Colonel Michael R. Drowley ~ BiographyCol Michael R. Drowley is the Commander of the 355th Wing, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. He is responsible for one of the largest installations and flying operations in the United States Air Force, with 41 mission partners, more than 46,000 personnel, 152 aircraft and $51 billion dollars in assets. He is responsible for organizing, training and equipping a wing comprised of 25 squadrons. The wing provides A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft for close air support and forward air control, combat support, and medical forces for combatant commander requirements worldwide.
The 355th Wing also provides combat search and rescue personnel recovery capabilities through the employment of HC-130J Combat Kings IIs, HH-60G Pave Hawks, and Guardian Angel weapon systems. The wing has units at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz and Nellis AFB, Nev. The 355th Wing is also responsible for training A-10C pilots for the entire Total Force and is the Air Combat Command executive agent for Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces and Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty compliance.
Colonel Drowley earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering and his commission from the United States Air Force Academy in 1996. He is a command pilot with more than 2,200 fighter hours in the A-10, including more than 200 combat hours. Colonel Drowley has commanded at the flight, squadron, and group levels. Additionally, he has served on the staffs of the Superintendent, United States Air Force Academy and the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Prior to his current assignment, Colonel Drowley served as Chief of Staff, Headquarters United States Air Forces Central Command, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar.
