Brig. Gen. Michele A. Lo Bianco is the Commander, 618th Air Operations Center (Tanker Airlift Control Center), Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. The 618th AOC is responsible for operational planning, scheduling, directing and assessing a fleet of approximately 1,100 aircraft in executing the air mobility mission. The center provides command and control of strategic airlift, air refueling, aeromedical evacuation, global air mobility support and presidential and senior leader air transport in support of national interests.
Brig. Gen. Lo Bianco commissioned in 2000 as a Distinguished Graduate of the University of Miami’s ROTC program and was a top graduate from the Air Force Institute of Technology in 2001. She has commanded at the squadron, group and wing levels. She is a Chief of Staff of the Air Force Scholar and a graduate of the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, Massachusetts.
Brig. Gen. Lo Bianco is a command pilot with more than 3,100 flight hours in the C-17A and more than 900 combat and combat support hours. She is a veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, with multiple deployments in Southwest Asia.
EDUCATION
2000 Bachelor of Science, Physics and Mathematics, University of Miami, Fla.
2001 Basic Meteorology Graduate Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
2002 Aerospace Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2006 Distinguished Graduate, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2008 Master of Arts, Strategic Intelligence, American Military University
2009 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2013 Master of Public Administration, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.
2015 Joint Professional Military Education II, Norfolk, Va.
2019 Master of Strategic Studies, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 2000–June 2001, Student, Air Force Institute of Technology, The Ohio State University, Columbus
2. June 2001–August 2003, Officer in Charge, A-Team/Executive Officer, 26th Operational Weather Squadron, Barksdale Air Force Base, La.
3. August 2003–April 2005, Student, Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin AFB, Texas
4. May 2005–January 2007, Director of Staff, C-17A Pilot, 14th Airlift Squadron, Charleston AFB, S.C.
5. February 2007–May 2007, Flight Commander, Life Support, 437th Operations Support Squadron, Charleston AFB, S.C.
6. May 2007–September 2008, Wing Executive Officer and C-17A Aircraft Commander, 437th Airlift Wing, Charleston AFB, S.C.
7. October 2008–September 2009, Deputy Chief, Command Post, 437th Airlift Wing, Charleston AFB, S.C.
8. October 2009–June 2012, Assistant Director of Operations, C-17A FTU Evaluator Pilot, 58th Airlift Squadron/97th Operations Support Squadron, Altus AFB, Okla.
9. June 2012–June 2013, Student, John F Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.
10. July 2013–October 2015, Politico-Military Planner for Southeast Asia, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
11. October 2016–June 2018, Operations Officer/Commander, 305th Operations Support Squadron, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.
12. July 2018–June 2019, Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
13. July 2019–April 2020, Division Chief, Programs Division, Scott AFB, Ill.
14. May 2020–June 2022, Commander, 305th Operations Group, JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.
15. July 2022–July 2024, Commander, 15th Wing, JB Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii
16. August 2024–May 2026, Deputy Director of Resource Integration, HAF/A4, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
17. May 2026–present, Commander, 618th Air Operations Center (Tanker Airlift Control Center), Scott AFB, Ill.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2013–October 2015, Politico-Military Planner for Southeast Asia, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., as a lieutenant colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 3,100, including more than 900 combat hours
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-1, C-37, C-17, KC-10, KC-46
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Combat Action Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with campaign star
Iraq Campaign Medal with campaign star
(Current as of June 2026)