Colonel Michael Whitefoot is the commander of the Combat Readiness Training Center in Alpena, Michigan. He is responsible for the mission readiness of the Center, the stewardship of the installation and the health and welfare of the military and civilian men and women that accomplish the base’s mission.

Colonel Whitefoot enlisted as an Aerospace Physiology Specialist in the US Air Force in 1984. In 1992 he graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and earned his commission via the Officers Training Group. In 1995, Whitefoot was selected for special duty assignment with the Joint Services Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape Agency Fairchild AFB, Washington, where he helped develop the Hostage Survival Training program and lifesaving Isolated Personnel Guidance threat assessments. Colonel Whitefoot led critical Crisis Action Center operations in 2001 during the repatriation of 24 United States Navy EP-3 crew members detained in China.

In 2004, as Chief Technical Intelligence, Colonel Whitefoot led the JPRA-DoD IED Detect and Defeat Task Force collaborative engineering effort; findings supported the Deputy Secretary of Defense's decision to increase Joint Urgent Operational Needs funding for the development of countermeasures. His team authored the "Rapid Development of IED Countermeasures," a solution-based report for senior DoD leaders outlining exploitable techniques, tactics, and procedures to impede pre-arming, arming, and detonations of radiofrequency operated Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in Iraq. 2009, as the Chief of Global Personnel Recovery Command and Control Operations, Colonel Whitefoot supervised the $14 million Joint Reserve Intelligence Center Detroit, Selfridge ANG Base, Michigan Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility upgrade, increasing unit intelligence production by 250 percent. As the Deputy Director of Command and Control Operations in 2014, Whitefoot established the Federated Intelligence Program-Intelligence Support to Personnel Recovery Alliance for the United States Africa Command, the Defense Intelligence Agency, and the National Guard Bureau. Colonel Whitefoot led Intelligence Community geospatial intelligence efforts to support USAFRICOM special operations requirements. In 2015, he directed the first 100% "error-free" DoD-to-United States Mission Control Center database synchronization of 158,000+ Joint SARSAT Electronic Tracking System locating beacons deployed worldwide, achieving a critical Personnel Recovery Command and Control program milestone in ensuring a 99.65 percent Mission Assurance Category 1, global warfighter system uptime record for the combined Selfridge ANGB, Michigan, and the Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, Air Operations Center, weapon system operations. Prior to his current position, Colonel Whitefoot served as the Executive Director of Strategy and Operational Innovation for the Michigan Air National Guard where he spearheaded national-level NGB Innovation and Capabilities, AFWERX, ARCWERX, Defense Innovation Unit, and National Security Innovation Network collaboration for rapid National Defense Strategy, Innovation, and Experimentation integrated deterrence requirements and directed the Kelly Johnson Joint All-Domain Innovation Center and the National All-Domain Warfighting Center investment portfolio.

