Col. Michael R. Cabral is the Deputy Commander of the 926th Wing, 10th Air Force, Air Force Reserve Command, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., executing legacy, fifth generation and remotely piloted aircraft, as well as space, cyber, aircraft maintenance, mission support and medical operations. He ensures the readiness of more than 1,500 unit reservists who are classically associated in Total Force Integration constructs throughout Air Combat Command and the United States Air Force Warfare Center. Additionally, he supports geographically separated units at Creech AFB, Nev., Beale AFB, Calif., Holloman AFB, N.M., Schriever AFB, Colo., Eglin AFB, Fla., and Hurlburt Field, Fla.
Col. Cabral entered the Air Force in 1996 as a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy. He has held a variety of flying assignments to include Weapons and Tactics Officer in the 43rd Fighter Squadron, the U.S. Air Force’s only F-22 Formal Training Unit; Assistant Director of Operations for the 90th Fighter Squadron, the first F-22 squadron based outside the Continental U.S.; Deputy Operations Group Commander for 3rd Operations Group, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska; and F-22 Test Director, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Command’s Detachment Six, Nellis AFB, Nev. Col. Cabral completed a Joint Staff tour as Division Chief, Joint Exercises, Alaskan Command, where he served as lead planner and director for exercise NORTHERN EDGE, the largest Joint Operations and Electronic Warfare exercise in the Department of Defense. Col. Cabral commanded the 36th Student Squadron at Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala. Prior to his current assignment he served as Deputy Director, Air, Space, and Information Operations at Headquarters, Air Force Reserve Command, Robins AFB, Ga. He is a command pilot with over 1,800 flying hours in the F-15C, F-22, F-16 and T-38A aircraft.
EDUCATION
1996 Bachelor of Science, English, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2001 Distinguished Graduate, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2007 Air Command and Staff College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2008 Master of Business Administration, Touro University International, Cypress, Calif.
2010 Master of Arts, National Security and Strategic Studies, Naval War College, Newport, R.I.
2010 Distinguished Graduate, Naval Command and Staff College, Naval War College, Newport, R.I.
2010 Maritime Advanced Warfare School, Naval War College, Newport, R.I.
2011 Joint and Combined Warfare School, JPME-II, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
2014 Air War College, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 1996 – December 1996, Public Affairs Officer, Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, Colo.
2. December 1996 – December 1997, Student, Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance AFB, Enid, Okla.
3. January 1998 – March 1998, Student, Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals, Columbus AFB, Miss.
4. April 1998 – October 1998, Student, F-15C Initial Qualification Course, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
5. October 1998 – October 2001, F-15C Instructor Pilot, Assistant Chief of Weapons, 60th Fighter Squadron, Eglin AFB, Fla.
6. October 2001 – July 2004, F-15C Instructor Pilot and Flight Commander, 2nd Fighter Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
7. July 2004 – July 2007, F-22 Instructor Pilot and Chief of Weapons and Tactics, 43rd Fighter Squadron, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
8. July 2007 – July 2009, Assistant Director of Operations, 90th Fighter Squadron, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska.
9. August 2009 – September 2010, Student, Naval Command and Staff College and Maritime Advanced Warfare School, Naval War College, Newport, R.I.
10. September 2010 – September 2013, Division Chief, Joint Exercises, Alaskan Command, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.
11. September 2013 – August 2014, Deputy Operations Group Commander and Chief, Wing Advanced Programs, 3rd Wing, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.
12. August 2014 – August 2015, Test Director, F-22 Modernization and Enhancements, Detachment-6, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center, Nellis AFB, Nev.
13. August 2015 – August 2017, Commander, 36th Student Squadron, Squadron Officer College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
14. August 2017 – July 2020, Deputy Director, Air, Space, and Information Operations, Air Force Reserve Command, Robins AFB, Ga.
15. August 2020 – Present, Vice Commander, 926th Wing, Nellis AFB, Nev.
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight Hours: More than 1,800
Aircraft Flown: F-15C, F-22A, F-16C, T-38A
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal