Maj. Gen. Michael R. Drowley is the Special Assistant to the Commander, Pacific Air Forces, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. PACAF is responsible for Air Force activities spread over half the globe. The command supports 46,000 Airmen serving principally in Japan, Korea, Hawaii, Alaska and Guam.
Maj. Gen. Drowley earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering and his commission from the United States Air Force Academy in 1996. He is a command pilot with more than 2,500 flight hours in the A-10, including more than 250 combat hours. Maj. Gen. Drowley has commanded at the flight, squadron, group, wing, and center levels. Additionally, he has served on the staffs of the Superintendent, United States Air Force Academy, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Headquarters United States Air Force Central Command, and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.
Prior to his current assignment, Maj. Gen. Drowley served as the Commander, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico.
EDUCATION
1996 Bachelor of Science, Engineering, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2001 Distinguished Graduate, U.S. Air Force Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2002 Academic, Flying, Distinguished Graduate Award, U.S. Air Force Weapons Instructor Course, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2008 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2008 Master of Advanced Studies, Psychology-Counseling-Leadership, University of Colorado-Colorado Springs, Colo.
2011 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2013 Master of Advanced Studies, Joint Campaign Planning and Strategy, Joint Advanced Warfighting School, National Defense University, Naval Station Norfolk, Va.
2016 Enterprise Leadership Seminar, University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School at Chapel Hill
2022 CAPSTONE Executive Development Course, Fort Lesley J McNair, Washington, D.C.
2022 Artificial Intelligence for National Security, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge
ASSIGNMENTS
1. September 1996–July 1997, Student, Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Naval Air Station Whiting Field, Fla.
2. July 1997–February 1998, Student, Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance Air Force Base, Okla.
3. December 1998–March 2000, Assistant Chief of Plans/Scheduling-Battalion Air Liaison Officer, 25th Fighter Squadron, Osan Air Base, South Korea
4. April 2000–June 2002, Assistant Chief of Weapons and Tactics, Chief of Training, 354th Fighter Squadron, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
5. June 2002–July 2004, Chief, Squadron Weapons and Tactics/Flight Commander, 75th Fighter Squadron, Pope AFB, N.C.
6. July 2004–July 2006, Weapons School Instructor/Flight Commander, 66th Weapons Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
7. July 2006–May 2007, Chief of Fighter Standardization and Evaluation, 57th Wing, Nellis AFB, Nev.
8. May 2007–May 2008, Student, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs
9. May 2008–June 2009, Commander, Cadet Squadron 15, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
10. June 2009–July 2010, Director, Commander’s Action Group, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
11. September 2010–February 2011, Assistant Director of Operations 66th Weapons Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
12. February 2011–July 2012, Commander, 66th Weapons Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
13. July 2012–June 2014, Student, Joint Advanced Warfighting School-National Defense University, Naval Station Norfolk, Va.
14. June 2013–May 2015, Senior Plans Advisor to the Secretary of Defense, Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
15. May 2015–June 2017, Commandant, United States Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
16. July 2017–June 2018, Chief of Staff, United States Air Forces Central Command, Al Udeid AB, Qatar
17. June 2018–June 2020, Commander, 355th Wing, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
18. June 2020–July 2022, Commander, 57th Wing, Nellis AFB, Nev.
19. July 2022–August 2024, Director, Joint Training and Exercises (J7), U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Camp Smith, Hawaii
20. August 2024–September 2025, Commander, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
21. September–present, Special Assistant to Commander, Pacific Air Forces, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2013–May 2015, Senior Plans Advisor to the Secretary of Defense, Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., as a lieutenant colonel and colonel
2. July 2017–June 2018, Chief of Staff, United States Air Forces Central Command, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, as a colonel
3. July 2022–August 2024, Director, Joint Training and Exercises (J7), U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Camp Smith, Hawaii, as a brigadier general and major general
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 2,800 / 255 combat hours in the A-10
Aircraft flown: T-34, T-38, HH-60, C-130J, C-17, KC-135, B-1, B-2, B-52, F-15D, F-15E and F-16
Primary aircraft: A-10C, F-35A
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Distinguished Flying Cross with “V” device and oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal
USAFWS Robbie Risner Award 2003
Order of Daedalians USAF Exceptional Pilot Award 2003
(Current as of December 2025)