Maj. Gen. Michael A. Valle serves as the Deputy Commander, First Air Force, Air Forces Northern, stationed at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. He serves as the principal advisor to the First Air Force Commander, supporting the deployment, sustainment and redeployment of U.S. Air Forces under U.S. Northern Command. He provides oversight for Defense Support of Civil Authorities and Theater Security Cooperation with partner nations. He ensures the Civil Air Patrol is organized, trained and equipped to fulfill Air Force assigned missions. He oversees the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center's execution of inland search and rescue operations, and the Air Force National Security Emergency Preparedness directorate's deployment and sustainment of Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officers. As the Deputy Combined/Joint Force Air Component Commander, he is responsible for planning and conducting air defense and air sovereignty operations in the continental United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Maj. Gen. Valle was commissioned through the Air National Guard, Academy of Military Science, McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tennessee, in November 1996. Maj. Gen. Valle has participated in several worldwide theater operations to include operations Coronet Nighthawk, Support Justice, Noble Eagle, Southern Watch and Enduring Freedom. He has experience in Theater Security Cooperation, working primarily with Mexico and supporting U.S. Southern Command in several South American countries. Additionally, Maj. Gen. Valle has served as an Air Expeditionary Group Commander, Joint Task Force Commander and Joint Air Component Coordination Element Director.
EDUCATION
1993 Bachelor of Arts, Business Administration, St. Leo University, Fla.
2002 Master of Aeronautical Science, Aerospace Safety, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Fla.
2004 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
2004 Marine Corps Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course, Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Yuma, Ariz.
2009 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2013 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2015 Air National Guard Commander's Development Course, Andrews AFB, Md.
2015 Executive Certificate in National Security Management, Syracuse University, N.Y.
2016 Leadership Decision Making, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.
2018 Joint Task Force Commander Course, Peterson AFB, Colo.
2019 Dual Status Commander's Course, Peterson AFB, Colo.
2020 Regional Studies Seminar - Latin America, Alan L. Freed Associates, Inc., Washington, D.C.
2023 Space Executive Course, National Security Space Institute, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2023 Combined/Joint Forces Land Component Command Commander's Course, Army War College, Pa.
2024 Advanced Senior Leader Development Seminar, Airlie House, Warrenton, Va.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. January 1986–January 1991, Command Post Controller, Muñiz Air National Guard Base, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2. January 1991–July 1993, Aerospace Control Systems Operator, 118th Air Control Squadron, Kennesaw, Ga.
3. July 1993–January 1995, Aerospace Control Systems Operator, 140th Air Defense Sector, Puerto Rico
4. January 1995–December 1996, Air Surveillance Technician, Northeast Air Defense Sector, Rome, N.Y.
5. January 1997–August 1997, Student, Undergraduate Air Battle Manager Course, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
6. August 1997–July 1998, Air Weapons Controller, Northeast Air Defense Sector, Rome, N.Y.
7. July 1998–March 2001, Senior Director, Southeast Air Defense Sector, Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. (March 2001–May 2001, Defense Duty Officer, Combined Air Operations Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)
8. May 2001–November 2006, Instructor Senior Director, Southeast Air Defense Section, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
9. November 2006–September 2008, Joint Interface Control Officer, 601st Air Operations Center, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
10. September 2008–November 2008, Executive Officer to the Vice Commander, First Air Force, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
11. November 2008–May 2010, Executive Officer to the Commander, First Air Force, Tyndall AFB, Fla. (May 2010–September 2010, Air Operations Officer, International Security Assistance Force - International Joint Command, Kabul, Afghanistan)
12. October 2010–July 2011, Chief, Strategy Guidance Team, 601st AOC, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
13. July 2011–June 2013, Deputy Chief, Combat Operations Division, 601st AOC, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
14. July 2013–July 2014, Chief Combat Operations, Combat Operations Division, 601st AOC, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
15. July 2014–July 2015, Chief, Combat Plans Division, 601st AOC, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
16. July 2015–January 2017, Chief, Combat Operations Division, 601st AOC, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
17. January 2017–April 2018, Commander, 101st Air and Space Operations Group, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
18. April 2018–September 2019, Commander, 601st AOC, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
19. October 2019–April 2023, Assistant Adjutant General and Commander, Florida Air National Guard, St. Augustine, Fla.
20. May 2023–August 2025, ANG Assistant to the Commander, CONR-1AF, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
21. August 2025–present, Deputy Commander, First Air Force, Air Forces Northern, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal
Army Achievement Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
AF Outstanding Unit Award with valor and five oak leaf clusters
AF Organizational Excellence Award with two oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal with silver oak leaf cluster
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with device
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with device
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold border
NATO Medal
(Current as of August 2025)