Lieutenant Colonel William M.G. Manley assumed his current duties as Deputy
Commandant, Defense Information School, in July 2009. He helps lead the institution that serves as the
Department of Defense school and center for public communication, responsible for training all U.S. military,
selected foreign military and civilian public affairs and visual information professionals.
Lieutenant Colonel Manley graduated from the University of Florida in 1992 with a Bachelors of Science degree in public relations, and was commissioned through the Air Force Officer Training School, Maxwell AFB, Ala., in 1994. His initial duty assignment was Altus AFB, Okla., where he served as a section commander for the 97th Civil Engineer Squadron and 97th Operations Support Squadron, and the executive officer for the 97th Logistics Group. While there, he deployed to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as the 4407th (P) Support Group executive officer in support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH.
His next assignment was at Incirlik, Turkey, as the 39th Logistics Group executive officer, where he extended his tour in order to serve as the 39th Wing's executive officer in support of Operation NORTHERN WATCH.
Lieutenant Colonel Manley cross trained into the public affairs career field immediately following his tour in Turkey, and was assigned to Headquarters Air Combat Command Public Affairs as the deputy chief of the command issues branch, and later, the community relations branch. He deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina in support of Operation JOINT FORGE.
He was recognized as the Air Combat Command Public Affairs Company Grade Officer of the Year at his next assignment, as the Chief of Public Affairs for the 2d Bomb Wing, Barksdale AFB, La. He helped lead the 2d Bomb Wing through several challenges, to include the space shuttle Columbia crash and the largest open house/air show in the community's history. Additionally, he deployed to Iraq twice during this assignment, first to Baghdad as part of the initial military public affairs contingent assigned to the Coalition Provisional Authority, and later, to Balad AB, as the Chief of Public Affairs, in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.
Lieutenant Colonel Manley holds the distinction of being a "plank holder" for the Joint Public Affairs Support Element in Suffolk, Va., where he deployed in support of Hurricane Katrina and the Pakistan earthquake relief efforts. He also supported the JFCOM deployable training team as a public affairs/strategic communications instructor for major rehearsal exercises and in-country assessment/lessons learned forays.
He transferred to Fort Meade from Luke AFB, Ariz., where he served as the 56th Services Squadron's final commander, and was responsible for the full range of Morale, Welfare, and Recreation, as well as Services support. Following the squadron's redesignation as the 56th Force Support Squadron, he served as deputy commander of the 56th Mission Support Group, and helped earn the group an "Excellent" rating on their unit compliance inspection.
Lieutenant Colonel Manley holds a Master of Science degree in Human Resource Management from Troy State University. His personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Meritorious Service Medal (one oak leaf cluster), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal (two oak leaf clusters), Joint Service Achievement Medal (one oak leaf cluster), Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (with six oak leaf clusters), and the Air Force Organizational Excellence Award.