JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas – Col. Michal Holliday took command of Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center Detachment 2 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, during a virtual change of command ceremony May 21.
One of 10 detachments serving as the liaison and on-site support between Air Force major commands, Space Force and the AFIMSC enterprise, Detachment 2 directly supports Pacific Air Forces and its area of operations.
We asked the colonel a few questions about his life, his career and his thoughts about leading our detachment in the Pacific.
Time in service?
I entered the Air Force via Reserve Officer Training Corps commissioning at Brigham Young University-Provo Detachment 855 in August 1993. I came on active duty in January 1994.
Hometown?
My family moved around quite a bit during my youth due to my father’s employment, but I consider Parkville, Missouri, my hometown.
Can you please tell us a little about your career leading up to this point?
I’m a career civil engineer and have thoroughly enjoyed building, maintaining, and sustaining the launch and recovery platforms for America’s Air Force. I’ve had the opportunity to assist with the recovery from a major natural disaster, deploy multiple times into the combat theater, and command at both the squadron and group level – always taking incredible pride in providing world class support to the operational mission.
My entire career has prepared me for this assignment – from my development as a civil engineer, to commanding at the squadron and group level, to working within the Air Force Civil Engineer Center – all have better prepared me to represent the IMSC enterprise while caring for the members of Detachment 2.
What about your new role has you the most excited?
I’m thrilled to be a part of the IMSC enterprise and assist in the refinement and development of our delivery of capability to the warfighter. Incorporating true asset management principles into our business processes, ensuring we spend our scarce resources on the right requirements, and providing resilient modern platforms for Air Force weapons systems are strategies that get me excited.
What do you want the AFIMSC team to know about you?
The capabilities of this enterprise are absolutely staggering and I’m honored to represent the enterprise to the PACAF theater.
What do you like most about serving in the Air Force?
Defending the liberties and freedoms of our country. I serve in the military because of my personal love of country but also my love for my family and friends – I want to protect their freedoms.
What's something people would be surprised to know about you?
(I’m a) pretty straight forward kind of person – what you see is what you get.
Is there anything you would like to add?
I consider command to be one of the greatest responsibilities of a military officer. I am honored by the opportunity to lead this incredible organization while equally humbled with the responsibility I have to serve and care for the members of Detachment 2.
To learn more about Holliday’s career, read his official bio at https://www.afimsc.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/2208403/colonel-michal-d-holliday.