Colonel Michael S. Albert is the commander of the 434th Air Refueling Wing, Grissom Air Reserve Base, Indiana. He commands the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command. The 434th ARW is manned by nearly 1,900 military, civilian and contractor personnel and equipped with two flying squadrons operating 16 aircraft. The 434th ARW also has a unique role supporting both the Single Integrated Operational Plan and conventional tanker missions.
Col Albert graduated from Davidson College, NC in 1999 and received his commission through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps with Detachment 592 at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte. After completing undergraduate pilot training at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, he was stationed at MacDill AFB, Fla. to fly the KC-135R/T. Col Albert held numerous leadership positions including Standardization Evaluation Liaison Officer, Executive Officer, Flight Commander, Assistant Director of Operations, Instructor Pilot, and Evaluator Aircraft Commander. He also has been stationed abroad at Naval Air Station Keflavik in Iceland and Royal Air Force Station Mildenhall in the United Kingdom. Col Albert then transferred to the US Air Force Reserves and became an instructor pilot for the 63rd Air Refueling Squadron at MacDill AFB, Fla. While stationed at MacDill AFB, he also held positions as the Deputy United States Transportation Command Liaison Officer to United States Central Command and United States Special Operations Command, Chief of 927th Air Refueling Wing Command Post, Wing Inspector General, 927th Operations Support Squadron Commander, and 927th Deputy Operations Group Commander.
Prior to his current position, Colonel Albert served as the Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans, Joint Planning Support Element, Joint Enabling Capabilities Command (JECC), Naval Station Norfolk, Va. He led over fifty joint planners in the United States Transportation Command unit with the mission to deploy worldwide in support of Combatant Commands and Joint Force HQ. He was also responsible for developing crisis and contingency action plans to achieve unified action by military forces across the spectrum of joint and combined forces. He is a senior pilot with over 2,500 hours in T-37B, T-1A, KC-135R, and KC-135T aircraft. He has flown over 90 combat and 30 combat support missions in support of Operations IRAQI FREEDOM, ENDURING FREEDOM, NOBLE EAGLE, NORTHERN WATCH, SOUTHERN WATCH, and FUNDAMENTAL JUSTICE. Additionally, he serves as a pilot for Delta Air Lines with more than 6000 hours in A319, A320, A330, B757, and B767ER aircraft.
EDUCATION
1999 Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, Davidson College – Davidson, N.C.
1999 Aerospace Basic Course – Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2001 Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training – Laughlin AFB, Texas
2001 KC-135R/T Copilot Initial Qualification Course – Altus AFB, Okla.
2004 KC-135R/T Aircraft Commander Qualification – Altus AFB, Okla.
2005 KC-135R/T Instructor Qualification – Altus AFB, Okla.
2006 Squadron Officer School – Maxwell AFB, Ala. (Top Third Graduate)
2007 Master of Human Relations, University of Oklahoma – Norman, Okla.
2008 Advanced Air Mobility Operations Course – Ft. Dix, N.J.
2009 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala. – by correspondence
2010 A-320 Type Rating, Delta Air Lines – Atlanta, Ga.
2012 B-757/767 Type Rating, Delta Air Lines – Atlanta, Ga.
2012 Joint Nuclear Command and Control – Offutt AFB, Neb.
2013 AMC Command Post Manager Course – Scott AFB, Ill.
2015 Joint Maritime Operations Course, Naval War College – Newport, R.I.
2019 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala. – by correspondence
2021 AFRC Squadron Commander Course, Robins AFB, Ga. – by correspondence
2023 A-330 Type Rating, Delta Air Lines – Atlanta, Ga.
2023 Joint Planners Course, Joint Enabling Capabilities Command -- NS Norfolk, Va.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. September 1999–June 2000, Special Assistant to Operations Support Officer, 6th Operations Support Squadron, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla.
2. June 2000–June 2001, Student Pilot, 47th Flying Training Wing, Laughlin AFB, Texas
3. August 2001–December 2001, Student Pilot, KC-135R Copilot Initial Qualification, 97th Flying Training Wing, Altus AFB, Okla.
4. December 2001–June 2003, Awards and Decorations Officer, KC-135R Pilot, 91st Air Refueling Squadron, MacDill AFB, Fla.
