Colonel Michael P. Mihalik is the Commander, 126th Mission Support Group, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. As the Commander, he leads six separate Squadrons and Flights including Civil Engineer, Security Forces, Logistics, Communications/Cyber, Force Support/Services, and Contracting for a 900-member Illinois Air National Guard Wing of nine KC-135R aircraft and an Active Association Squadron, the 906th Air Refueling Squadron. In this capacity he is responsible for directing all host base infrastructure activities and functions relating to direct mission support.
Colonel Mihalik commissioned into the Air Force in May 2003 with a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture at the completion of Air Force Reserve Officer Training (ROTC) in 2003 from Mississippi State University. While serving on Active duty, Colonel Mihalik also earned a Masters in Environmental Policy and Management from American Military University. After serving at both base level and staff level position, he accepted a headquarters position with the Air National Guard at the National Guard Bureau, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, where he served the 92 field units and filled many leadership and key civil engineering roles to include Chief, Expeditionary Support Branch and Acting Chief, Programs and Analysis Branch. After his National Guard Bureau positions, Colonel Mihalik was the Commander and Base Civil Engineer, 126th Civil Engineer Squadron, 126th Air Refueling Wing, Illinois Air National Guard, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, where he was responsible for the wings sustainment for $140 million in facilities and infrastructure to enable the completion of the KC-135 air refueling mission. He commanded a 68 person squadron that includes military, state and civilian personnel across the full spectrum of facility infrastructure management completing over 2,700 work orders annually. He ensured that the squadron is properly organized, trained and equipped to meet both the war time and state missions. In 2022, Colonel Mihalik was assigned as the Director of Staff – Air, Joint Force Headquarters, Illinois Air National Guard, Springfield, Illinois, where he oversaw the daily operations of the headquarters staff and directed activities of his staff members in the areas of strategic planning, policy implementation, personnel services, logistics recruiting and retention, facilities, security and force protection, along with homeland security and homeland defense.
Colonel Mihalik has deployed three times in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, twice in a joint assignment with Special Operation Command.
EDUCATION
2002 Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps Field Training, Lackland AFB, Texas
2003 Bachelors of Landscape Architecture, Mississippi State University, Starkville, Mississippi
2004 Aerospace Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, Montgomery, Alabama
2009 USAF Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Montgomery, Alabama
2011 Masters in Environmental Policy and Management, American Military University, Correspondence
2014 USAF Air Command and Staff Officer School, Correspondence
2019 USAF Air War College, Correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2003 – October 2003, Casual Status at 14 Air Force, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California
2. October 2003 – October 2006, Civil Engineer Officer and Mission Support Group Plans and Program Officer, 7th Civil Engineer Squadron / 7th Mission Support Group, Dyess AFB, Texas
3. October 2006 – April 2009, Contingency and Deployments Office and Executive Officer, HQ Air Force Civil Engineer Support Agency, Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida
4. August 2007 – Feb 2008 – Deployed Chief of Base Development, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar
5. January 2010 – July 2010, Deployed NTM-A/CSTC-A Joint Engineer, Kabul, Afghanistan
6. August 2010 – June 2012, Deputy Commander of Programs Flight, 27th Special Operations Civil Engineer Squadron, Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico
7. August 2011 – March 2012, Deployed CJSOTF-A Deputy J-7, Bagram Air Base Afghanistan
8. June 2012 – May 2017, Various Positions at Staff Level, Air National Guard Readiness Center, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland
9. May 2017 – December 2021, Commander and Base Civil Engineer, 126th Civil Engineer Squadron, 126 Air Refueling Wing, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois
10. January 2022 – March 2024, Director of Staff - Air, Joint Force Headquarters, Illinois Air National Guard, Springfield, Illinois
11. April 2024 – Present, Commander, 126th Mission Support Group, Scott AFB, Illinois, 126 Air Refueling Wing, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. August 2011 – March 2012, Deployed CJSOTF-A Deputy J-7, Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan
2. January 2010 – July 2010, Deployed NTM-A/CSTC-A Joint Engineer, Camp Eggers (Kabul), Afghanistan
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Cluster
Joint Commendation Medal with One Oak Leaf Clusters
AF Commendation Medal with Two Oak Leaf Clusters
AF Achievement Medal with One Oak Leaf Clusters
NATO Medal
STATE AWARDS
Illinois Military Long and Honorable Service Medal
Illinois Military Attendance Ribbon with Three Device
Illinois State Active Duty Service Ribbon
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
National Guard Association of the United States, Life Member
National Guard Association of Illinois, Life Member
Society of American Military Engineers, Life Member
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS MEMBERSHIPS
Midwest Strategic Planning System Member
Director of Staff Field Advisory Council, National Guard Bureau