MAJOR GENERAL MICHAEL D. AKEY

Retired December 31, 2010

Major General Michael D. Akey was the chief of staff, Massachusetts Air National Guard also served as the commander of the Massachusetts Air National Guard, Milford Massachusetts. His command includes over 8000 soldiers and airman of the Massachusetts Army National Guard and the 102nd Fighter Wing (F15A/C), 104th Fighter Wing (A10A), 253rd Combat Communications Group, 267th Combat Communications Squadron, 212th Engineering Installation Squadron and the Air National Guard Band of the Northeast.

General Akey enlisted in the USAF in December 1975. His initial assignment was a Security Policeman assigned to the 49th Tactical Fighter Wing, Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico. A follow-on assignment was to the 57th Tactical Fighter Wing, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada until September 1979 when he transferred to the 104th Fighter Wing under the Palace Chase program. While assigned to the 104th he completed his Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice. General Akey was commissioned through Officer Training School in June 1980 and he attended navigator and electronic warfare training at Mather Air Force Base, California. His follow-on training assignment was the 35th Tactical Fighter Wing at George Air Force Base, California for F4E training and then was selected to continue an additional 6-month specialized course as an F4G Advanced Wild Weasel crewmember. His first assignment was to the 563rd Tactical Fighter Squadron where he upgraded to Instructor Electronic Warfare officer and held various positions in scheduling, weapons & tactics and test & evaluation. In 1986 he left the active duty Air Force and joined the 104th Fighter Wing as an Intelligence Officer and Chief of Scheduling while awaiting pilot training. He attended Pilot Training at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi where he was a distinguished graduate and flying training award recipient. After reassignment back to the 104th he held various positions as both a traditional guardsman and air technician. General Akey has worked as Chief of Scheduling, Chief of Standardization / Evaluation, B Flight Commander, Operations Support Flight Commander, Operations Group Commander and Director of Operations, Joint Force Headquarters. In August 2004 he was appointed Commander of the Massachusetts Air National Guard. In his civilian life General Akey is a 777 First Officer flying for United Airlines in Washington DC.

EDUCATION:

1978 Associate of Arts, Criminal Justice Administration, Park College, Parkville, Missouri
1980 Bachelor of Arts, Criminal Justice Administration, Park College, Parkville, Missouri
1988 MBA, Management, Golden Gate University, San Francisco, California

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. October 1980 - December 1981, Navigator & Electronic Warfare training, Mather Air Force Base, California
2. December 1981 - December 1982, F4E & F4G Advanced Wild Weasel training, George Air Force Base, California
3. December 1982- April 1986, Electronic Warfare Officer, 563rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, George Air Force Base, California
4. September 1986 - October 1989, Intelligence Officer, 104th Tactical Fighter Group, Barnes Air National Guard Base, Westfield, Massachusetts
5. October 1989 - October 1990, UPT, Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi
6. November 1990 - September 2000, A-10 Pilot, Chief of Scheduling, Chief of Standardization & Evaluation, B Flight Commander, Operations Support Commander, 104th Fighter Wing, Barnes Air National Guard Base, Westfield, Massachusetts
7. September 2000 - May 2004, Director of Operations, Massachusetts Air National Guard Joint Force Headquarters, Milford, Massachusetts
8. May 2004 - August 2004, 104th Fighter Wing, Operations Group Commander, Barnes Air National Guard Base, Westfield, Massachusetts
9. August 2004 - September 2010, Chief of Staff, Massachusetts Joint Force Headquarters, Milford, Massachusetts
10. September 2010 - December 2010, Assistant Adjutant General - Air, Massachusetts National Guard, Milford, Massachusetts

FLIGHT INFORMATION:

Rating: Command Pilot, Senior Navigator
Flight hours: More than 3,000 military
Aircraft flown: F4E, F4G, A-10A

AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Medal w/1 device
Aerial Achievement Medal w/1 device
Air Force Commendation Medal w/4 devices
Army Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award w/4 devices
Combat Readiness Medal w/2 device
Air Force Good Conduct Medal w/1 device
National Defense Service Medal w/1 device
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Air Force Training Ribbon w/1 device
Air Force Longevity Service Award w/6 devices
Armed Forces Reserve Medal
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon w/1 device
NATO Medal
Massachusetts Service Medal w/3 devices
Massachusetts Desert Storm Service

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:

Second Lieutenant September 1980
First Lieutenant September 1982
Captain September 1984
Major September 1994
Lieutenant Colonel November 1998
Colonel September 2002
Brigadier General July 2005
Major General 28 June 2007

(Current as of December 2010)