Colonel Michael E. Conley is the commander of the 1st Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, Florida. He is responsible for preparing Air Force special operations forces for worldwide missions in support of joint and coalition special operations. The wing's mission includes planning, posturing, and executing precision strike, specialized mobility and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. The wing employs more than 80 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, counterterrorism, personnel recovery, psychological operations and information operations.
As installation commander, Col. Conley also oversees Hurlburt Field’s base support for the wing’s four groups and 26 squadrons, as well as over 40 tenant units, including Headquarters Air Force Special Operations Command.
Prior to arriving to the 1st Special Operations Wing, Col. Conley served as the vice commander of the 27th Special Operations Wing at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico. He previously served as Deputy Director of the Chairman’s Action Group and Special Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Colonel Conley was born and raised in Geneva, New York, and received his commission through the United States Air Force Academy in May 1996. Since completing pilot training in 1998, he has operational experience flying the UH-1N, MH-53 and CV-22, with the majority of his assignments in special operations aviation.
EDUCATION
1996 - Bachelor of Science, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado
2000 - Squadron Officer’s School, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2004 - M.S. in Management, University of Maryland, University College
2006 - Air Command and Staff College (Correspondence)
2008 - M.A. in Communication, George Mason University (AF Intern Program)
2010 - Air War College (Correspondence)
2014 - M.A. in National Security and Strategic Studies, U.S. Naval War College
2017 - Air Force Enterprise Leadership Seminar, Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina
ASSIGNMENTS
1997–1997, Student Pilot, T-37, Vance AFB, Oklahoma
1997–1998, Student Pilot, UN-1H, Ft. Rucker, Alabama
1998–2001, UH-1N IP/Executive Officer, 1st Helicopter Squadron, Andrews AFB, Maryland
2001–2002, Student Pilot, MH-53J, 551 SOS, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico
2002–2004, MH-53J/M Instructor Pilot, 20 SOS, Hurlburt Field, Florida
2004–2006, MH-53M Evaluator Pilot/Flight Commander, 21st SOS, RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom
2006–2007, Assistant Operations Officer, 352 OSS, RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom
2007–2008, AF Intern Program-Strategic Communication; George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia
2008–2009, Chief, Operations Team, SAF/PA, HQ Air Force, Pentagon
2009–2011, Chief, Wing Safety/CV-22 Pilot, 1 SOW, Hurlburt Field, Florida
2011–2013, Commander, 58 OSS, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico
2013–2014, Student, U.S. Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island
2014–2015, Branch Chief, Joint Staff, J-7, Joint Lessons Learned Division, Pentagon
2015– 2016, Deputy Director, CAG/Special Assistant to the CJCS, Pentagon
2016– 2018, Vice Commander, 27 SOW, Cannon AFB, New Mexico
2018- Present, Commander, 1 SOW, Hurlburt Field, FL
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: 2,400 hours
Aircraft Flown: T-37, UH-1H, UH-1N, MH-53J/M, MV-22, CV-22B, C-146, AC-130W, MC-130J
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with 2 oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with 6 oak leaf clusters
Aerial Achievement Medal with 6 oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with 2 oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal
Air Force Combat Action Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
2005 Air Force Special Operations Command Pilot of the Year
DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant:
May 1996
First Lieutenant:
May 1998
Captain:
May 2000
Major:
May 2006
Lieutenant Colonel:
Mar 2010
Colonel:
Apr 2016
(Current as January 2019)