COLONEL MICHAEL J. RUSHING
Colonel Michael J. Rushing is the Commander of the Mission Support Group, 186th Air Refueling Wing, Mississippi Air National Guard. This position directs and manages all Mission Support programs and operations in support of the total base, to include tenant organizations and assigned geographically separated units. This position is responsible for directing and managing all infrastructure operations at Key Field Air National Guard Base which include civil engineering, crash/fire/rescue, disaster preparedness, environmental management, personnel, communications and computer systems, logistics plans, programs and readiness, base supply, transportation, vehicle maintenance, contracting, security forces, base services, fuels management, and all other support base functions.
Col. Rushing enlisted in the United States Air Force in December 1987. After basic training, he attended jet engine mechanic school at Chanute Air Force Base (AFB), Illinois, and graduated as an honor graduate. His first assignment was with the 405th Tactical Training Wing at Luke AFB, Arizona, as a jet engine mechanic on the F-15 aircraft. In 1990, Col. Rushing was selected to attend ROTC and attended Mississippi State University, majoring in mechanical engineering. After graduating from Mississippi State as a distinguished graduate in August 1994, he commissioned as a second lieutenant in December 1994 and assigned as a Program Manager for Hard Target Weapons in the Wright Laboratory at Eglin AFB, Florida. In 1996, he was assigned to the 14th Civil Engineer Squadron at Columbus AFB, Mississippi, as Chief of Maintenance Engineering. In 1997, he was discharged from the active duty Air Force and entered the Mississippi Air National Guard as a Civil Engineer Officer in the 209th Civil Engineer Squadron in Gulfport, Mississippi. In 2001, he was assigned as Chief of Operations. In November 2010 he was selected as the Commander of the 209th Civil Engineer Squadron. In November 2013 he was selected as the 186th Air Operations Group Director of Installations and Mission Support and in June 2018 he was selected as Director of Installations and Mission Support, Joint Force Headquarters, Mississippi Air National Guard. In October 2020, he was selected as the Commander of the 186th Mission Support Group.
EDUCATION
1988 United States Air Force Jet Engine Mechanic School, Chanute Air Force Base (AFB), IL
1994 Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mississippi State University
1996 United States Air Force Civil Engineer Officer School, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
2001 Squadron Officer School, by correspondence
2005 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2012 Air War College, by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
- August 1988 – September 1988: Student, Basic Training; Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
- September 1988 – November 1988: Student, Jet Engine Mechanic School; Chanute Air Force Base, Illinois
- November 1988 – December 1990: Airman, F-15 jet engine mechanic; Luke Air Force Base, Arizona
- January 1991 – December 1994: Cadet, Air Force ROTC Corps of Cadets, Mississippi State University
- December 1994 – April 1996: Program Manager Engineering Officer, Hard Target Weapons, Wright Laboratory, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida
- April 1996 – October 1997: Civil Engineer Officer, Chief of Maintenance Engineering, Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi
- October 1997 – January 2001: Traditional Guardsman, Civil Engineer Officer, 209th Civil Engineer Squadron, Gulfport, Mississippi
- March 2004 – June 2004: Commander, 40th Civil Engineer Flight, 40th Expeditionary Group, Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory, Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom
- January 2001 – November 2010: Traditional Guardsman, Chief of Operations, 209th Civil Engineer Squadron, Gulfport, Mississippi
- November 2010 – November 2013: Traditional Guardsman, Commander, 209th Civil Engineer Squadron, Gulfport, Mississippi
- November 2013 – June 2018: Traditional Guardsman, Director of Installations and Mission Support, 186 Air Operations Group, Meridian, Mississippi
- June 2018 – October 2020: Traditional Guardsman, Director of Logistics, Installations, and Mission Support, Joint Force Headquarters, Jackson, Mississippi
- October 2020 – Present: Traditional Guardsman, Commander, 186th Mission Support Group, Meridian, Mississippi
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with 3 oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Outstanding Unit Award with oak leaf cluster
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon
Air Force Longevity Service with three oak leaf clusters
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with M device
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
STATE AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Mississippi War Medal
Mississippi Emergency Service Medal
Mississippi Longevity Medal with two devices
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1988 Distinguished Graduate, Jet Engine Mechanic School
1994 Distinguished Graduate, Air Force ROTC, Mississippi State University
1996 Distinguished Graduate, Air Force Civil Engineer Officer School
1999 Professional Engineer License Awarded
2008 Air Force Special Operations Command Reserve Field Grade Officer of the Year Award
2012 Air Force Special Operations Command Top Performer, 209th CES Operational Readiness Inspection
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS & AFFILIATIONS
Registered Professional Engineer, Mississippi State Board of Professional Engineers
American Society of Mechanical Engineers
National Guard Association of the United States
National Guard Association of Mississippi
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Dec 19,1994
First Lieutenant Jan 17, 1997
Captain Feb 7, 1999
Major Feb 7, 2003
Lieutenant Colonel March 10, 2010
Colonel July 1, 2018
(Current as of March 2021)