Colonel Michael L. Dilda is commander of the 5th Mission Support Group at Minot Air Force Base, N.D. He is the senior leader and manager of over 3,000 personnel in support activities necessary to maintain the combat readiness of all units assigned to the base. Units assigned to the 5th Mission Support Group include the 5th Civil Engineer Squadron, 5th Communications Squadron, 5th Force Support Squadron, 5th Security Forces Squadron, 5th Logistics Readiness Squadron and 5th Contracting Squadron.
Colonel Dilda earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Baylor University in 1988 and concurrently received his commission through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps. Colonel Dilda earned a Master of Science Degree in Computer Systems Technology from Louisiana State University-Shreveport in 1995, where he earned the "University Award" as the School of Science "Outstanding Graduate" and then received a Master of Military Operational Art and Science from Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama in 2001.
Colonel Dilda attended Specialized Undergraduate Navigator Training at Mather Air Force Base, California, earning his wings in July 1989. He was a "Distinguished Graduate" of B-52 Combat Crew Training at Castle Air Force Base, California, in February 1990. In 1995, Colonel Dilda graduated Air Force Squadron Officer School, helping his flight receive honors as their squadron's "Right of Line" flight. He completed Air Force Air Command and Staff College in 2002, Joint Forces Staff College in 2004, and Air War College by correspondence in 2006.
Colonel Dilda is a Master Navigator with 3,125 flying hours in the B-52 and 108 hours in the T-43. He has 178 combat hours in Operations DESERT STORM and ALLIED FORCE.
EDUCATION
1988 Bachelor of Business Administration in Computer Information Systems with a double major in Business Administration, Baylor University, Waco, TX
1995 Master of Science in Computer Systems Technology, Louisiana State University, Shreveport, LA (Outstanding Graduate, "University Award")
1995 Air Force Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB AL ("Right of Line" Award)
2002 Air Force Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB AL
2004 Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, VA
2006 Air War College, by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. Oct 88 - Jul 89 Student, Specialized Undergraduate Navigator Training, 451st Flying Training Squadron, Mather Air Force Base CA
2. Jul 89 - Apr 90 Navigator, B-52 Initial Qualification Student, 329th Combat Crew Training Squadron, Castle Air Force Base CA
3. Apr 90 - Jan 93 B-52 Navigator, Instructor Navigator 62nd Bombardment Squadron, Barksdale Air Force Base LA
4. Jan 93 - Dec 96 B-52 Radar Navigator; Deputy Flight Scheduler/Instructor Radar Navigator (IRN); Deputy Chief, Squadron Scheduling Operations/IRN; Chief, Ground Scheduling Operations/IRN; B-52 Standardization/Evaluation IRN; 20th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale AFB LA
5. Dec 96 - Oct 98 B-52 Formal Training Unit Instructor Radar Navigator; Chief, B-52 Formal Training Unit Standardization/Evaluation IRN, 11th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale AFB LA
6. Oct 98 - Aug 01 Wing Air Weapons Officer/Combat Mission Planner; Commander, Weapons and Tactics Flight, 2d Operations Support Squadron, Barksdale Air Force Base LA
7. Aug 01 - Jun 02 Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
8. Jun 02 - Mar 03 ACSC Academic Instructor and Advisor, Joint Warfare Studies Dept., Maxwell Air Force Base AL
9. Apr 03 - Jun 04 Operations Officer, Division 1, 21st Student Squadron, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB AL
10. Jul 04 - Sep 04 Student, Joint Forces Staff College, National Defense University, Norfolk, VA
11. Oct 04 - Sep 07 Chief, B-2 Strike Planning; Chief, Aircraft Strike Branch; Chief, Strike Planning Division; Director, Exercises and Training, Joint Functional Component Command Global Strike and Integration, United States Strategic Command, Offutt AFB NE
12. Sep 07 - Dec 07 Director, Base Support Unit, Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq, Coalition Air Force Transition Team, Camp Taji, Iraq
13. Dec 07 - Dec 08 Commander, 370th Expeditionary Training Squadron (821st ETS after 1 Nov 2008), Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq, Coalition Air Force Transition Team, Camp Taji, Iraq
14. Feb 08 - Jun 10 Deputy Commander, 14th Mission Support Group, Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi
15. Jun 10 - Present Commander, 5th Mission Support Group, Minot Air Force Base, ND
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Master Navigator
Flight Hours: 3, 232.9
Aircraft Flown: T-43, B-52G, and B-52H
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Distinguished Flying Cross
Bronze Star Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters
Joint Service Achievement Medal with one oak Leaf Cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak Leaf Cluster
Combat Readiness Medal with four oak Leaf Clusters
Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:
Second Lieutenant July 23, 1988
First Lieutenant July 23, 1990
Captain July 23, 1992
Major November 1, 1999
Lieutenant Colonel November 1, 2004
Colonel March 1, 2010
(Current as of July 2010)