Born and raised in St. Petersburg, Dudley graduated from Lakewood High School. His favorite part of growing up was working side by side with his grandfather at their family-owned gas station. Hours were spent learning life lessons, while working the business and tackling car repairs.

Upon graduation from high school, Dudley knew that a regular job wasn’t for him. He wanted to be active and part of a dynamic team. He wanted to serve his community and the country. Naturally, Dudley followed in his father’s and grandfather’s footsteps and went into the second family business; he enlisted in the U.S. Army.

His service in the Army inspired his calling to work in the field of disaster planning and management. As he watched the events of Hurricane Katrina unfold, Dudley took a hard look at FEMA’s planning and response tactics. During his military years, he studied the field. Dudley obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in homeland security, a Master of Science degree in emergency services management, and certificates in executive leadership.

The Army’s structure turned out to be well suited for Dudley, and he spent 27 years making it a career. He and his family made 11 moves during that time, and Dudley found himself progressing through the ranks at every turn.

His Army career took him from Virginia to North Carolina, from Saudi Arabia to Korea. He called Texas home for a while, as well as other places in between. And, just like his grandfather mentored him, Dudley spent his years building teams and fostering skills in future leaders.

Dudley’s final role in the military was as the J63 Operations Sergeant Major at U.S. Special Operations Command in Tampa. He retired as a decorated Sergeant Major in 2014, and he and his family are happy to be home. He resides in the Tampa Bay area with his wife, Shonnette, and their four children and one grandchild.

After retirement, Dudley joined the Pinellas County Emergency Management team for five years and then took the helm at Hillsborough County’s Office of Emergency Management in 2019.