Podcast Episode 15 with Special Tactics Officer Colonel Mike Flatten

Colonel Michael J. Flatten is Vice Commander, 24th Special Operations Wing, Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Fla. He is responsible for preparing Special Tactics forces for rapid global employment to enable airpower success. The 24 SOW is comprised of two Special Tactics groups and a training squadron with more than 1,400 assigned special operations and combat support personnel encompassing 58 Air Force specialties. Col Flatten graduated from Texas A&M University’s Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program and received his Air Force commission in 1993. He entered the Combat Control training pipeline in 1998 and acquired advanced skills as a certified Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC), freefall and master static line parachutist and combat diver. He directed specialized missions during the initial stages of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM and was the Special Tactics lead planner at the onset of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. He has served in various MAJCOM and joint staff assignments and commanded the 22nd Special Tactics Squadron. Prior to assuming his current assignment, he was Student and Seminar Leader, Grand Strategy Seminar, Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. EDUCATION 1992 Bachelor of Arts degree in History, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 1998 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 2005 Air Command and Staff College (Correspondence), Maxwell AFB, Ala. 2008 Air War College (Correspondence), Maxwell AFB, Ala. 2012 Masters of Military Operational Arts, Air University, Ala. 2015 Air War College, Grand Strategy Program, Maxwell AFB, Ala. 2015 Masters of Strategic Studies, Air university, Ala. ASSIGNMENTS 1. March 1993 - January 1995, Operations Officer, 27th Operations Support Squadron; Group Executive Officer, 27th Operations Group; 524th Squadron Section Commander, 27th Fighter Wing, Cannon AFB, N.M. 2. January 1995 - December 1998, Executive Officer, 15th Airlift Squadron/Operations Group; Deputy Chief of Plans, 15th Air Base Wing, Hickam AFB, Hawaii 3. December 1998 - May 2000, Student, Combat Control training pipeline, multiple locations 4. May 2000 - April 2003, Green/Silver Team Leader, 21st Special Tactics Squadron, Pope Army Airfield, N.C. 5. April 2003 - July 2006, Assistant Director of Operations, 720th Special Tactics Group; Advanced Skills Training Commander, 720th Special Tactics Group; Director of Operations, 23d Special Tactics Squadron, Hurlburt Field, Fla. 6. July 2006 - September 2008, Officer in Charge, J35 Plans; Aide de Camp to the Commander, Special Operations Command Central, As Sayliyah, Qatar 7. September 2008 – June 2010, Chief, Air to Ground Integration, AFSOC, Hurlburt Field, Fla. 8. June 2010 – July 2012, Commander, 22d Special Tactics Squadron, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. 9. August 2012 – April 2013, Deputy Director of Training, Special Tactics Forces, Headquarters Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Fla. 10. April 2013 – July 2014, Deputy Commander, 720th Special Tactics Group, Hurlburt Field, Fla. 11. July 2014 – May 2015, Student, Air War College Grand Strategy Seminar, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. 12. May 2015 – Present, vice Commander, 24th Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, Fla. MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS Bronze Star (two oak leaf clusters) Defense Meritorious Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal (five oak leaf clusters) Air Force Commendation Medal (two oak leaf clusters) Presidential Unit Citation Joint Meritorious Unit Award (valor device; three oak leaf clusters) Gallant Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (valor device; four oak leaf clusters) Combat Readiness Medal (one device) National Defense Service Medal (one device) Southwest Asia Service Medal Afghanistan Campaign Medal (with two devices) Iraqi Campaign Medal Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Air Force Overseas Short Tour Ribbon