Melissa Griffin Dalton is an American defense official who served as the under secretary of the Air Force from 2024 to 2025.

Dalton earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in foreign affairs from the University of Virginia and a Master of Arts in international relations from the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University.

She also served as a senior advisor to the commander of the International Security Assistance Force in Kabul.

After serving in United States Department of Defense during the Bush and Obama administrations, she joined the Center for Strategic and International Studies as a senior fellow and deputy director.

In January 2021, Dalton was selected to serve as principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for strategy, plans, and capabilities.