Col. Michael J. Thompson is the Commander, 62d Maintenance Group, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. He ensures the readiness of more than 1,400 active-duty military and civilian personnel. The 62d Maintenance Group partners with the 446th Maintenance Group to maintain, service, and load 41 assigned C-17 Globemaster III aircraft in support of worldwide combat and humanitarian airlift and airdrop operations. The group also provides 24/7/365 cargo, passenger, and aerial delivery for Joint Base Lewis-McChord’s power projection platform, to include operating the Air Mobility Command Passenger Terminal at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
Col. Thompson enlisted in the Air Force in Jul 1990 as a Strategic Air Command Electro-Environmental Systems Specialist from Madison, Maine. He served 12 years as enlisted and earned his commission through OTS March 2002. Col. Thompson is a career maintenance and munitions officer having been previously stationed as a student at Naval War College, Naval Station Newport, Rhode Island. He is a career maintenance officer with experience on KC-135A/E/R, EC-18, T-39A/B, KC-10A, C-141A/B, C-17, B-52G/H, (M)(A)C-130E/H/J, MQ-9, CV-22, C-21, C-37, C-40, Non-Standard/Rotary Wing and Nuclear Munitions. He has served in a variety of leadership positions overseas in Germany, Qatar, Iraq, and Kuwait. Prior to his current position he dual-hatted as the 86th Maintenance Group’s Deputy Commander and 86th Airlift Wing’s Innovation Officer, Ramstein Air Base, Germany.
EDUCATION
2001 Bachelor of Science, Occupational Education, Wayland Baptist University, Texas
2002 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2009 Advanced Maintenance and Munitions Officer School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2009 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2010 Master of Arts, Military History, American Military University, Va.
2014 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2016 Masters Air Mobility, Advanced Studies of Air Mobility, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.
2021 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2024 Master of Arts, National Security and Strategic Studies, Naval War College, Newport Naval Station, R.I.
ASSIGNMENTS
- July 1990 – February 2002, Electro-Environmental Technician/Instructor, Chanute Air Force Base Ill., Castle AFB, Calif.; Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio; Edwards AFB, Calif.; Sheppard AFB, Texas
- March 2002 – February 2003, Assistant Flight Commander, Sortie Generation Flight, 605th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, McGuire AFB, N.J.
- March 2003 – June 2003, Flight Commander, Maintenance Training Flight, 305th Maintenance Operations Squadron, McGuire AFB, N.J.
- July 2003 – June 2004, Duty Operations Officer, 305th Maintenance Group, McGuire AFB, N.J.
- July 2004 – February 2005, Maintenance Flight Commander, 821st AMS, McGuire AFB, N.J.
- March 2005 – May 2006, OIC, Quality Assurance, 5th MXG, Minot AFB, N.D.
- June 2006 – August 2008, Flight Commander, Special Weapons, 5th Munitions Squadron, Minot AFB, N.D.
- September 2008 – April 2009, Instructor, 37th Student Squadron, Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
- May 2009 – August 2009, Student, Advanced Maintenance and Munitions Officers Course, Nellis AFB, Nev.
- September 2009 – May 2010, Assistant Operations Officer, 37th STUS, ASBC, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
- June 2010 – February 2011, Director of Training, ASBC, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
- March 2011 – October 2011, Maintenance Air Advisor, Iraq Headquarters Staff, ITAM-Air, Baghdad, Iraq
- November 2011 – May 2012, Assistant Operations Officer, 36th STUS, SOS, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
- June 2012 – June 2013, Maintenance Operations Officer, 86th Maintenance Squadron, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
- July 2013 – November 2013, Operations Officer, 86th AMXS, Ramstein AB, Germany
- November 2013 - May 2015, Commander, 86th MXS, Ramstein AB, Germany
- May 2015 – June 2016, Student, Advanced Studies of Air Mobility, Expeditionary Center, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.
- June 2016 – July 2018, Commander, 727th SOAMXS, Cannon AFB, N.M., (Joint Special Operations Air Component – Central/J4 August 2017 – October 2017, Al Udeid Qatar)
- July 2018 – July 2019, Commander, 5th EAMS, Al Mubarak/Ali Al Salem AB, Kuwait
- July 2019 – June 2023, Deputy Group Commander, 86th MXG/Wing Innovation Officer 86th AW, Ramstein AB, Germany
- July 2023 – July 2024, Student, Naval War College, Newport Naval Station, R.I.
- July 2024 - Present, Commander, 62d Maintenance Group, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with eight oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Achievement Medal Air and Space Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant March 1, 2002
First Lieutenant March 1, 2004
Captain March 1, 2006
Major January 1, 2012
Lieutenant Colonel January 1, 2017
Colonel, November 1, 2023
(Current as of August 2024)