JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas – Col. Michael Borders took command of Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center’s Detachment 3 at Hurlburt Field, Florida, during a change of command ceremony Aug. 16.
One of 10 detachments serving as the liaison and on-site support between Air Force major commands, Space Force and the AFIMSC enterprise, Detachment 3 provides responsive installation and mission support services for Air Force Special Operations Command.
After earning his commission from Officer Training School in 1998, Borders started his career with the 2nd Security Forces Squadron at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana. He’s led a diverse career, including commanding at the squadron and group levels, and serving as the country director for Thailand and Burma for U.S. Pacific Command, overseeing military engagements with a pre and post-coup Thailand and a burgeoning relationship with Burma focused on human rights initiatives.
We asked him a few questions about his life, his career and his thoughts about joining the AFIMSC team.
Time in service?
Just passed 24 years.
Hometown?
Louisville, Kentucky … home of bourbon and the derby.
Can you please tell us a little about your career leading up to this point?
It’s a bit all over the place, lots of deployments in the first 10 years then lots of policy work in the second 10 years. I’ve done everything from leading in Iraq to helping develop policy during the 2015 Thai coup to representing Department of Defense equities for refugee policy.
What about your new role has you the most excited?
I think this is the peek behind the curtain. It’s really a chance to help installations develop redundant critical infrastructure to accomplish their mission, no matter what the future holds.
What do you want the AFIMSC team to know about you?
I hope my experience as a mission support group commander will be value added for discussions and actions.
What do you like most about serving in the Air Force?
That I’m still enjoying it and still feel challenged.
What's something people would be surprised to know about you?
I speak Thai; poorly now, but it still counts.
To learn more about Border’s career, read his official bio at www.afimsc.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/3137047/michael-j-borders-jr/.