Colonel Christopher A. Michele currently serves as faculty, National Defense University, Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy. As faculty, Col Michele instructs Joint Defense, Interagency, and multi-national senior leaders on defense acquisition and resource strategies focusing on government innovation and entrepreneurial strategies. Col Michele is a graduated Materiel Leader, Integrated Strike Programs, Program Executive Office (PEO) for Fixed Wing Programs, HQ U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), MacDill AFB, FL where his team was responsible for developing, producing, testing, modifying, fielding, and supporting Special Operations Forces (SOF)-unique AC-130 Gunships and multiple Special Operations Precision Guided Munitions, valued at over $3.6B.
Col Michele received his commission from Officers Training School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, Alabama in June 2002 and has served as an acquisition program manager for various projects with multiple commands, inter-agencies and foreign partners. While at Air Force Materiel Command his team managed the development, integration, fielding and sustainment of multiple F-15 fighter radar systems. While assigned to Air Force Space Command he led a joint Air Force-Army team in the advanced exploitation of multiple missile warning satellites providing real-time weather and battle damage assessment. In 2007, then Capt Michele was selected as one of the first five Company Grade Officers to establish the GHOST program at HQ USSOCOM Special Operations Acquisition & Logistics Directorate (now SOF AT&L). While at HQ SOCOM he deployed forward to Iraq in support of OPERATION Iraqi Freedom/Enduring Freedom managing the battlefield modification and sustainment of two SOF-unique manned Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft. After his tour to USSOCOM he was assigned to the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) where he worked the co-development of electro-optical sensors and small satellites with other Director of National Intelligence agencies. During his tour at the NRO he deployed forward to Afghanistan in support of OPERATION Enduring Freedom as the NRO Liaison Officer to the International Security Assistance Forces. Following his time at the NRO, Col Michele returned to HQ USSOCOM to work sensitive activities for the PEO Special Operations Forces Warrior Systems. In 2014 Col Michele was selected for Air Command and Staff College (ACSC) as a Political Affairs Specialist and followed ACSC with an assignment to the Office of the Secretary of Defense where he worked as a Security Cooperation Portfolio Manager for the Defense Security Cooperation Agency managing the strategic security cooperation planning and defense sales to multiple U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) countries valued at over $35B.
EDUCATION
1995 Bachelor of Science in Business, Marketing/Economics, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
2002 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell AFB AL
2004 Master of Business Administration, Acquisition Program Management, American Military University
2007 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB AL, distinguished graduate
2015 Master of Military Sciences and International Affairs, Air Command and Staff College RAS/PAS,
Maxwell AFB AL, distinguished graduate
2022 Master of Strategic Studies, Air War College, Maxwell, AFB AL