5. July 2003–April 2004, Standardization and Evaluation Liaison Officer, 6th Operations Group, MacDill AFB, Fla.
6. May 2004–May 2005, Chief Executive Officer, KC-135 Aircraft Commander, 91 ARS, MacDill AFB, Fla.
7. June 2005–June 2006, Operations Flight Commander, KC-135 R/T Instructor Pilot, 85th Operations Squadron, Naval Air Station Keflavik, Iceland
8. July 2006–December 2006, Chief of Training Plans, 351 ARS, Royal Air Force Station Mildenhall, United Kingdom
9. January 2007–November 2007, Executive Officer, KC-135 R/T Evaluator Pilot, 100 OG, RAF Mildenhall, UK
10. December 2007–August 2008, Flight Commander, KC-135 R/T Evaluator Pilot, 351 ARS, RAF Mildenhall, UK
11. September 2008–June 2009, Assistant Director of Operations, KC-135 R/T Evaluator Pilot, 351 ARS, RAF Mildenhall, UK
12. July 2009–December 2011, KC-135 R/T Instructor Pilot, 63 ARS, MacDill AFB, Fla. (January 2010–October 2010, Deputy USTRANSCOM Liaison Officer to USCENTCOM and USSOCOM, MacDill AFB, Fla.)
13. January 2012–January 2015, Chief, Command Post, 927 ARW, MacDill AFB, Fla.
14. January 2015–June 2021, Inspector General, 927 ARW, MacDill AFB, Fla.
15. June 2021–June 2023, Commander, 927 OSS, MacDill AFB, Fla.
16. June 2023–August 2023, Deputy Commander, 927 OG, MacDill AFB, Fla.
17. August 2023–April 2025, Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans, Joint Planning Support Element, Joint Enabling Capabilities Command, Naval Station Norfolk, Va.
18. April 2025–June 2025, Deputy Commander, 434th Air Refueling Wing, Grissom ARB, Ind.
19. July 2025–Present, Commander, 434th Air Refueling Wing, Grissom ARB, Ind.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
- Jan 2009—Oct 2009, Deputy USTRANSCOM Liaison Officer to USCENTCOM and USSOCOM, MacDill AFB, Fla., as a Major
- Jul 2023—April 2025, Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans, Joint Enabling Capabilities Command, NS Norfolk, Va., as a Colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Senior Pilot
Flight hours: Over 2500 (650 combat)
Aircraft flown: T-37B, T-1A, KC-135R, and KC-135T
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Achievement Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award with gold border
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with “V” device and three oak leaf clusters
Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation with bronze service star
Combat Readiness Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with bronze service star
Iraq Campaign Medal with bronze service star
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold border and six oak leaf clusters
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with bronze service star
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1991 Eagle Scout, Troop 76 – Fayetteville, Ga.
2001 Outstanding Citizenship Award, Class 01-10 – Laughlin AFB, Texas
2003 Company Grade Officer of the Quarter, 91st Air Refueling Squadron – MacDill AFB, Fla.
2003 Company Grade Officer of the Year, 91st Air Refueling Squadron – MacDill AFB, Fla.
2005 Top Performer, 385th Air Expeditionary Group – Incirlik AB, Turkey
2005 Crew of the Deployment, 90th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron – Incirlik AB, Turkey
2005 Company Grade Officer of the Quarter, 91st Air Refueling Squadron – MacDill AFB, Fla.
2005 Company Grade Officer of the Quarter, 6th Operations Group – MacDill AFB, Fla.
2005 Company Grade Officer of the Year, 85th Operations Squadron – NAS Keflavik, Iceland
2005 Company Grade Officer of the Quarter, 85th Group – NAS Keflavik, Iceland
2006 Resource Advisor of the Quarter, 85th Group – NAS Keflavik, Iceland
2006 Company Grade Officer of the Quarter, 100th Operations Group – RAF Mildenhall, UK
2008 Squadron of the Month, 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron – Al Udeid AB, Qatar
2012 Superior Team Award, Air Mobility Command Inspector General – MacDill AFB, Fla.
2014 Field Grade Officer of the Quarter, 927th Air Refueling Wing – MacDill AFB, Fla.
2015 Air Mobility Command Large Command Post of the Year – MacDill AFB, Fla.
2016 Client Care Specialist of the Year, Delta Pilots Mutual Aid – Atlanta, Ga.
2017 Superior Performer Award, AFRC Inspector General – MacDill AFB, Fla.
2017 Leadership St. Pete Class of 2017 Graduate – St. Petersburg, Fla.
2021 Field Grade Officer of the Quarter, 927th Air Refueling Wing – MacDill AFB, Fla.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Board of Trustees and Training Committee Chairman, Delta Pilots Mutual Aid
New Hire Mentor, Delta Air Lines
Leadership St. Pete Alumni Association
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant July 12, 1999
First Lieutenant July 12, 2001
Captain July 12, 2003
Major June 1, 2009
Lieutenant Colonel Oct. 1, 2015
Colonel July 15, 2023
(Current as of June 2025)