Brig. Gen. Michael Walters is the Principal Assistant Deputy Administrator for Military Application, National Nuclear Security Administration, Department of Energy, Washington, D.C. He assists the Deputy Administrator for Defense Programs to maintain the safety, security and reliability of the nation’s nuclear weapons stockpile.
Brig. Gen. Walters received his commission in 1997 through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps at the University of Utah and completed Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas in 1999. He has served multiple flying tours in the B–52, B2, and the B–1, as an Instructor, Evaluator and Weapons Officer and has commanded at the squadron, group and wing levels.
Brig. Gen. Walters' operational and staff experience includes service as Senior Fire Support Officer and Advisor to the Commanding General, Joint Special Operations Command, Senior Executive Officer to the Commander, Air Force Global Strike Command, and Assistant Deputy Director, Current and Integrated Operations, Joint Staff, the Pentagon. Prior to his current assignment, Brig. Gen. Walters served as the Deputy Director, Nuclear and Homeland Defense Operations, Joint Staff, the Pentagon where he was responsible for advising the Secretary of Defense, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Joint Staff Director of Operations regarding nuclear, space, homeland and missile defense operations, as well as all aspects of the National Military Command System.
Brig. Gen. Walters has combat experience in operations Enduring Freedom, Freedom's Sentinel and Inherent Resolve. He is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Weapons School, U.S. Naval Command and Staff College, the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, and the U.S. Army War College.
EDUCATION
1997 Bachelor of Arts, Economics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City
2004 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2005 Master of Science, Business Management, Webster University, St. Louis, Mo. 2006 U.S. Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2008 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2010 Master of Arts, National Security and Strategic Studies, Naval Command and Staff College, Newport Naval Station, R.I.
2011 Master of Philosophy in Military Strategy, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2011 Joint Terminal Attack Controller Course, Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center, Naval Air Station, Fallon, Nev.
2015 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2018 Master of Arts, Strategic Studies, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa.
2021 Enterprise Leadership Seminar, University of North Carolina Kenan–Flager Business School, Chapel Hill, N.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. October 1997–July 1999, Student, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas
2. October 1999–April 2000, Student, B–52H Initial Qualification Course, 11th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.
3. April 2000–May 2002, B–52H Pilot, Weapons and Tactics Liaison Officer, Executive Officer and Flight Scheduler, 20th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.
4. June 2002–September 2003, Student, B–2A Initial Qualification Course, T–38A Pilot, Executive Officer, 394th Combat Training Squadron, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
5. October 2003–October 2004, B–2A Pilot and Chief, Plans and Mobility, 325th Bomb Squadron, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
6. October 2004–January 2006, B–2A Instructor Pilot, Weapons and Tactics Liaison Officer, and Chief, Wing Training, 509th Operations Support Squadron, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
7. January 2006–June 2006, Student, U.S. Air Force Weapons School, 325th Weapons Squadron, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
8. June 2006–June 2007, Chief and Flight Commander, Weapons and Tactics, 393rd Bomb Squadron, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
9. July 2007–June 2009, Assistant Director of Operations, B–2A Weapons Instructor Pilot, 325th Weapons Squadron, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
10. July 2009–June 2010, Student, Naval Command and Staff College, Newport Naval Station, R.I.
11. June 2010–June 2011, Student, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
12. June 2011–June 2013, Chief, Global Strike Branch and Director, J–3 Fires Division, Aviation Tactics and Evaluation Group, Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, N.C.
13. June 2013–January 2014, Director of Operations, 509th Operations Support Squadron, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
14. January 2014–July 2015, Commander, 325th Weapons Squadron, U.S. Air Force Weapons School, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
15. July 2015–July 2017, Senior Executive Officer to the Commander, Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale AFB, La.
16. July 2017–June 2018, Student, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pa.
17. July 2018–June 2020, Commander, 379th Expeditionary Operations Group, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar.
18. July 2020–June 2022, Commander, 5th Bomb Wing, Minot, N.D.
19. July 2022–June 2023, Assistant Deputy Director, Current and Integrated Operations, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
20. June 2023–June 2025, Deputy Director, Nuclear and Homeland Defense Operations, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
21. June 2025–present, Principal Assistant Deputy Administrator for Military Application, National Nuclear Administration, Department of Energy, Washington, D.C.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
June 2011–June 2013, Chief, Global Strike Branch, and Director, J–3 Fires Division, Aviation Tactics and Evaluation Group, Joint Special Operations Command, U.S. Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, N.C., as a lieutenant colonel
July 2022–June 2023, Assistant Deputy Director, Current and Integrated Operations, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., as a colonel
June 2023–June 2025, Deputy Director, Nuclear and Homeland Defense Operations, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., as a brigadier general
June 2025–present, Principal Assistant Deputy Administrator for Military Application, National Nuclear Administration, Department of Energy, Washington, D.C., as a brigadier general
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 2,790
Aircraft flown: T–38A, B–52H, B–2A and B–1B
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Achievement Medal
(Current as of June 2025)