Ms. April D. Upton is the Director of Engagements and Chief of the Department of the Air Force Foreign Liaison Office in the office of Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force, International Affairs, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va. In this role she manages engagement coordination and preparation for Department of the Air Force, U.S. Air Force, and U.S. Space Force senior leaders as they engage foreign senior defense and military officials from around the world. She also oversees the management of relations, accreditations, engagement planning, and orientation tours across U.S. Air and Space Force installations for 170 foreign air and space attachés serving in 105 embassies in the National Capital Region. Prior to her current role, Ms. Upton served as Deputy Director, managing the daily operations of the Engagements Directorate and providing strategic leadership and management to develop and implement policies, plans, and programs.
Ms. Upton began her career as an Air Force Civilian in 2002 as the Chief of Protocol at the 91st Missile Wing, Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota. She developed and honed her protocol skills over the 10 years she served in this role, attending professional training and organizing hundreds of official ceremonies, social engagements, special events, and distinguished visitor itineraries. In 2012 she transferred to United States Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Nebraska, where she progressed into higher-level protocol roles, including serving two grades above her pay level as the Combatant Commander’s Director of Protocol for two different six-month terms. In 2017, Ms. Upton became the Deputy Director of Protocol at Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, where she focused on organizational improvements, protocol officer training, and the facilitation of conferences and special events for the commander. She led installation planning and execution of two CORONA Top Conferences and Heraldic Dinners hosted by the Secretary and Chief of Staff of the Air Force and served as Director in the last year of her assignment. Ms. Upton advanced in 2020 to become the Deputy Director of Protocol for DAF/DSP, Pentagon, Arlington, Va., where she focused on management of protocol staff in their daily support of ceremonies, social engagements, and conferences hosted by senior Department of the Air Force leaders.
Ms. Upton additionally served 21 years in the Army Reserve, culminating in retirement in 2009. During her Army Reserve career, she volunteered over eight of those years on active duty.
EDUCATION
1994 Associate degree, Business Administration, Sierra Business College, Fresno, CA
2004 Air Force Protocol Fundamentals Course, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH (also 2010, 2013)
2010 Bachelor of Science, Business Administration and Management, Touro University, Cypress, CA
2011 Corporate Etiquette and International Protocol Consultant, The Protocol School of Washington, Washington D.C.
2014 Master of Business Administration in Strategic Leadership, Trident University, Cypress, CA
2021 DAF Experienced Supervisors Course, Air University, Ira C. Eaker Center for Leadership Development, Maxwell AFB, AL
2023 Space Executive Course, National Security Space Institute, Washington, D.C.
2023 Leading Effectively Through Change (LETC), Office of Personnel Management, Potomac, MD
2024 Intro to the SES, Behavior Based Interview Training, Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ)
CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. May 1988 – June 2009, U.S. Army Reservist, various assignments in California, Nevada, and North Dakota
2. March 2000 – July 2002, GS-7, Unit Administrator, 4226th U.S. Army Reserve Hospital Detachment, Minot, North Dakota
3. July 2002 – October 2012, GS-9, Chief of Protocol, 91st Missile Wing, Minot AFB, North Dakota
4. October 2012 – April 2015, GS-11, Protocol Action Officer, United States Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Nebraska
5. April 2015 – August 2015, GS-13 (Temp promotion), Acting Director of Protocol, United States Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Nebraska
6. August 2015 – December 2017, GS-12, Protocol Resource Manager, United States Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Nebraska
7. December 2017 – November 2020, NH-3, Supervisory Senior Protocol, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
8. November 2020 – November 2022, GS-14, Deputy Director of Protocol, Headquarters, Secretariat Director of Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
9. November 2022 – June 2023, GS-14, Special Assistant for the Chief of Staff, Headquarters, Secretariat Director of Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
10. June 2023 to January 2025, GS-15, Deputy Director of Engagements, Secretary of the Air Force International Affairs, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
11. February 2025 to Present, GS-15, Director of Engagements, Secretary of the Air Force International Affairs, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Member, Air & Space Forces Association
Member, Protocol Diplomacy International and Protocol Officers Association
Adjunct Faculty, Air Force Protocol Fundamentals Course
(Current as of May 2025)