Brig. Gen. Michael B. Parks is the Commander, 94th Airlift Wing, Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga. He leads a unit equipped Air Force Reserve wing with eight C-130H3 cargo aircraft that support joint service and multi-national airlift missions in the United States and around the world. The wing is comprised of nearly 2,000 personnel and includes a headquarters element, three groups and 13 squadrons. Additionally, Brig. Gen. Parks has command responsibility for the entire installation, serving as host for over 12,000 tenant personnel and 17 tenant units, including 22nd Air Force, Air Force Plant 6 at Lockheed-Martin, the Georgia Army and Air National Guard Headquarters and other Army, Navy and Marine Corps Reserve units.
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, KC-135R/T, and KC-46A, and 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. Prior to his current position, he was the Commander, 507th Air Refueling Wing, Tinker Air Force Base, Okla.
Brig. Gen. Parks is a command pilot, having logged over 3,500 hours in airlift, tanker, and distinguished visitor support aircraft.
EDUCATION
1997 Bachelor of Science, Engineering, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2003 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, 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, HQ Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
11. November 2012 – May 2013, South Asia and Oceania Branch Chief, Pacific Division, Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force, International Affairs, HQ Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
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, U.K.
14. July 2016 – June 2018, Chief, Current Operations Branch and Deputy Chief, Operations and Plans Division, HQ U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa, Ramstein AB, Germany (February 2018 – June 2018, Battle Staff Director, HQ 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 – present, Commander, 94th Airlift Wing, 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-135R/T, and KC-46A
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
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