Brig. Gen. Michael J. Cole is the Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, Eighth Air Force (Air Forces Strategic), Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, and Joint Functional Component Commander for Global Strike, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Nebraska. "The Mighty Eighth" serves as the air component headquarters to USSTRATCOM for strategic deterrence global strike, and operates USSTRATCOM's Joint Air Operations Center. The Joint Functional Component Command for Global Strike plans and executes strategic deterrence and global strike operations for USSTRATCOM.
General Cole was commissioned a second lieutenant after completing ROTC in 1983 and spent eight years on active duty prior to joining the Air Force Reserve in 1994. He served as an Air Reserve Technician and Operations Squadron Commander.
He is an engineering team leader at the U.S. Army Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command. General Cole is a command pilot with more than 4,300 flying hours in the KC-135 including combat missions in Operations Allied Force and Noble Eagle. He was assigned as deployed squadron commander in Operation Enduring Freedom and as Deputy Chief of Staff, Joint Enabling Capabilities Command.
Prior to assuming his current duties, General Cole served as Mobilization Assistant to the Director of Operations, Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale AFB, Louisiana.
EDUCATION
1983 Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering, University of Michigan
1987 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence
2000 Air Command and Staff College
2000 Master of Science degree in Military Operational Art and Science, Air University
2005 Air War College, by correspondence
2005 Reserve Component National Security Course, National Defense University
2009 Reserve Component Advanced Joint Professional Military Education, Joint Forces Staff College, Recipient Commandant's Award, by correspondence
2009 Master of Engineering degree in Electrical Engineering, University of Idaho
ASSIGNMENTS
1. March 1984 - March 1985, Student, undergraduate pilot training, Williams AFB, Ariz.
2. April 1985 - August 1985, KC-135 Student, combat crew training school, Castle AFB, Calif.
3. September 1985 - April 1988, KC-135 Co-Pilot, K. I. Sawyer AFB, Mich.
4. April 1988 - December 1988, Aircraft Commander, K. I. Sawyer AFB, Mich.
5. January 1989 - October 1989, Special Projects Officer, Air Force Human Resources Lab, Williams AFB, Ariz.
6. November 1989 - March 1991, KC-135 Aircraft Commander, Dyess AFB, Texas
7. March 1991 - August 1992, KC-135 Aircraft Commander, Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl. Airport, Ariz.
8. January 1994 - August 1999, KC-135 Aircraft Commander, Instructor Pilot, Flight Commander, and Squadron Executive Officer, Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich.
9. August 1999 - June 2000, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
10. June 2000 - April 2002, KC-135 Instructor Pilot and Wing Scheduler, Selfridge ANGB, Mich.
11. April 2002- July 2003, Chief of Wing Plans, Selfridge ANGB, Mich.
12. July 2003- September 2006, Commander, 927nd Operations Support Squadron, Selfridge ANGB, Mich.
13. October 2006- September 2007, Strategic Planner, U. S. Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Neb.
14. October 2007 - September 2009, Deputy Chief of Staff, Joint Enabling Capabilities Command, Joint Forces Command, Norfolk Naval Air Station, Va.
15. October 2009 - July 2010, Commander, 953rd Reserve Support Squadron, Joint Forces Command, Norfolk NAS, Va.
16. July 2010 - October 2014, Mobilization Assistant to the Director of Operations, Global Strike Command, Barksdale AFB, La.
17. October 2014 - present, Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, 8th Air Force, Barksdale AFB, La; and Commander, Joint Functional Component Command for Global Strike, United States Strategic Command, Offutt ABF, Neb.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. October 2006 - September 2007, strategic planner, U. S. Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Neb., as a colonel
2. October 2007 - September 2009, Deputy Chief of Staff, Joint Enabling Capabilities Command, Joint Forces Command, Norfolk Naval Air Station, Va., as a colonel
3. October 2014 - present, Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, 8th Air Force, Barksdale AFB, La.; and Commander, Joint Functional Component Command for Global Strike, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Neb., as a brigadier general
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: 4,300
Aircraft flown: KC-135A/E/R
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Combat Readiness Medal with four oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal with service star
Kosovo Campaign Medal with two service stars
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal – Mobilization
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Dec. 21, 1983
First Lieutenant Feb. 7, 1986
Captain Feb. 7, 1988
Major Oct. 1, 1997
Lieutenant Colonel Sept. 12, 2002
Colonel Aug. 1, 2006
Brigadier General Dec. 20, 2013
(Current as of October 2015)