Hayden served a 25-year military career in air and space operations, personnel, recruiting, training, and education. He compiled more than 2,800 flying hours as a B-52 instructor radar navigator and commanded an Air Force recruiting squadron in Detroit. He spent his last five years on active duty at the Pentagon as chief of the Military Personnel Policy Division, HQ USAF, and as chief, Personnel Services Division, for the Joint Chiefs of Staff. As the Military Personnel Policy Division chief, he and his team developed and implemented a one-year drawdown of more than 24,000 airmen. In the latter position, he worked with MOAA in winning Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) coverage for survivors of servicemembers killed on active duty.

Hayden holds a bachelor's degree in economics from Northern Illinois University and a master's degree in aeronautical science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida.

He joined MOAA's Government Relations team in July 2005, focusing on active duty and retiree compensation issues.