Executive Fellows

Patricia Young, SES USAF (Ret)

Patricia “Trish” Young’s career spans over three decades as a strategic leader in various mission-critical sectors including human resources, finance, logistics, transportation, acquisitions, information technology, and policy. Her leadership was pivotal in both the U.S. Air Force and Army, where she managed complex operations and budgets, significantly impacting organizational efficiency and effectiveness. 

Young retired in 2022 after serving as the Executive Director of the Air Force Materiel Command. In this role, she oversaw a $60B budget and influenced over $260B in services and contracts. She adeptly managed a workforce of 90,000 and steered the development and execution of a $1.1B civilian payroll. Young was instrumental in leading the workforce through the COVID-19 pandemic, crafting policies and work processes to adapt to unprecedented challenges. 

Prior to this, Young served as Director at Washington Headquarters Services, managing a significant DoD field activity with a $3B budget. Her responsibilities included overseeing facilities and operations at strategic locations, such as the Pentagon, and providing executive support to the Secretary of Defense. 

In her earlier roles, Young demonstrated her acumen in logistics and operations. As Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff at HQ USAF A4, she managed Air Force logistics readiness and various other domains, impacting a $24B portfolio. Her time with the Army at the Surface Deployment and Distribution Command and the U.S. Transportation Command saw her leading significant operational improvements and technological integrations, further emphasizing her strategic and operational expertise. 

Her education includes a Master’s degree in Business and Industrial Relations and a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from Wright State University. 

Young was recently selected as an Executive Fellow with the Institute for Defense and Business (IDB), a non-profit organization in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. In this role, she continues to leverage her vast experience, connecting industry and military leaders, and contributing her knowledge to the next generation of strategic thinkers.