Colonel Michael R. Staples is the Commander, Detachment 2, Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. He is responsible for synchronizing agile combat support and logistics, to include oversight, guidance, training, and resources in support of 45,000 PACAF personnel in 10 wings and 3 NAFs. Additionally, he manages personnel readiness, agile combat support manpower, financial services and resources, installation engineering, physical security, theater security cooperation, and base communication plant maintenance to provide support for 396 total force combat aircraft and $42.3 billion of infrastructure.
Colonel Staples grew up in North Haven, Maine, and entered the Air Force in 1995 after obtaining his commission through the United States Air Force Academy, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering. As a career engineer, he has served in a variety of civil engineer positions while deployed, at base level, RED HORSE, AF and Unified Command Staffs, and commanded at the squadron and group levels.
Prior to his current position, he served as the the Commander, 647th Air Base Group, 15th Wing, and Deputy Commander, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.
EDUCATION
1995 Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2000 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2002 Master of Science, Engineering and Environmental Management, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio
2005 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2012 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. May 1995 – May 1997, Engineering Team Leader, 66th Civil Engineer Squadron, Hanscom AFB, Mass.
2. May 1997 – October 1998, Heavy Repair Chief, 66th Civil Engineer Squadron, Hanscom AFB, Mass.
3. October 1998 – June 2000, Readiness Flight Commander, 554th RED HORSE Squadron, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea
4. June 2000 – March 2002, Student, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio
5. March 2002 – March 2004, Command Environmental Resource Manager, Civil Engineer Directorate, Headquarters United States Air Forces in Europe, Ramstein AB, Germany
6. March 2004 – January 2005, Command Plans and Requirements Manager, Civil Engineer Directorate, Headquarters United States Air Forces in Europe, Ramstein AB, Germany
7. January 2005 – July 2007, Expeditionary Engineering Program Manager, Civil Engineer Directorate, Headquarters United States Air Force, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
8. July 2007 – May 2008, Infrastructure and Modernization Branch Chief, Studies and Analysis, Assessments, and Lessons Learned Directorate, Headquarters United States Air Force, Pentagon, Washington D.C.
9. May 2008 – June 2009, Operations Flight Commander, 51st Civil Engineer Squadron, Osan AB, Republic of Korea
10. June 2009 – June 2010, Deputy Commander, 51st Civil Engineer Squadron, Osan AB, Republic of Korea
11. June 2010 – June 2012, Commander 36th Civil Engineer Squadron, Andersen AFB, Guam
12. June 2012 – September 2014, Readiness and Emergency Services Branch Chief, Logistics, Installations, and Mission Support Directorate, Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, Colo.
13. September 2014 – February 2016, Infrastructure Branch Chief, Logistics Directorate, United States European
Command, United States Army Garrison Stuttgart, Germany
14. February 2016 – June 2017, Posture and Analysis Division Chief, Logistics Directorate, United States European Command, USAG Stuttgart, Germany
15. July 2017 – July 2020, Commander, 673d Civil Engineer Group, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska
16. July 2020 – July 2021, Command Engineer, Headquarters 7th Air Force, Osan AB, Republic of Korea
17. July 2021 – June 2023, Commander, 647th Air Base Group, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii
18. June 2023 – Present, Commander, Detachment 2, Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center, Air Force Materiel Command, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit with one oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Korean
Defense Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 31, 1995
First Lieutenant May 31, 1997
Captain May 31, 1999
Major Aug. 1, 2005
Lieutenant Colonel July 1, 2010
Colonel Sept. 30, 2016
(Current as of June 2023)