Colonel Michael J. Western is the Commander, 601st Air Operations Center (AOC), Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. The 601 AOC plans, directs, and assesses air and space operations for the North American Aerospace Defense Command and the United States Northern Command. 601 AOC provides aerospace warning and control for NORAD Defensive Counter Air activities, as well as directing Air Force air and space capabilities in support of USNORTHCOM homeland security and civil support missions. The 601 AOC fills the critical need of meeting the challenge of directing all air sovereignty activities for the continental United States and is the new-age combat weapon system needed to fulfill the crucial Homeland Defense role by remaining vigilant 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Prior to his current assignment, Col Western served as the Chief of Staff and A5/8 Director for Continental U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command Region, First Air Force (U.S. Air Forces Northern and U.S. Air Forces Space), Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. Prior to First Air Force, he commanded the 128th Air Control Squadron at Volk Field ANGB, Wisconsin. He has deployed numerous times in support of the Global War on Terrorism. Colonel Western enlisted into the Wisconsin Air National Guard in January 1997 and later received his commission in 2002 from the Academy of Military Science at McGhee Tyson ANGB, Knoxville, Tennessee, prior to graduating from Air Battle Manager training at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida in 2004.
EDUCATION
2001 Bachelor of Science, Packaging, University of Wisconsin-Stout, Menomonie, Wis.
2002 Airman Leadership School, Air University, by correspondence
2002 Air and Space Basic Course, Air University, Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base (AFB), Ala.
2007 Squadron Officer School, Air University, Maxwell-Gunter AFB, Ala.
2013 Air Command and Staff College, Air University, Maxwell-Gunter AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2015 Masters of Business Administration, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa
2016 Air National Guard Squadron Commander’s Course, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
2017 Air War College, Air University, Maxwell-Gunter AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2020 Reserve Component National Security Course, National Defense University, Fort McNair, Washington D.C.
2022 Joint Combined Warfighting School-Hybrid Course, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
2023 National Security Management Course, The Maxwell School, Syracuse University, Syracuse, N.Y.
2024 Leading Strategically, Center for Creative Leadership Campus, Colorado Spring, Colo.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. January 1997 – June 1998, Surveillance Technician, 128th Air Control Squadron (ACS), Volk Field Air National Guard Base (ANGB), Wis.
2. July 1998 – September 2001, Electronic Protection Technician, 128th Air Control Squadron, Volk Field ANGB, Wis.
3. October 2001 – May 2002, Electronic Protection Technician, 128th Air Control Squadron, Marengo, Ill, Operation NOBLE EAGLE
4. June 2002, Maintenance Control Officer, 117th Air Control Squadron, Cape Canaveral, Fla, Operation NOBLE EAGLE
5. July 2002 – March 2003, Command and Control Planner, Continental United States North American Aerospace Defense Command Region, Tyndall AFB, Fla, Operation NOBLE EAGLE
6. April 2009 – October 2009, Air Surveillance Officer, 71st Expeditionary Air Control Squadron, 379th Expeditionary Operations Group, 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, Operation ENDURING FREEDOM and Combined Defense of the Arabian Gulf
7. November 2009 – October 2012, Senior Director, Air Surveillance Officer, Chief of Mission Training Program, 128th Air Control Squadron, Volk Field ANGB, Wis.
8. November 2012 – May 2013, Senior Director, Exercise Director, Assistant Director of Operations, 727th Expeditionary Air Control Squadron, 380th Expeditionary Operations Group, 380th Air Expeditionary Wing, Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates, Combined Defense of the Arabian Gulf
9. May 2013 – April 2015, Mission Crew Commander, Senior Director, 128th Air Control Squadron, Volk Field ANGB, Wis.
10. May 2015 – April 2017, Commander, 128th Air Control Squadron, Volk Field ANGB, Wis.
11. May 2017 – November 2017, Commander, Vice Commander, Operations Group Commander, Mission Crew Commander, 727th Expeditionary Air Control Squadron, 380th Expeditionary Operations Group, 380th Air Expeditionary Wing, Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates, Combined Defense of the Arabian Gulf, Operation INHERENT RESOLVE, Operation RESOLUTE SUPPORT, Operation FREEDOM SENTINEL
12. December 2018 – July 2020, Commander, 128th Air Control Squadron, Volk Field ANGB, Camp Douglas, Wis.
13. March 2020 – July 2020, Acting Commander, Volk Field Combat Readiness Training Center and Volk Field Air National Guard Base, Camp Douglas, Wis.
14. July 2020 – July 2022, Deputy Director of Strategic Requirements, Continental United States North American Aerospace Defense Command Region-First Air Force (Air Forces Northern) A8, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
15. August 2022 – February 2025, Director of Strategic Plans and Requirements, Continental United States North American Aerospace Defense Command Region-First Air Force (Air Forces Northern and Air Forces Space) A5/8, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
16. February 2025 – January 2026, Chief of Staff, Continental United States North American Aerospace Defense Command Region-First Air Force (Air Forces Northern and Air Forces Space), Tyndall AFB, Fla.
17. January 2026 – Present, Commander, 601st Air Operations Center, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Commendation Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Meritorious Unit Award with three bronze oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award with four bronze oak leaf cluster
Combat Readiness Medal with one silver and three bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal with one silver and one oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Air and Space Expeditionary Service Ribbon with gold border and one oak leaf cluster
Air and Space Longevity Service with two oak leaf clusters
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with four “M” devices and two silver hourglass devices
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
National Guard Association of the United States
Wisconsin National Guard Association
Military Officers Association of America
Air and Space Forces Association
(Current as of February 2026)