MAJOR GENERAL MICHAEL N. WILSON Maj. Gen. Michael N. Wilson is the mobilization assistant to the Commander, 3rd Air Force, Ramstein Air Base, Germany. Third Air Force is U.S. Air Forces in Europe's component numbered Air Force for U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command. As the United States Air Forces in Europe's numbered Air Force, 3rd Air Force plans, deploys, employs, sustains, and redeploys Air Force forces supporting the combatant commanders during contingency and wartime operations. Third Air Force includes a headquarters staff, the 603rd Air and Space Operations Center, 10 USAFE wings and two stand-alone groups. General Wilson entered the Air Force in 1976 after graduating from the U.S. Air Force Academy and received his wings in 1977. In 1987, after 11 years on active duty, he joined the Air Force Reserve to serve with the 711th Special Operations Squadron at Duke Field, Fla. During his more than 10 years with the 711th SOS, he deployed in every major operation the unit was tasked to support. He flew as aircraft commander during combat operations in support of Operation Just Cause in Panama in 1989, and Operation Desert Storm in Kuwait in 1991. Prior to assuming his current position, General Wilson was mobilization assistant to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Plans and Requirements, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. In his civilian occupation, he is a commercial airline captain with more than 10,000 flying hours. EDUCATION 1976 Bachelor of Science degree in engineering mechanics, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. 1983 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 1983 Marine Corps Command and Staff College, by correspondence 1984 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence 1999 Air War College, by correspondence 2008 Systems Acquisition Management for General/Flag Officers, Defense Acquisition University, Fort Belvoir, Va. 2009 Executive Course in National and International Security, George Washington University, Washington, D.C. 2009 Senior Joint Information Operation Applications Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 2010 Air Force Enterprise Leadership Seminar, Darden School of Business, University of Virginia, Charlottesville 2011 Black Sea Security Course, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass. 2011 U.S.- Russia Security Program , John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Mass. 2011 EUCOM Theater for SOF, U.S. Air Force Special Operations School, Hurlburt Field, Fla. ASSIGNMENTS 1. June 1976 - December 1977, Student, undergraduate pilot training, 71st Flying Training Squadron, Vance AFB, Okla. 2. December 1977 - January 1981, AC-130H Pilot and Aircraft Commander, 16th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla. 3. January 1981 - January 1984, forward air controller, 0-2A Skymaster pilot, Wing Training Officer, and Chief, Tactical Airlift Control Center, 24th Composite Wing, Howard AFB, Panama 4. January 1984 - June 1987, AC-130H Aircraft Commander and Instructor/Evaluator Pilot, 16th Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, Fla. 5. June 1987 - June 1997, AC-130A aircraft commander and instructor/evaluator pilot, 711th Special Operations Squadron, Duke Field, Fla. 6. June 1997 - February 1998, MC-130 pilot, 711th Special Operations Squadron, Duke Field, Fla. 7. February 1998 - November 2000, Commander, 711th Special Operations Squadron, Duke Field, Fla. 8. November 2000 - August 2001, Inspector General, 919th Special Operations Wing, Duke Field, Fla. 9. August 2001 - August 2002, Vice Commander, 919th Special Operations Wing, Duke Field, Fla. 10. August 2002 -January 2003, Senior Individual Mobilization Augmentee to the Director of Operations, Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Fla. 11. January 2003 - May 2006, Mobilization Assistant to the Director of Operations, Hurlburt Field, Fla. 12. June 2006 - March 2007, Mobilization Assistant to the Director of Operations, Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio 13. March 2007 - September 2007, Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, Air Armament Center, Eglin AFB, Fla. 14. September 2007- May 2008, Vice Commander, Air Armament Center, Eglin AFB, Fla. 15. June 2008 - April 2009, Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, Air Armament Center, Eglin AFB, Fla. 16. April 2009 - June 2011, Mobilization Assistant to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Plans and Requirements, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. 17. June 2011 - Present, Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, 3rd Air Force, Headquarters U. S. Air Forces in Europe, Ramstein Air Base, Germany FLIGHT INFORMATION Rating: Command pilot Flight hours: More than 5,300 Aircraft flown: C-130E/H, AC-130A/H, MC-130E, O-2A, B-727, DC-9, L-1011, MD-11, B-737, B-757, B-767 and B-777 MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster Air Force Achievement Medal Joint Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with silver and two bronze oak leaf clusters Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) Kuwait Liberation Medal (Government of Kuwait) EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION Second Lieutenant June 2, 1976 First Lieutenant June 2, 1978 Captain June 2, 1980 Major June 2, 1990 Lieutenant Colonel June 2, 1997 Colonel July 1, 2001 Brigadier General March 1, 2005 Major General Jan. 7, 2011 (Current as of December 2016)