Col. Michael Cruff is the Mobilization Assistant to the Director, Strategic Plans, Requirements and Programs, Headquarters Air Mobility Command (AMC), Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. In this role, he assists and advises the director with force structure planning, programming, doctrine, and requirements for the nation's airlift and air refueling force.
Additionally, Colonel Cruff serves as the senior officer responsible for advising the director on the efficient integration and utilization of mobilized Air Reserve Component forces throughout AMC.
Colonel Cruff was commissioned in 1995 through the Air Force Officer Training Corps program at University of Massachusetts-Lowell. After ten years serving on active duty, Colonel Cruff transitioned to the Reserve at McGuire AFB, New Jersey. He has held various positions at the squadron, group, wing, major command and combatant command level. He is a command combat pilot with over 4.400 total flight hours in the KC-10, C-21 and C-40 aircraft.
Colonel Cruff has participated in numerous operations and contingencies including: ALLIED FORCE, DESERT FOX, SOUTHERN WATCH, DESERT STRIKE, PHOENIX SCORPION, NOBLE EAGLE, ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM and NEW DAWN. Colonel Cruff has deployed/mobilized twelve times and has served as a deployed Director of Operations in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM/ENDURING FREEDOM.
Prior to his current assignment Colonel Cruff served as the vice commander of the 932d Airlift Wing, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois.
EDUCATION
1995 Bachelor of Science, Public Administration, University of Massachusetts, Lowell
2000 Air Mobility Operations Course, US Air Force Expeditionary Center, Fort Dix, N.J.
2002 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2010 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2010 Masters of Military Operational Art and Science, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2011 Advanced Leadership Course, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tenn.
2012 Reserve Component National Security Course, National Defense University, Ft. Leslie J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2013 Air War College, by correspondence
2016 Joint Combined Warfighters School - Hybrid, Joint Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
2019 Director of Mobility Forces Course, Air Force Expeditionary Center, Detachment 1, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
2020 Africa Seminar, Alan L. Freed Associates, Capital Hill Club, Washington, D.C.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 1995 - May 1996, Special Assistant to the Commander, AFROTC Det 345, Lowell, Mass.
2. May 1996 - June 1997, student, specialized undergraduate pilot training, Columbus AFB, Miss.
3. June 1997 - September 2001, KC-10 Instructor Pilot and Squadron Executive Officer, 2d Air Refueling Squadron, McGuire AFB, N.J.
4. September 2001 - June 2005, C-21 Evaluator Pilot, Flight Commander, Chief of STAN/EVAL and Assistant Director of Operations, Andrews AFB, Md.
5. June 2005 - June 2012, KC-10 Instructor/Evaluator Pilot, Flight Commander and Assistant Chief Pilot, 78th Air Refueling Squadron, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.
6. June 2012 - June 2016, Commander, 78th Air Refueling Squadron, 514th Air Mobility Wing, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.
7. June 2016 - April 2017, Deputy Commander, 514th Operations Group, 514th Air Mobility Wing, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.
8. April 2017 - November 2018, Commander, 954th Reserve Support Squadron, Joint Transportation Reserve Unit; and Chief, USTRANSCOM Deployment Distribution Operations Center, Scott AFB, Ill.
9. November 2018 - June 2020, Vice Commander, 932d Airlift Wing, Scott AFB, Ill. (December 2018 – May 2019, Commander, 932d Airlift Wing, Scott AFB, Ill.
10. July 2020 - Present, Mobilization Assistant to the Director, Strategic Plans, Requirements and Programs, Headquarters Air Mobility Command (AMC), Scott Air Force Base.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. April 2017 - November 2018, Chief, USTRANSCOM Deployment Distribution Operations Center, Scott AFB, Ill, as a colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command Pilot
Flight hours: more than 4,400
Aircraft flown: T-3, T-37, T-1, C-21A, C-40C, KC-10A
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Air Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
Distinguished Graduate, Air Force Officer Training Corps
SUPT Leadership Award
Distinguished Graduate, KC-10 Aircraft Commander Upgrade Training
Distinguished Graduate, Squadron Officer School
Air Mobility Command Aircrew of the Year
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 31, 1995
First Lieutenant May 31, 1997
Captain May 31, 1999
Major Sept. 28, 2005
Lieutenant Colonel Oct. 1, 2011
Colonel May 1, 2017
(Current as of July 2020)