Michael E. Saunders, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Energy, Installations and Environment, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. Mr. Saunders is responsible for the formulation, review and execution of plans, policies, programs, and budgets to meet Air Force installations, energy, environment, safety and occupational health objectives.
Mr. Saunders was commissioned in the Air Force in 1990 upon graduation from the U.S. Air Force Academy. During his 26-year military career, he commanded three civil engineer squadrons, as well as an Expeditionary Mission Support Advisory Group and Vice Commander at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling. He also completed staff tours at U.S. Air Forces Central Command as Director of Installations, Air Combat Command and the Air Staff.
Prior to his current role, Mr. Saunders served as Director, Real Estate, Logistics, and Operations for Program Support Center, a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In this position, he provided Departmental policy and oversight for a variety of administrative and management functions and represented the Department at numerous government-wide executive councils including the Federal Real Property Council and Federal Travel Management Council.
EDUCATION
1990 Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
1994 Master of Engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa
2005 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air Command & Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2011 Master of Science, National Resource Strategy, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Washington, D.C.
2012 Air Force Leadership Enhancement Program, Center for Creative Leadership, Greensboro, N.C.
2024 Leadership at the Peak, Center for Creative Leadership, Colorado Springs, Colo.
CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. August 1990–May 1994, Readiness Flight Commander, Design Engineer, and Chief of Production Control, 56th Civil Engineer Squadron then 6th Civil Engineer Squadron, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla.
2. June 1994–August 1997, Chief of Base Development & Resources Flight Commander, 36th Civil Engineer Squadron, and Executive Officer, 36th Air Base Wing, Andersen AFB, Guam
3. August 1997–June 2000, Chief of Environmental Compliance, 86th Civil Engineer Squadron, and Commander, Sembach Operations Flight, 786th Civil Engineer Squadron, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
4. July 2000–May 2003, Environmental Program Manager, and Assistant Executive Officer, Office of the Civil Engineer, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
5. July 2003–July 2004, Commander, Operations Flight, 89th Civil Engineer Squadron, Andrews AFB, Md.
6. November 2003–March 2004, Commander, 506th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, Kirkuk AB, Iraq
7. July 2004–June 2005, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
8. June 2005–June 2007, Chief, SWA Construction Branch, Air Combat Command, Langley AFB, Va.
9. July 2007–July 2008, Commander, 379th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, Al Udeid AB, Qatar
10. July 2008–July 2010, Commander, 316th Civil Engineer Squadron, Andrews AFB, Md.
11. August 2010–June 2011, Student, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
12. July 2011–December 2011, Commander, 321st Expeditionary Mission Support Advisory Group, Tikrit, Iraq
13. January 2012–June 2012, Special Assistant to the Air Force Civil Engineer, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
14. June 2012–July 2014, Vice Commander, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling and Commander, Air Force Element, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C.
15. July 2014–September 2016, Director of Installations, U.S. Air Forces Central Command, Shaw AFB, S.C.
16. October 2016–April 2024, Director, Real Estate, Logistics, and Operations then Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary, Program Support Center, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C.
17. April 2024–January 2025, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Energy, Installations, and Environment, Department of the Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va. (Acting Assistant Secretary January 2025–January 2026)
18. January 2025–January 2026, Acting Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Energy, Installations, and Environment, Department of the Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
19. January 2026–present, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Energy, Installations, and Environment, Department of the Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with six oak leaf clusters
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with one oak leaf cluster
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Registered Professional Engineer in the State of Maryland #22940
(Current as of January 2026)