Maj. Gen. Michael Bank is Commander and Assistant Adjutant General of the New York Air National Guard. He is responsible for mission readiness and operational effectiveness for over 5,800 people assigned to five flying wings and four geographically separated units. Additionally, Maj. Gen. Bank serves as the Air National Guard Advisor to the Air Mobility Command Inspector General, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. In this unique position, the general provides critical insight, support, and advisement to ensure Air Mobility Command and AMC gained units meet necessary readiness levels to accomplish both nuclear and conventional mission taskings.
Maj. Gen. Bank earned his commission in 1988 through the four-year Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Florida State University while attending Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University where he received a Bachelor of Science in Computer and Information Science. While on active duty, the general was an Instructor Navigator assigned to the 644th Bomb Squadron at K.I. Sawyer AFB. He joined the New York Air National Guard at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station in 1994 and has held numerous positions, including Chief of Wing Plans, Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Commander, 136th Airlift Squadron Commander, Operations Group Commander, and Wing Vice Commander. Maj. Gen. Bank is a former senior navigator in the B-52H and KC-135R with over 1,800 total flight hours and is currently a Command Pilot with over 5,000 total flight hours. He deployed to Operations DESERT SHIELD, DESERT STORM, DELIBERATE FORGE, NORTHERN WATCH, ENDURING FREEDOM, and IRAQI FREEDOM. Prior to his current position, the general was the Commander, 106th Rescue Wing, F.S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base, New York.
EDUCATION
1988 Bachelor of Science, Computer and Information Science, Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University, Tallahassee, Fla.
1996 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2002 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2006 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2014 Joint and Combined Warfighting School, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
2017 Joint Task Force Commander Training Course, U.S. Northern Command, Peterson AFB, Colo.
2017 National Security Studies Management Course, Syracuse University, Syracuse, N.Y.
2018 Dual Status Commander Course, U.S. Northern Command, Peterson AFB, Colo.
2018 Joint Domestic Operations Course, U.S. Northern Command, Peterson AFB, Colo.
2020 Director of Mobility Forces Course, Hurlburt Field, Fla., by correspondence
2020 Joint Air Component Coordinating Element Course, Hancock Field Air National Guard Base, N.Y.
2021 Regional Seminar - Latin America, Alan L. Freed Associates, Washington, D.C., by correspondence
2021 Joint Air Component Coordinating Element Course, Osan Air Base, Republic of South Korea
2024 Senior Leader Orientation Course, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. October 1988 - July 1989, Student, Undergraduate Navigator Training, 323d Flying Training Wing, Mather Air Force Base, Calif.
2. July 1989 - February 1990, Student, B-52 Navigator Initial Qualification, 29th Combat Crew Training Squadron, Castle AFB, Calif.
3. February 1990 - September 1991, B-52H Navigator, 644th Bomb Squadron, K.I. Sawyer AFB, Mich.
4. September 1991 - September 1992, B-52H Instructor Navigator, 644th Bomb Squadron, K.I. Sawyer AFB, Mich.
5. September 1992 - August 1994, B-52H Radar Navigator, 644th Bomb Squadron, K.I. Sawyer AFB, Mich.
6. September 1994 - May 1998, KC-135R Navigator, 136th Air Refueling Squadron, Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, N.Y.
7. May 1998 - May 1999, Student, Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, 47th Flying Training Wing, Laughlin AFB, Texas
8. May 1999 - May 2002, KC-135 Co-Pilot, 136th Air Refueling Squadron, Niagara Falls ARS, N.Y.
9. May 2002 - May 2005, KC-135 Pilot, 136th Air Refueling Squadron, Niagara Falls ARS, N.Y.
10. May 2005 - January 2007, Commander, 107th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Niagara Falls ARS, N.Y.
11. February 2007 - January 2008, Operations Officer, KC-135 Pilot, 136th ARS, Niagara Falls ARS, N.Y.
12. February 2008 - December 2012, Commander, 136th Airlift Squadron, Niagara Falls ARS, N.Y.
13. December 2012 - December 2014, Commander, 107th Operations Group, Niagara Falls ARS, N.Y.
14. December 2014 - December 2015, Vice-Commander, 107th Airlift Wing, Niagara Falls ARS, N.Y.
15. December 2015 - June 2020, Commander, 106th Rescue Wing, N.Y.
16. June 2020 - June 2024, Assistant Adjutant General NY ANG, Joint Force Headquarters, Latham, N.Y. (February 2021 – May 2021, Dual Status Commander for the Governor, New York, N.Y.)
17. June 2021 - Sept 2024, ANG Assistant to the Commander, Air Force Expeditionary Center, McGuire AFB, N.J.
18. June 2024 – Present, Commander, New York Air National Guard and Assistant Adjutant General – Air, Division of Military and Naval Affairs, Latham, N.Y.; dual-hatted, July 2024 – Present, Air National Guard Assistant to the Inspector General, Air Mobility Command, Scott Air Force Base, Ill.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 5,000
Aircraft flown: B-52H, KC-135R, C-130H, HC-130J, T-1, T-37
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Commendation Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant July 15, 1988
First Lieutenant July 15, 1990
Captain July 15, 1992
Major March 21, 1997
Lieutenant Colonel Jan. 21, 2003
Colonel Jan. 24, 2013
Brigadier General June 5, 2020
Major General July 31, 2024
(Current as of June 2025)