Col. Michael J. Lake is the Deputy Commander, 505th Command and Control Wing, Hurlburt Field, Fla. The mission of the 505th CCW is to advance, integrate and standardize training, tactics and testing for operational-level command of air, space and cyber power in the joint and coalition environment. He assists the commander in developing the combat capability of the Air Operations Center and leading the U.S. Air Force’s Distributed Mission Operations and live, virtual, and constructive capabilities. The 505th CCW is comprised of the 505th Test and Training Group at Hurlburt Field, Fla., 505th Combat Training Group at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. and 505th CCW, Detachment 1 at Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
Col. Lake received his commission from the U.S. Air Force Officer Training School in September 2000. He has served as an E-3 Airborne Warning Control System Instructor Air Weapons Officer and Senior Director, Control and Reporting Center Instructor and Evaluator Senior Director, and E-8 Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System Mission Crew Commander.
His staff assignments include U.S. Strategic Command and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, as well as serving as a Legislative Fellow in the U.S. House of Representatives and Aide-de-Camp to the Secretary of the Air Force. Col. Lake has served combat tours in Operations Deny Flight, Deliberate Force, Southern Watch, Iraqi Freedom, and Enduring Freedom. He has also provided operational support to Operations Desert Storm, Southern Watch and Desert Fox as an enlisted Electronic Intelligence Analyst. Prior to his current position, the colonel was the Commander, 380th Expeditionary Operations Group, Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates.
EDUCATION
1986 Electronic Intelligence Operations Specialist Course, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas
2000 Bachelor of Science, Business Management, Park University, San Antonio, Texas
2001 Basic Air Battle Manager Course, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
2004 Master of Business Administration, Oklahoma City University, Oklahoma City
2006 U.S. Air Force Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nev.
2007 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2010 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2012 Certificate in Legislative Affairs, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
2019 Master of Science, National Security Strategy, National Defense University, Washington, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. December 1986 - January 1990, Electronic Intelligence Operations Specialist, National Telemetry Processing Center, Fort Meade, Md.
2. January 1990 - January 1993, Electronic Intel Ops Specialist, Det 1, 6903d Electronic Security Squadron, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea
3. January 1993 - October 1997, Acquisition and High Band System Operator, 43d Electronic Combat Squadron, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz.
4. October 1997 - July 2000, Electronic Intel Ops Specialist, AF Information Warfare Center, Lackland AFB, Texas
5. December 2000 - September 2001, Student, Air Battle Manager, 325th Training Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
6. September 2001 - September 2003, Officer-in-Charge of Tactics, Training and Employment, 552nd Operational Support Squadron, Tinker AFB, Okla.
7. September 2003 - January 2007, Deputy Chief, Weapons and Tactics, 964th Airborne Air Control Squadron, Tinker AFB, Okla.
8. January 2007 - July 2009, Instructor Senior Director, 603d Air Control Squadron, Aviano AB, Italy
9. July 2009 - July 2010, Assistant Director of Operations, 603d Air Control Squadron, Aviano AB, Italy
10. July 2010 - July 2011, Mission Crew Commander, 116th Air Control Wing, Robins AFB, Ga.
11. July 2011 - December 2012, Legislative Fellow, Office of Congressman Jack Kingston, Washington, D.C.
12. December 2012 - May 2013, Joint Legislative Policy Officer, INDOPACOM, Washington Liaison Office, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
13. May 2013 - July 2014, Aide-de-Camp to the SAF, Headquarters U.S. Air Force. the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
14. July 2014 - May 2016, Director of Operations, 605th Test & Evaluation Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
15. May 2016 - May 2018, Commander, 605th Test & Evaluation Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
16. July 2018 - July 2019, Student, National War College, National Defense University, Washington, D.C.
17. July 2019 - April 2020, Strike Advisor, STRATCOM, Global Operations Center, Offutt AFB, Neb.
18. April 2020 - July 2022, Team Chief, STRATCOM, National Air Operations Center, Offutt AFB, Neb.
19. June 2021 - June 2022, Commander, 380th Expeditionary Operations Group, Al Dhafra AB, UAE
20. July 2022 - present, Deputy Commander, 505th Command and Control Wing, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2019 - April 2020, Strike Advisor, STRATCOM, Global Operations Center, Offutt AFB, Neb., as a lieutenant colonel
2. April 2020 - July 2022, Team Chief, STRATCOM, National Airborne Operations Center, Offutt AFB, Neb., as a lieutenant colonel and colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: senior air battle manager
Flight hours: more than 2,000, including 396 combat hours
Aircraft flown: EC-130H, E-3B, E-3C, E-8C, E-4B, KC-10, E-11
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal
EFFECTIVE DATE OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant Sept. 29, 2000
First Lieutenant Sept. 29, 2002
Captain Sept. 29, 2004
Major Aug. 1, 2010
Lieutenant Colonel Feb. 1, 2015
Colonel Jan. 1, 2021
(Current as of June 2024)