Colonel Michael J. Power is the 377th Air Base Wing and installation commander at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M. The wing provides highly trained forces supporting the nuclear enterprise and expeditionary combat forces to combatant commanders. The wing is responsible for installation operations, security, maintenance, medical care, and mission support for 25,000 military and civilian employees, 27,000 retirees, and 20,000 family members who live and work on Kirtland's 52,000 acres. Kirtland is the fifth largest base in the United States Air Force. The wing is the host for 108 mission partners, to include the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center, the 58th and 150th Special Operations Wings, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, U.S. Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration, Sandia National Laboratories, Space Rapid Capabilities Office, Air Force Research Laboratories, the Air Force Inspection Agency, and Air Force Safety Center, in addition to other wing equivalent units. The 377th Air Base Wing also operates the United States' only dedicated Intercontinental Ballistic Missile test organization for current and future capabilities of the nation's force. Elite weapons and tactics development and missile test launches are developed and executed locally and at geographically separated locations in Utah and California.
Colonel Power graduated from the United States Air Force Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in Management in 2001. As a career Munitions and Missile Maintenance Officer, Colonel Power has served in a variety of leadership positions in Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) maintenance, conventional and nuclear munitions maintenance, intermediate – level aircraft maintenance, and program management, primarily at the squadron, depot, and headquarters levels. Most recently, Colonel Power served as the Commander, 90th Maintenance Group, FE Warren AFB, Wyoming.
EDUCATION
2001 Bachelor of Science in Management, United States Air Force Academy
2002 Aerospace Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2006 Top Third Graduate, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2006 Distinguished Graduate, Advanced Maintenance and Munitions Officer School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2007 Master of Human Resources Administration, Central Michigan University
2010 Air Command and Staff College, Correspondence, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2013 Distinguished Graduate, Marine Corps Command and Staff College, MCB Quantico, Va.
2013 Master of Military Studies (with Distinction), Marine Corps University
2014 School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2014 Master of Philosophy in Military Strategy, Air University
2015 Air War College, Correspondence, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2019 National Defense Fellowship, The Henry L. Stimson Center, Washington D.C.
2019 Joint and Combined Warfighting School, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk Va.
2020 Advanced Program in Logistics Technology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
2022 Air Force Enterprise Leadership Seminar, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
ASSIGNMENTS
- August 2001 – July 2002, Assistant Scheduling and Morale Officer, 71st Fighter Squadron, Langley Air Force Base, Va.
- July 2002 – February 2003, Student Pilot and later, Assistant Wing Historian, 47th Flying Training Wing, Laughlin AFB, Tex.
- February 2003 – September 2006, Officer – in – Charge, Maintenance Plans & Scheduling and Electro – Mechanical Team Sections, Maintenance Training Flight Commander, and Maintenance Operations Flight Commander, 91st Maintenance Group, Minot AFB, N.D.
- September 2006 – December 2006, Student, USAF Advanced Maintenance and Munitions Officer School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
- December 2006 – May 2007, Munitions Flight Commander, 27th Equipment Maintenance Squadron, Cannon AFB, N.M.
- May 2007 – October 2007, Deployed Maintenance Operations Flight Commander, 36th Maintenance Group, Andersen AFB, Guam
- October 2007 – June 2008, Maintenance Operations Officer, 27th Special Operations Equipment Maintenance Squadron, Cannon AFB, N.M.
- June 2008 – June 2009, Executive Officer to the Wing Commander, 27th Special Operations Wing, Cannon AFB, N.M.
- June 2009 – July 2010, Director of Operations, 581st Missile Maintenance Squadron (ICBM Depot), Hill AFB, Utah
- July 2010 – May 2011, Nuclear Support Equipment Program Manager, ICBM Systems Division, Hill AFB, Utah
- May 2011 – May 2012, Deployed Aide – de – Camp to the U.S. Security Coordinator for Israel Palestinian Authority, State Department, Tel Aviv, Israel
- July 2012 – June 2013, Student, Marine Corps Command and Staff College, MCB Quantico Va
- July 2013 – June 2014, Student, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Maxwell AFB Ala.
- July 2014 – July 2016, Commander, 898th Munitions Squadron (Kirtland Underground Munitions Maintenance and Storage Complex), Kirtland AFB, N.M.
- July 2016 - July 2018, Chief, Readiness and Logistics, Office of Legislative Liaison, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
- July 2018 – June 2019, National Defense Fellow, The Henry L. Stimson Center, Washington, D.C.
- June 2019 – August 2019, Student, Joint and Combined Warfighting School, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk Va.
- August 2019 – June 2020, Chief, Nuclear Weapons Maintenance Branch, HQ USAF/A4LW, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
- June 2020 – June 2021, Chief, Nuclear Weapons, Missiles, and Munitions Division, and 21M Career Field Manager, HQ USAF/A4LW, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
- June 2021 – June 2023, Commander, 90th Maintenance Group, FE Warren AFB, Wyo.
- June 2023 – Present, Commander, 377th Air Base Wing, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2004 AFSPC ICBM Maintenance Officer of the Year
2014 AFMC Nuclear Munitions FGO of the Year
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant, May 30, 2001
First Lieutenant, May 30, 2003
Captain, May 30, 2005
Major, May 1, 2011
Lieutenant Colonel, February 1, 2015
Colonel, February 1, 2021
(Current as of June 2023)