EDUCATION
1984 Aerospace Physiologist Specialist Course, Brooks Air Force Base, Texas
1985 Hyperbaric Chamber Enlisted Team Training Course, Brooks AFB, Texas
1986 Technical Instructor Course, Lowry AFB, Colo.
1986 Airborne Course, United States Army Infantry School, Ft. Benning, Ga.
1987 Noncommissioned Officer Professional Military Education Preparatory Course, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
1987 Emergency Medical Technician-Ambulance, National Registry Board of Emergency Medical Technicians, Spokane, Wash.
1987 Combat Survival Training Course S-V80A, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
1989 Water Survival, Non-Parachuting Course, S-V90-A, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
1990 Water Survival Training Course, S-V86-A, Homestead AFB, Fla.
1990 Tactical Jumpmaster Training Course, 3612th Combat Crew Training Wing, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
1991 Noncommissioned Officer Leadership School, Travis AFB, Calif.
1991 Associate of Applied Science, Aerospace Physiology Technology, Community College of the AF, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
1992 Bachelor of Science degree in Professional Aeronautics (with honors), Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Fla.
1993 Minuteman Operator, Rapid Execution & Combat Targeting, Launch Control Center, Course, Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
1993 Missile Combat Crew, Undergraduate Missile Training, Command Data Buffer, Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
1995 DoD High-Risk Survival, S-V91-A, JSAA, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
1995 Special Survival Training Course, S-V83-A, JSAA, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
1995 Master of Science degree, Aeronautic Science (Management Specialization), Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Univ, Fla.
1995 Interrogator Training Course, Joint Services School of Intelligence, United Kingdom
1996 DoD Hostage Survival S-V93A, JSSA, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
1997 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2002 Introduction to Personnel Recovery, PR 101, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
2002 Introduction to Special Operations Course, Joint Special Operations University, Charleston AFB, S.C.
2002 Emergency Response to Terrorism, National Fire Academy, by correspondence, Emmitsburg, Md.
2002 Dynamics of International Terrorism Course, Joint Special Operations University, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
2005 Technical Support Element Orientation Course, Personnel Recovery Academy, Spokane, Wash.
2007 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2020 Joint Task Force Staff Basic Course, Lemay Center for Doctrine, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2020 Air War College, by correspondence, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2021 Certified Professional Innovator, Air University-Project Mercury, Maxwell AFB, Ala./University of Michigan

ASSIGNMENTS
1. September 1984 – October 1984, basic trainee, Basic Military Training School, Lackland AFB, Texas
2. November 1984 – December 1984, student, Aerospace Physiology Specialist Course, School of Aerospace Medicine, Brooks AFB, Texas
3. January 1984 – January 1987, Physiological Training Specialist, 92d Strategic Hospital, Aerospace Physiology Unit, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
4. February 1987 – December 1987, Noncommissioned Officer in Charge, Hyperbarics, 92d Strategic Hospital, Aerospace Physiology Unit, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
5. January 1988 – March 1988, Noncommissioned Officer in Charge, Maintenance, 92d Strategic Hospital, Aerospace Physiology Unit, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
6. April 1988 – April 1989, Munitions Maintenance Specialist, 944 Tactical Fighter Group, Luke AFB, Ariz.
7. May 1989 – March 1991, Noncommissioned Officer in Charge, Hyperbarics, 92d Medical Group, Aerospace Physiology Unit, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
8. April 1991 – June 1992, Noncommissioned Officer in Charge, Parachuting & Support, 92d Medical Group, Aerospace Physiology Unit, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
9. July 1992 – September 1992, officer trainee, Officer Training Group, Lackland AFB, Texas
10. October 1992 – February 1993, student, Missile Combat Crew, Under Graduate Missile Training, Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
11. Mar 1993 – July 1993 Deputy Missile Combat Crew Commander, 740 Missile Squadron, Minot AFB, N.D.
12. August 1993 – September 1993, Deputy Missile Combat Crew Commander, Alternate Command Post, 740th Missile Squadron, Minot AFB, N.D.
13. October 1993 – December 1994, Instructor Operations Training Flight, 91st Operations Support Squadron, Minot AFB, N.D.
14. January 1995 – May 1995, Missile Combat Crew Scheduler, 91st Operations Support Squadron, Minot AFB, N.D.
15. June 1995 – September 1995, Assistant, Instructor Training Manager, Joint Services Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Agency, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
16. October 1995 – June 1997, Officer in Charge, DoD High-Risk Survival Course, Joint Services Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Agency, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
17. July 1997 – April 1998, DoD Peacetime/Hostage Survival Instructor, Joint Services Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape Agency, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
18. May 1998 – February 2002, Analytical Intelligence Officer, Joint Personnel Recovery Agency, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
19. March 2000 – February 2002, JPRA Reserve Program Manager, Headquarters Air Intelligence Agency, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
20. March 2002 - February 2003, Intelligence Applications Officer, Headquarters Air Intelligence Agency, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
21. March 2003 – February 2004, Intelligence Officer, Headquarters Air Intelligence Agency, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
22. March 2004 – February 2006, Chief, Technical Intelligence, Headquarters Air Intelligence Agency, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
23. March 2006 – June 2007, Chief, Personnel Recovery Mission Software System Architect, Headquarters Air Intelligence Agency, Lackland, AFB Texas
24. July 2007 – February 2009, Chief Personnel Recovery Technical Systems Development, Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency, Lackland AFB, Texas
25. March 2009 – February 2010, Chief Global Personnel Recovery Command and Control Operations, Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency, Lackland AFB, Texas
26. March 2010 – February 2011, Program Manager, Federated Case Management System, Joint Personnel Recovery Agency, Ft. Belvoir, Va.
27. March 2011 – December 2011, Chief, Commander's Action Group, Joint Personnel Recovery Agency, Ft. Belvoir, Va.
28. January 2012 – January 2015, Deputy Director, Command and Control Operations, Joint Personnel Recovery Agency, Ft. Belvoir, Va.
29. February 2015 – October 2016, Chief Current Intelligence Operations and Crisis Support, Joint Personnel Recovery Agency, Ft. Belvoir, Va.
30. May 2019 – May 2021, Deputy Director A2/6 (Joint Intelligence Support Element Chief), 215th Air Component Operation Flight (15 AF Joint Task Force Headquarters), 217th Air Operations Group Battle Creek ANG Base, Mich.
31. June 2021 – December 2021, Director, Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance for Strategy and Plans 215th Air Component Operations Flight, 217th Air Operations Group Battle Creek ANG Base, Mich.
32. January 2022 – February 2023, Director, Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, Michigan Air National Guard Headquarters, Lansing, Mich.
33. March 2023 – June 2024, Executive Director, Strategy and Operational Innovation, Michigan Air National Guard Headquarters, Lansing, Mich.
34. July 2024 – October 2025, Commander, Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center, Alpena, Mich.

