Colonel Michael D. Curry is the Vice Commander of the 1st Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, Florida. He is responsible to the 1st SOW Commander for preparing Air Force special operations forces for missions worldwide in support of Army, Navy, Marine and allied special operations forces and USAF counterparts. The wing's mission includes infiltration, resupply, air refueling and precision fire support, employing over 80 fixed and vertical lift aircraft including the AC-130U, AC-130J, MC-130H, CV-22B, U-28A , PC-12, and MQ-9. These capabilities support a variety of special operations missions including direct action, unconventional warfare, special reconnaissance, personnel recovery, counterterrorism, psychological operations and information operations.
Colonel Curry grew up in Edon, Ohio and received his commission through the United States Air Force Academy in 1998. He has spent the majority of his career in special operations assignments. Colonel Curry served throughout the world, conducting special operations in Africa, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Most recently he served in the Deputy Directorate for Special Operations in the Pentagon. A Command Pilot, he has logged more than 3,400 flying hours in the T-37, C-12, C-130E, MC-130E, C-208, PC-6, BE-200, CN-235, B-90, PAX-750XL, MX-7, PC-12 and MQ-9.
EDUCATION
1998 Bachelor of Science, General Engineering, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado
2004 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
2004 Masters of Science in Aerospace Science, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
2007 Air Command and Staff College (by correspondence)
2010 Masters of Public Administration, Harvard Kennedy School, Cambridge, MA
2010 Air War College (by correspondence)
2011 Masters of Philosophy in Military Strategy, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Air University
2016 Masters of Science in National Security Strategy, National War College, National Defense University
ASSIGNMENTS
1.May 1998 – April 1999, Wing Scheduling Officer, 4th Operational Support Squadron, Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina
2.April 1999 – October 1999, Student, 84th Flying Training Squadron, Laughlin AFB, Texas
3.October 1999 – June 2000, student, VT-35, NAS Corpus Christi, Texas
4.June 2000 – March 2005, MC-130E Pilot and Instructor Pilot, 8th Special Operation Squadron, Duke Field, Florida
5.March 2005 – September 2005, Wing Executive Officer and MC-130E Instructor Pilot, 16th Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, Florida
6.September 2005 – April 2009, Evaluator Pilot and Chief of Standardization and Evaluation, Special Operations Squadron
7.April 2009 – June 2010, Aide-de-Camp, SecAF, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, The Pentagon, Washington, DC
8.June 2010 – June 2011, Student, Mid-Career Masters of Public Administration, Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Cambridge, Massachusetts
9.July 2011 – June 2012, Student, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
10.June 2012 – June 2013, Operations Officer, Special Operations Squadron
11.June 2013 – June 2015, Commander, Special Operations Squadron
12.August 2015 – June 2016, Student, National War College, Fort McNair, Washington, DC
13.June 2016 – February 2017, Branch Chief, Levant and SOUTHCOM, Deputy Director of Special Operations,
J-37, Joint Staff, The Pentagon, Washington, DC
14.February 2017 – February 2018, Senior Executive Assistant, Director for Operations, J3, Joint Staff, The Pentagon, Washington DC
15.February 2018 – June 2018, Division Chief, Strategy, Plans and Policy, Deputy Director of Special Operations, J-37, Joint Staff, The Pentagon, Washington, DC
16.July 2018 - Present, Vice Commander, 1st Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, Florida
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1.June 2016 – February 2017, Branch Chief, Levant and SOUTHCOM, Deputy Director of Special Operations,
J-37, Joint Staff, The Pentagon, Washington, DC
2.February 2017 – February 2018, Senior Executive Assistant, Director for Operations, J3, Joint Staff, The Pentagon, Washington DC
3.February 2018 – June 2018, Division Chief, Strategy, Plans and Policy, Deputy Director of Special Operations, J-37, Joint Staff, The Pentagon, Washington, DC
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: More than 3,400 hours
Aircraft Flown: T-37, C-12, C-130E, MC-130E, C-208, PC-6, BE-200, CN-235, B-90, PAX-750XL, MX-7, PC-12
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Medal with twelve oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Graduate with Military Distinction USAF Academy, 1998
Airlift Tanker Association Young Leadership Award, 2005
DATES OF PROMOTIONS
Second Lieutenant May 1998
First Lieutenant May 2000
Captain May 2002
Major December 2007
Lieutenant Colonel December 2011
Colonel April 2018
(Current as of January 2019)