Tyra Dent currently serves as the National President of the African American Federal Executive Association (AAFEA), a nonprofit volunteer organization, dedicated to supporting the advancement of African Americans into and within the senior and executive ranks of the US Government. In this capacity, Ms. Dent leads a Board of Directors, comprised of current and former members of the Senior Executive Service (SES), in the implementation of strategic priorities and goals, to include, establishing nationwide professional and leadership development programming that promotes career enhancing opportunities and the development of critical skills for African Americans in senior leadership and SES positions.

Having served the public sector for over 40 years at three Cabinet level agencies, Ms. Dent retired from the Senior Executive Service (SES) as the Deputy Chief Human Capital Officer (DCHO), Department of Commerce (DOC). In this capacity she was responsible for the development of human capital strategies, human resource (HR) policies and programs covering the operating units and offices of the Department, ensuring integration with all other functions of administration (ie., budget, financial management, information technology, facilities operations, security, and executive direction). Prior to serving as the DOC DCHO, Ms. Dent served as the Human Resource Division Chief at the US Census Bureau. In this capacity she advised Executive Staff and top officials on all phases of human resource management. This responsibility included consultation on special HR efforts related to the management of census programs and research and development of policy guidance for recruiting and hiring approximately one million temporary employees nationwide to conduct the 2010 decennial census. Ms. Dent began her professional leadership journey with an appointment as a Presidential Management Fellow, at the U.S. Department of Treasury, Financial Management Services, where she coordinated and negotiated banking arrangements for federal deposits. Subsequently, Ms. Smith joined the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) where she served as a Program Manager for the Next Generation Weather Radar (NEXRAD). Ms. Dent possesses expertise in human capital/resource management, strategic planning and change management.

Ms. Dent holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Hampton (Institute) University and a Master’s in Public Administration from Howard University. Ms. Dent is a silver member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.