FLIGHT INFORMATION
Master Parachutist (Paratrooper)
Aircrew Member (High Altitude Airdrop Mission Support)
Hypobaric & Hyperbaric Chamber Instructor/Evaluator

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1984 Honor Graduate, Aerospace Physiologist Specialist Course, Brooks AFB, Texas
1987 Outstanding Performance Rating, Air Force Medical Service, Falls Church, Va.
1987 National Jaycees, Outstanding Young Men of America, Chesterfield, Mo.
1987 Distinguished Graduate, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Military Education Preparatory Course, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
1990 Strategic Air Command, Inspector General, Superior Performance Award, Offut AFB, Neb.
1991 Outstanding Strategic Air Command Aerospace Physiology/Physiological Support Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
1991 Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, 92d Medical Group, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
1991 Commandant's Award, Noncommissioned Officer Leadership School, Travis AFB, Calif.
1991 Distinguished Graduate, Noncommissioned Officer Leadership School, Travis AFB, Calif.
1991 Military Excellence Award, Noncommissioned Officers Association, Spokane Valley, Wash.
1993 Outstanding Performance Award, 91st Missile Wing, Minot AFB, N.D.
1996 Company Grade Officer of the Quarter, Joint Services SERE Agency, Ft. Belvoir, Va.
1997 Letter of Excellence, Outstanding Briefer, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
1998 Company Grade Officer of the Quarter, Joint Service SERE Agency/TS White Bluffs Facility, Wash.
2015 US Geospatial Intelligence Foundation Military Innovation Award (team recipient)
2019 US Geospatial Intelligence Foundation Military Innovation Award (team recipient)
2022 ANG Winner, General Larry O. Spencer Innovation Award (team recipient)

BADGES EARNED
Aeronautical: Master Parachutist
Occupational: Master Intelligence
Occupational: Senior Enlisted Medical
Occupational: Missile Operator
Occupational: Space & Missile
Duty: Air Training Command Instructor
Duty: Joint Chiefs of Staff

(Current as of July 2024)