Lt. Gen. Mike Plehn is the 17th President of the National Defense University. As President of NDU, he oversees its five component colleges that offer graduate-level degrees and certifications in joint professional military education to over 2,000 U.S. military officers, civilian government officials, international military officers and industry partners annually.
He attended the U.S. Air Force Academy Preparatory School in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and graduated with Military Distinction and a degree in Astronautical Engineering in 1988. He has extensive experience in joint, interagency and special operations assignments. Previously, he served as the Military Deputy Commander of U.S. Southern Command and Deputy Commander of Air Force Special Operations Command. He was a member of the 16th Special Operations Group when it received the first-ever Gallant Unit Citation awarded by the Air Force.
Additionally, he was the last Commander of the 27th Fighter Group and the first Commander of the 27th Special Operations Group when Cannon Air Force Base transitioned from Air Combat Command to AFSOC in 2007. Lt. Gen. Plehn is a master navigator with 2,200 flight hours, primarily on the AC-130 gunship, but also on the U-28, MQ-1B and MQ-9. He has 375 combat hours supporting operations in Bosnia, Somalia, Haiti, Afghanistan and Iraq.
EDUCATION
1984 United States Air Force Academy Preparatory School, Colorado Springs, Colo.
1988 Bachelor of Science in Astronautical Engineering, USAF Academy, Colo.
1995 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
1997 Master of Aeronautical Science, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Hurlburt Field Campus, Fla.
1999 Master of National Security Studies, College of Naval Command and Staff, Newport, R.I.
2000 Master of Airpower Art and Science, School of Advanced Airpower Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2003 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., (by correspondence)
2005 National Defense Fellow, Center for Strategic and International Studies, Washington, D.C.
2006 Joint and Combined Warfighting School, National Defense University, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
2013 CAPSTONE, NDU, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2013 U.S.-Russia Security Program, Harvard John F. Kennedy School of Government, Cambridge, Mass.
2014 Combined Force Air Component Commander’s Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2015 Joint Force Maritime Component Commander’s Course, Newport, R.I.
2015 Joint Flag Officer Warfighting Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2016 United Kingdom Pinnacle Course, Headquarters Joint Forces Command, Northwood, United Kingdom
2019 PINNACLE Course, NDU, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
2019 Cyber Operations Executive Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2020 Leadership at the Peak, Center for Creative Leadership, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2022 Harvard Seminar for New Presidents, Harvard Graduate School of Education, Cambridge, Mass.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 1988–July 1989, Student Pilot, Williams Air Force Base, Ariz.
2. July 1989–August 1990, Student, specialized undergraduate navigator training, Mather AFB, Calif.
3. August 1990–November 1994, AC-130H Electronic Warfare Officer, 16th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
4. November 1994–May 1996, Wing EWO, 16th Operations Support Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
5. May 1996–July 1997, Executive Officer, 16th Special Operations Group, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
6. July 1997–July 1998, Aide-de-camp to the commander, Headquarters Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
7. August 1998–June 1999, Student, College of Naval Command and Staff, Newport, R.I.
8. July 1999–June 2000, Student, School of Advanced Airpower Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
9. July 2000–February 2001, Team Chief, Aerospace Global Engagement, Directorate of Strategic Planning, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Arlington, Va.
10. February 2001–December 2001, Vice Chief of Staff Speechwriter, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Arlington, Va.
11. December 2001–July 2002, Student, AC-130U Qualification Course, 19th Special Operations Squadron, later Assistant Operations Officer, 4th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
12. July 2002–June 2004, Commander, 19th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
13. July 2004–June 2005, National Defense Fellow, Center for Strategic and International Studies, Washington, D.C.
14. July 2005–July 2006, Chief, Joint Interagency Coordination Group, Headquarters U.S. European Command, Patch Barracks, Stuttgart-Vaihingen, Germany.
15. July 2006–June 2007, Chief, Directed Studies, Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization, Office of the Deputy Secretary of Defense, Arlington, Va.
16. June 2007–July 2008, Commander, 27th Fighter Group, later 27th Special Operations Group, Cannon AFB, N.M.
17. July 2008–June 2010, CSAF Fellow, Washington, D.C.
18. June 2010–July 2011, Commander, 1st Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
19. August 2011–August 2013, Deputy Director, Special Plans Working Group, Headquarters U.S. Central Command, MacDill AFB, Fla.
20. September 2013–January 2015, Principal Director for Middle East Policy, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
21. January 2015–June 2017, Chief of Staff, Headquarters U.S. Southern Command, Doral, Fla.
22. June 2017–October 2018, Deputy Commander, Headquarters Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
23. October 2018–January 2021, Military Deputy Commander, Headquarters U.S. Southern Command, Doral, Fla.
24. February 2021–present, 17th President, National Defense University, Fort. Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2005–July 2006, Chief, Joint Interagency Coordination Group, Headquarters U.S. European Command, Patch Barracks, Stuttgart-Vaihingen, Germany, as a colonel
2.July 2006–June 2007, Chief, Directed Studies, Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization, Office of the Deputy Secretary of Defense, Arlington, Va., as a colonel
3. August 2011–August 2013, Deputy Director, Special Plans Working Group, Headquarters U.S. Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., as a brigadier general
4. September 2013–January 2015, Principal Director for Middle East Policy, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., as a major general
5. January 2015–June 2017, Chief of Staff, Headquarters U.S. Southern Command, Doral, Fla., as a major general
6. October 2018–January 2021, Military Deputy Commander, Headquarters U.S. Southern Command, Doral, Fla., as a lieutenant general
7. February 2021–present, 17th President, National Defense University, Fort. Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C., as a lieutenant general
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Master Navigator
Flight hours: more than 2,200 with more than 375 combat hours
Aircraft: AC-130H, AC-130U, U-28A, MQ-1B, MQ-9 and F-16D
OTHER AWARDS AND DISTINCTIONS
1983 Eagle Scout, Troop 250, Miami, Fla.
1983 Student Hall of Fame, Miami Southridge Senior High School, Miami, Fla.
1984 Outstanding Student in Academics, U.S.A.F. Academy Preparatory School, Colorado Springs, Colo.
1990 Wright Laboratories’ Award for Academic Excellence, EWO School, Mather Air Force Base, Calif.
1995 Operations Award, Association of Old Crows, Washington, D.C.
1995 Commandant’s Trophy and Outstanding Contributor, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
1999 Highest Distinction, College of Naval Command and Staff, Newport, R.I.
2017 Alumni Hall of Fame, Miami Southridge Senior High School, Miami, Fla.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Joint Meritorious Unit Award with eight oak leaf clusters
Gallant Unit Citation
Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with “V” device and four oak leaf clusters
Medal for Distinguished Services to the Colombian Military Forces
White Nun/White Orchid Medal of the Guatemalan Army
(Current as of October 2024)