Jeff Cleveland's professional career covers 34 years as a business leader, military officer, and entrepreneur throughout in the United States Federal Government, United States Armed Forces, and private sector. Mr. Cleveland is the Deputy Executive Director for Operations with the Office of the Chief Counsel in the Federal Aviation Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation. His portfolio includes leadership of budget and finance, contracts and acquisition, human capital, information technology, logistics, legal communications, and paralegal support for a 300-person legal organization across 12 sites in the United States. Before this role, Jeff spent four years at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the U.S. Department of Commerce. At NOAA, he served as the Chief of the Business Operations Division in the Office of Response and Restoration and Administrative Officer for the Office of Human Capital Services.

Prior to NOAA, Mr. Cleveland spent nearly two years with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) at the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya. He served as an Executive Officer, overseeing operations, logistics, and security for the USAID Kenya and East Africa Mission. Jeff was the Mission's key interagency liaison to the U.S. Department of State and Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance, as well as the Overseas Security Advisory Council and Diplomatic Security Liaison Group. Before Kenya, Mr. Cleveland lived in the Bay Area, California, for four years. He worked for GE Capital Retail Bank (now Synchrony Financial) as an Assistant Vice President and Regional Sales Leader. He was responsible for the western United States portfolio of a top client, leading a team that managed a $500+ million sales business and over 550 stores throughout 15 states. Prior to that, Jeff lived in Phoenix, Arizona, for 11 years where he was the founder/owner and Chief Executive Officer of Cleveland Financial Group for nine years. Additionally, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Black Chamber of Arizona.

Mr. Cleveland's military assignments include several posts throughout the United States, Germany, and Middle East, including Desert Shield/Storm in 1991. In his nine years of active duty service as a U.S. Army Officer, some of his roles included Commander, Director of Human Capital, and Deputy Chief of Operations. His military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, two Meritorious Service Medals, six Army Commendation Medals, and many others. 

Throughout his career, Mr. Cleveland has served with several professional associations and volunteered on numerous nonprofit organizations as an officer and board member. He has been a member of African American Federal Executive Association (AAFEA) since 2019 and is a 2021 AAFEA Fellows graduate. He was appointed as Member-At-Large in January 2023. Jeff also is a board member of the Arizona Guide Right Foundation and is a 38-year member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

Mr. Cleveland holds a Bachelor of Science in Quantitative Management from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. He is married to Karen Brown Cleveland and has two daughters, Sydni and Jessica. In addition, he enjoys golfing and cooking.