Maj. Gen. Michael R. Taheri is the Director of Staff, National Guard Bureau, the Pentagon, Arlington Virginia. In this role, he synchronizes and integrates policy, plans, positions, procedures and cross functional issues for the National Guard Bureau staff. Prior to assuming his current position, Maj Gen Taheri was the Director Strategy, Policy, Plans and International Affairs, National Guard Bureau, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia.
General Taheri was commissioned in May 1989 following graduation from the University of Wyoming. After completion of pilot training, General Taheri flew C-130s at Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina, Yokota Air Base, Japan and Little Rock AFB, Arkansas as a Formal Training Unit Instructor and Evaluation Pilot. General Taheri joined the North Carolina Air National Guard in 1999 where he served as a C-130 evaluator pilot and Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System aircraft commander.
General Taheri has significant combat operations experience and is a command pilot with over 4,000 hours of total flight time. General Taheri has served in a variety of command and staff positions in Headquarters U.S. Air Force and Joint Staff assignments, to include serving as the Commander of the Air National Guard Readiness Center.
EDUCATION
1989 Bachelor of Science in Political Science, University of Wyoming, Laramie
1994 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2004 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2006 Air War College, by correspondence
2008 Master of National Resource Strategy, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2010 Foreign Politics, International Relations and the National Interest, Seminar XXI, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge
2011 National Security Studies Management Course, Syracuse University, Syracuse, N.Y.
2012 Leadership Development Program, Center for Creative Leadership, Greensboro, N.C.
2015 Capstone General and Flag Officer Course, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2016 Senior Executives in National and International Security Program, Harvard Kennedy School, Boston
2017 Generals, Flag Officers and Ambassadors’ Course, NATO Defense College, Rome and Brussels, Belgium
ASSIGNMENTS
1. January 1990 - March 1991, Student, undergraduate pilot training, Vance AFB, Okla.
2. March 1991 - September 1991, Student, C-130 initial qualification, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
3. September 1991 - December 1994, C-130 Co-Pilot/Aircraft Commander, Pope AFB, N.C.
4. January 1995 - November 1997, C-130 Instructor/Evaluator Pilot, Yokota AB, Japan
5. November 1997 - March 1999, Instructor Pilot, C-130 Formal Training Unit, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
6. March 1999 - January 2004, C-130 Evaluator Pilot/Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems Pilot, 156th Airlift Squadron, Charlotte International Airport, N.C.
7. January 2004 - January 2005, C-130 Program Manager, Plans and Programs Division, Air National Guard Readiness Center, Arlington, Va.
8. January 2005 - May 2006, Chief, Mobility Programs Branch, and National Guard Bureau Force Structure, Resources, and Assessment Officer, Plans and Programs Division, Air National Guard Readiness Center, Arlington, Va.
9. June 2006 - June 2007, Commander, 156th Airlift Squadron, Charlotte International Airport, N.C.
10.July 2007 - June 2008, Student, National Defense University, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
11. June 2008 - June 2009, Chief, Organization Management, Air National Guard Readiness Center, Arlington, Va.
12. June 2009 - June 2010, Director, Office of Human Resources, Andrews AFB, Md.
13. June 2010 - May 2011, National Guard Advisor and Chief, Defense Support to Civil Authorities Branch, Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate (J5), Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
14. June 2011 - June 2012, National Guard Advisor and Deputy Division Chief, Homeland, Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate (J5), Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
15. July 2012 - August 2013, Vice Commander, 153rd Airlift Wing, Wyoming Air National Guard, Cheyenne, Wyo.
16. August 2013 - June 2014, Commander, 153rd Airlift Wing, Wyoming Air National Guard, Cheyenne, Wyo.
17. June 2014 - February 2017, Commander, Air National Guard Readiness Center, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
18. February 2017 – September 2018, Director Strategy, Policy, Plans and International Affairs (J5), National Guard Bureau, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
19. October 2018 - present, Director of Staff, National Guard Bureau, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 2010 – May 2011, National Guard Advisor and Chief, Defense Support to Civil Authorities Branch, Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate (J5), Joint Staff, Pentagon, Arlington, Va., as a colonel
2. June 2011 – June 2012, National Guard advisor and Deputy Division Chief, Homeland, Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate (J5), Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., as a colonel
3. February 2017 – present, Director Strategy, Policy, Plans and International Affairs (J5), National Guard Bureau, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., as a major general
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: over 4,000
Aircraft flown: T-37, T-38, C-130
AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Aerial Achievement Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Sept. 11, 1989
First Lieutenant Sept. 11, 1991
Captain Sept. 11, 1993
Major Oct. 1, 2000
Lieutenant Colonel Dec. 9, 2004
Colonel July 25, 2008
Brigadier General June 2, 2014
Major General Dec. 7, 2016
(Current as of November 2018)