Brig. Gen. Michael B. Parks is the Deputy Commander, 22nd Air Force at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Georgia. He assists the commander providing oversight of the Air Force Reserve's tactical air mobility operations and other vital mission sets to include distinguished visitor airlift, undergraduate pilot training, flight test operations, helicopter formal training unit and a mobile civil engineering response force. With more than 12,000 Reserve Airmen and 59 unit-equipped aircraft, 22nd AF contributes daily to the Air Force's worldwide operational mission. Reserve aircrews within 22nd AF accomplish a variety of C-130 Hercules missions, to include aerial spray, fire suppression, weather reconnaissance, tactical airlift and airdrop and aeromedical evacuation.
Brig. Gen. Parks was commissioned following graduation from the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo., in 1997. His previous assignments include pilot duties in the C-5A/B, C-37A, C-130H, KC-46A and KC-135R/T, as well as staff service at the Pacific Air Forces, U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa and the Deputy Undersecretary of the Air Force for International Affairs. Brig. Gen. Parks is a command pilot, having logged over 3,500 hours in airlift, tanker and distinguished visitor support aircraft.
Prior to his current position, the general was Commander, 94th Airlift Wing, Dobbins ARB, Ga.
EDUCATION
1997 Bachelor of Science, Engineering, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2003 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2008 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2008 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2011 Master of Science, Strategic Intelligence, National Defense Intelligence College, Bolling AFB, Washington, D.C.
2013 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 1997–January 1999, Student, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus Air Force Base, Miss., and Student, C-5 Formal Training Unit, Altus AFB, Okla.
2. February 1999–May 2002, Chief of Safety and Executive Officer, 9th Airlift Squadron, Dover AFB, Del.
3. May 2002–August 2003, Operations Group Pilot Training Manager, 436th Operations Support Squadron, Dover AFB, Del.
4. August 2003–August 2005, Chief, Current Operations, 65th Airlift Squadron, Hickam AFB, Hawaii
5. August 2005–August 2007, Chief, Pacific Air Forces Operational Support Aircraft Standardization/Evaluation Programs, Headquarters PACAF, Hickam AFB, Hawaii
6. August 2007–June 2008, Assistant Director of Operations, 93rd Air Refueling Squadron, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
7. June 2008–April 2009, OPLAN 8010 Alert Force Manager and Chief, Plans and Exercises, 92nd Operations Group, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
8. April 2009–June 2010, Senior Executive Officer, 92nd Air Refueling Wing, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
9. July 2010–July 2011, Student, National Defense Intelligence College, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C.
10. August 2011–October 2012, Australia and New Zealand Country Director, Pacific Division, Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force, International Affairs, Headquarters Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
11. November 2012–May 2013, South Asia and Oceania Branch Chief, Pacific Division, Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force, International Affairs, HAF, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
12. June 2013–June 2014, Chief of Safety, 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar
13. June 2014–July 2016, Commander, 351st Air Refueling Squadron, Royal Air Force Mildenhall, United Kingdom
14. July 2016–June 2018, Chief, Current Operations Branch and Deputy Chief, Operations and Plans Division, Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa, Ramstein AB, Germany (February 2018–June 2018, Battle Staff Director, Headquarters PACAF, Hickam AFB, Hawaii)
15. July 2018–June 2019, Chief, Air Mobility Division, 603rd Air Operations Center, Ramstein AB, Germany
16. July 2019–October 2020, Vice Commander, 916th Air Refueling Wing, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
17. November 2020–July 2023, Commander, 507th Air Refueling Wing, Tinker AFB, Okla.
18. July 2023–January 2026, Commander, 94th Airlift Wing, Dobbins ARB, Ga.
19. February 2026–present, Deputy Commander, 22nd Air Force, Dobbins ARB, Ga.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 3,500
Aircraft flown: T-37B, T-1A, C-5A/B, C-37A, C-130H, KC-46A and KC-135R/T
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
Bronze Star Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with oak leaf cluster
Aerial Achievement Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with ‘N’ device and oak leaf cluster
OCCUPATIONAL BADGES
Command Pilot
(Current as of April 2026)