Colonel Kenneth “Mike” Shirley II is the commander of the 375th
Mission Support Group, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. He Leads 6
squadrons to train, organize & equip 2,000 combat-ready warrior
Airmen, delivering infrastructure, security, logistics, contracting &
communications to 33 tenant units, including 1 joint combatant
command, 2 major commands, 3 total force Wings, 140
geographically separated units, and $4.6B in assets. The group
provides base support services to an installation workforce of over
13,000 personnel and an additional 47,000 retirees and family
members.
Col Shirley enlisted in the US Air Force in 1992 as a Law
Enforcement specialist and was stationed in Air Force Special
Operations Command. He commissioned in 1999 through Reserve
Officer Training Corps at Eastern Kentucky University. A career
security forces Airman, Col Shirley is a four-time squadron
commander with experience as a flight commander, operations
officer, instructor, and resource officer, and having served as a
congressional liaison.
Prior to his current, Col Shirley served as the Chief, of the Security
Forces Division, Directorate of Logistics, Engineering, and Force
Protection, Air Mobility Command, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois.
EDUCATION
1997 Bachelor of Science degree in Police Administration, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, Ky.
2001 Aerospace Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2004 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2006 Police Administration Course, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, Ky.
2008 Master of Arts degree in Criminal Justice and Terrorism, American Military University, Manassas, Va.
2009 Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy, University of Virginia, Quantico, Va.
2011 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2013 Air Force Fellow, Legislative Liaison Fellowship, US Capital, Washington DC
2015 Air War College, by correspondence, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2021 Air War College, in residence, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS OR CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. January 1992 – August 1995, Law Enforcement Specialist, 16th Security Police Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fl.
2. January 2000 – August 2001, Training and Resource Officer, 30th Security Forces Squadron, Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
3. September 2001 – September 2002, Chief of Computer Branch, 51st Operation Group, Osan AB, Korea
4. October 2002 – January 2003, Training and Resource Officer, 96th Security Forces Squadron, Eglin AFB, Fla.
5. February 2003 – June 2005, Operation Officer/Lead Instructor, 96th Ground Combat Training Squadron, Eglin AFB, Fla.
6. June 2005 – July 2008, Commander/Operation Officer, 60th Security Forces Squadron, Travis AFB, Calif.
7. July 2008 – October 2009, Flight Commander, 30th Student Squadron, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
8. October 2009 – June 2010, Director of Training, Squadron Officer’s School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
9. June 2010 – July 2012, Commander, 460th Security Forces Squadron, Buckley AFB, Colo.
10. July 2012 – December 2013, Air Force Fellow, Legislative Liaison Fellowship, US Capital, Washington DC
11.January 2014 – June 2015, Congressional Liaison Officer, Secretary of the Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, DC
12. June 2015 – June 2017, Commander, 10th Security Forces Squadron, US Air Force Academy, Colo
13. June 2017 – Jun 2020, Chief, Mission Assurance Division, USTRANSCOM, Scott AFB, Ill.
14. June 2020 – Jun 2021, Student, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
15. June 2021 – May 2024, Chief, Security Forces Division, Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, Ill.
16. May 2024 – Present, Commander, 375th Mission Support Group, Scott AFB, Ill.
DEPLOYED COMMANDER
August 2006 – February 2007, Commander, 455th Security Forces Squadron, Bagram AB, Afghanistan, Operation ENDURING
FREEDOM
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit with three oak leaf clusters
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
Bronze Star Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal, four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal, one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal, four oak leaf clusters