Colonel Michael D. Maginness is the Commander, 2d Bomb Wing, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. He is responsible for providing B-52H combat aircraft, crews, and associated support to conduct global conventional or nuclear operations. As Barksdale’s installation commander, he supports Headquarters Air Force Global Strike Command, Headquarters Eighth Air Force, Air Force Reserve Command’s 307th Bomb Wing, and 30 tenant units. He promotes the welfare of more than 11,400 military and civilian personnel, 6,300 family members, and 25,000 retirees.
Prior to assuming these positions, Colonel Maginness was the Vice Commander, 5th Bomb Wing and former Commander, 5th Mission Support Group, Minot Air Force Base, N.D. In these roles, he was responsible for the health and welfare of over 4,900 active-duty members, 500 civilian employees, 6,000 family members and over $4 billion in assets. Additionally, he was the commander's direct representative in overseeing global B-52H operations providing deterrence and long-range strike capability for combatant command operations worldwide.
Colonel Maginness graduated from Texas A&M University and was commissioned through Officer Training School. He has served in numerous operational and staff assignments as B-52 Aircraft Commander, Weapons Officer, Weapons School Instructor, Aide-de-Camp to the Commander, Air Force Global Strike Command, and Commander of the 5th Mission Support Group. He has global experience in the B-52, including multiple deployments to the Pacific, European, and Central Command areas of responsibility. Col Maginness is a graduate of the United States Marine Corps School of Advanced Warfighting and National War College. He has commanded at the squadron and group levels to include command of an operational bomb squadron in combat during Operations IRAQI FREEDOM, ENDURING FREEDOM, and FREEDOM'S SENTINEL.
EDUCATION
2001 Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science, Texas A&M University, College Station
2002 U.S. Air Force Officer Training School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. (Distinguished Graduate)
2009 U.S. Air Force Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala. (Distinguished Graduate)
2010 U.S. Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev. (Distinguished Graduate)
2012 Master of Arts Degree in American Military History, American Military University
2013 National Technical Fellowship Program, Argonne Labs, Department of Energy (DOE), Chicago, Ill.
2014 Master of Arts Degree in Military Operational Art, School of Advanced Warfighting (ASG), Quantico Marine Corps Base, Quantico, Va.
2019 Master of Arts in National Security Strategy, National War College, Washington D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. January 2003-July 2003, Student Pilot, 479th Operations Support Squadron, Moody Air Force Base, Ga.
2. July 2003-April 2004, Student Pilot Phase Ill, 87th Flying Training Squadron, Laughlin AFB, Texas
3. April 2004-April 2005, Executive Officer, 85th Flying Training Squadron, Laughlin AFB, Texas
4. April 2005-March 2006, B-52H Instructor Pilot, 11th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale, AFB, La.
5. March 2006-May 2007, B-52H Pilot, 96th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.
6. May 2007-March 2008, B-52H Aircraft Commander and Flight Commander, 96th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.
7. March 2008-Jan 201 O; B-52H Instructor Pilot and Flight Commander, 96th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.
8. January 2010-June 2010. Weapons Undergraduate, 340th Weapons Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
9. June 2010-January 2011, Weapons and Tactics Flight Commander, 20th Bomb Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.
10.January 2011-June 2012, Mission Employment Flight Commander, 340th Weapons Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.
11.June 2012-June 2013, Aide-de-Camp to the Commander, Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale AFB, La.
12.June 2013-June 2014, Air Force Fellow, Argonne National Laboratory (DOE), Chicago, Ill.
13. June 2014-June 2015, Student, U.S. Marine Corps School of Advanced Warfighting, Quantico Marine Corps Base, Quantico, Va.
14. June 2015-May 2016, Director of Operations, 69th Bomb Squadron, Minot AFB, N.D.
15. May 2016-June 2018, Commander, 23d Bomb Squadron, Minot AFB, N.D.
16. June 2018-June 2019, Student, National War College, Ft. McNair, Washington D.C.
17. June 2019-June 2021, Assistant Deputy Director, J36 Nuclear and Homeland Defense Operations, the Joint Staff, The Pentagon, Washington D.C.
18. June 2021-Jul 2023, Vice Commander, 5th Bomb Wing, Minot AFB, N.D.
19. February 2023-June 2023, Commander, 5th Mission Support Group, Minot AFB, N.D.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2019-June 2021, Assistant Deputy Director, J36 Nuclear and Homeland Defense Operations, the Joint Staff, The Pentagon, Washington D.C., as a colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: 3,600 including 373 combat hours
Aircraft flown: B-52H, T-38A, T-6A
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with 2 oak leaf clusters
Air Medal
Air and Space Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2002 Distinguished Graduate, United States Air Force Officer Training School
2009 Distinguished Graduate, United States Air Force Squadron Officer School
2010 Distinguished Graduate, United States Air Force Weapons School
2010 Flying Award, United States Air Force Weapons School
2018 General Curtis E. LeMay Award
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTIONS
Second Lieutenant Dec. 20, 2002
First Lieutenant Dec. 20, 2004
Captain Dec. 20, 2006
Major Nov. 1, 2012
Lieutenant Colonel Jan. 1, 2016
Colonel Mar. 1, 2020
(Current as of October 2023)