB, Va.
9. August 2004–May 2006, Deputy Base Civil Engineer, 1st Civil Engineer Squadron, Langley AFB, Va.
10. June 2006–October 2006, Military Construction Program Manager, Programs Division, Office of the Air Force Civil Engineer, Headquarters Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
11. October 2006–January 2008, Chief, Executive Services Division, Office of the Air Force Civil Engineer, Headquarters Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
12. January 2008–September 2009, Deputy Division Chief, Programs Division and Branch Chief for Military Construction Policy and Analysis, Office of the Air Force Civil Engineer, Headquarters Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
13. October 2009–December 2012, Assistant Deputy Director, Global Security Affairs/Partnership Strategy, Strategic Plans & Policy, Joint Staff (J-5), Washington, D.C.
14. December 2012–May 2014, Deputy Division Chief, International Negotiations Division, Deputy Directorate for Strategic Stability, Strategic Plans and Policy, Joint Staff (J-5), Washington, D.C.
15. May 2014–January 2017, Assistant Deputy Director, Strategic Stability, Strategic Plans & Policy, Joint Staff (J-5), Washington, D.C.
16. January 2017–June 2018, Deputy Director, Export Control and Interagency Liaison Division, Office of International and Interagency Relations, NASA Headquarters, Washington, D.C.
17. June 2018–March 2022, Deputy Director for Civil Engineers, Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Engineering and Force Protection, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
18. March 2022–present, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Environment, Safety and Infrastructure, Headquarters, U.S. Air Force, Arlington, Va.**AWARDS AND DECORATIONS**
2021 Meritorious Presidential Rank Award
2017 Office of the Secretary of Defense, Medal for Exceptional Civilian Service
2015 National Aeronautics and Space Administration Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program
2013 Civilian of the Year, Joint Staff (J5), Strategic Plans and Policy
2013 Civilian of the Quarter, Joint Staff (J5), Strategic Plans and Policy
2012 Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Joint Distinguished Civilian Service Award
2010 Corporate Athlete Program, Human Performance Institute, Orlando, Fla.
2009 Air Force Civilian Strategic Leadership Program
2009 Top Ten Federal Engineers of the Year, National Society of Professional Engineers
2009 Air Force Civilian Engineer of the Year, Headquarters Air Force
2008 Civilian of the Quarter, Headquarters Air Force Office of The Civil Engineer
2004 Goethals Medal, Society of American Military Engineers, Virginia Peninsula Post
2003 Department of Defense Leadership and Management Program (DLAMP) Graduate
2002, 1996 Department of the Air Force Exemplary Civilian Service
2002 Department of the Air Force Meritorious Civilian Service
1997 Ralph H. Tudor Medal, Society of American Military Engineers Texoma Region
1993 Department of the Air Force Special Act**PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS**
Society of American Military Engineers
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