Retired
July 01,2000
Died October 27,2017
Lt. Gen. Michael C. Short is commander, Allied Air Forces Southern Europe, Stabilization Forces Air Component and Kosovo Forces Air Component, Naples, Italy, and 16th Air Force and 16th Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force, U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Aviano Air Base, Italy. He is the air principal subordinate commander and the joint and combined forces air component commander for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's Southern Region. He is responsible for the planning and employment of NATO's air forces in the Mediterranean area of operations from Gibraltar to Eastern Turkey. He commands air operations throughout the Balkans.
The general entered the Air Force in 1965 after graduating from the U.S. Air Force Academy. He has commanded the 4th Aircraft Generation Squadron, 334th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 4450th Tactical Group, 355th Tactical Training Wing, 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing and the 4404th Composite Wing. He is a command pilot with more than 4,600 flying hours in fighter aircraft, including 276 combat missions in Southeast Asia.
EDUCATION
1965 Bachelor of science degree in engineering management, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
1974 Master's degree in systems management, University of Southern California
1977 Distinguished graduate, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
1985 Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. September 1965 - September 1966, student, undergraduate pilot training, Webb Air Force Base, Texas
2. October 1966 - May 1967, student, F-4 Combat Crew Training School, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz.
3. June 1967 - June 1968, pilot, 557th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Cam Ranh Bay Air Base, South Vietnam
4. July 1968 - December 1968, student, F-102 Combat Crew Training School, Perrin Air Force Base, Texas
5. December 1968 - February 1969, student, F-106 Combat Crew Training School, Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla.
6. March 1969 - July 1970, pilot, 87th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Duluth International Airport, Minn.
7. July 1970 - August 1972, air officer commanding, Cadet Squadron 5, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
8. August 1972 - November 1974, pilot and maintenance officer, 318th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, McChord Air Force Base, Wash.
9. November 1974 - April 1975, student, F-4 upgrade training, Homestead Air Force Base, Fla.
10. May 1975 - December 1975, pilot, 421st Tactical Fighter Squadron, Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand
11. December 1975 - June 1976, pilot, 90th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Clark Air Base, Philippines
12. July 1976 - June 1977, student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
13. June 1977 - August 1980, plans staff officer, Directorate of Plans, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
14. September 1980 - December 1980, student, F-4 upgrade training, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla.
15. December 1980 - July 1982, commander, 4th Aircraft Generation Squadron, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C.
16. July 1982 - November 1983, commander, 334th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C.
17. November 1983 - July 1984, assistant deputy commander for operations, 4th Tactical Fighter Wing, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C.
18. August 1984 - June 1985, student, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
19. June 1985 - August 1985, student, A-7 upgrade training, Tucson International Airport, Tucson, Ariz.
20. August 1985 - April 1987, vice commander, 4450th Tactical Group, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.
21. April 1987 - August 1988, commander, 4450th Tactical Group, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.
22. August 1988 - January 1990, commander, 355th Tactical Training Wing, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz.
23. January 1990 - August 1991, commander, 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, Bergstrom Air Force Base, Texas
24. August 1991 - July 1993, assistant director of operations, Headquarters Tactical Air Command (redesignated Headquarters Air Combat Command), Langley Air Force Base, Va. (October 1992 - March 1993, commander, 4404th Composite Wing, Dhahran Air Base, Saudi Arabia)
25. July 1993 - July 1995, director of joint training and exercises, J-7, U.S. Atlantic Command, Norfolk, Va.
26. July 1995 - May 1996, chief of staff, Allied Air Forces Southern Europe, NATO, Naples, Italy
27. May 1996 - May 1998, director of operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
28. May 1998 - June 1999, commander, Allied Air Forces Southern Europe and Stabilization Forces Air Component, Naples, Italy, and commander, 16th Air Force and 16th Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force, U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Aviano Air Base, Italy
29. June 1999 - present, commander, Allied Air Forces Southern Europe, Stabilization Forces Air Component and Kosovo Forces Air Component, Naples, Italy, and 16th Air Force and 16th Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force, U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Aviano Air Base, Italy
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command pilot
Flight hours: More than 4,600
Aircraft flown: A-7, A-10, F4-C/D/E, F-15E, F-16C, F-102, F-106, F-117 and RF4-C
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Silver Star
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with 14 oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
Vietnam Service Medal with three service stars
Southwest Asia Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
Grand Officer, Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Jun 9, 1965
First Lieutenant Dec 9, 1966
Captain Jun 13, 1968
Major Jun 1, 1976
Lieutenant Colonel Sep 1, 1980
Colonel Oct 1, 1984
Brigadier General Sep 1, 1991
Major General Sep 28, 1994
Lieutenant General Jul 1, 1998
(Current as of July 2000)