Michael J. Carey enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1978 and was later commissioned through the ROTC program at the University of Central Florida in 1983. During his Air Force career he has commanded at the detachment, squadron, group and wing levels, and has served in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. The general has held staff assignments focusing on space, missile and cyber operations, force requirements, and international affairs at Headquarters Air Force Space Command, the Air Staff, Headquarters U.S. Strategic Command and the Joint Staff. Prior to his current assignment, he was Deputy Director, Command, Control, and Nuclear Operations, Joint Staff, the Pentagon.

From June 2012 until October 2013, Major General Carey served as Commander, 20th Air Force, Air Force Global Strike Command, and Commander, Task Force 214, U.S. Strategic Command, at Francis E. Warren Air Force Base, WY. He was responsible for the nation's intercontinental ballistic missile force, organized into three operational wings with more than 9,600 people.

Relieved of Command

On 11 October 2013, it was publicly announced that Maj Gen Carey had been relieved of his command. The Air Force has stated that Carey is under investigation by the Air Force Inspector General following "reports of personal misbehavior" during a temporary duty assignment, a phrase that usually refers to business travel. The statement stressed that the allegations "are not related to operational readiness or the inspection results of any 20th AF unit, nor do they involve sexual misconduct."

According to a Defense Department official, Lt Gen James Kowalski, the commander of Air Force Global Strike Command, made the decision to relieve Maj Gen Carey because of a "loss of trust and confidence." Earlier in 2013, two of the three missile wings under Carey's command received unsatisfactory ratings in regular annual inspections. In May, the 91st Missile Wing at Minot Air Force Base, ND, suspended 19 missile officers for retraining after that unit received an unsatisfactory rating for one aspect of its inspection and in August, the 341st Missile Wing at Malmstrom Air Force Base, MT, failed its third inspection in five years.

Education

Assignments

1. June 1978 - December 1980, communication-navigation system specialist, 63rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, MacDill AFB, FL.
2. December 1983 - August 1986, satellite operations officer, 1000th Satellite Operations Group, Offutt AFB, NE.
3. August 1986 - June 1989, Chief, Operations Training, 17th Surveillance Squadron, San Miguel Naval Communications Station, Philippines.
4. June 1989 - October 1989, politico-military affairs officer, International Affairs Division, Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans, Headquarters Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, CO.
5. October 1989 - July 1990, executive officer, Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans, Headquarters Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, CO.
6. July 1990 - September 1991, aide to the Commander, Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, CO.
7. September 1991 - June 1993, Commander, Detachment 7, 750th Space Group, Falcon AFB, CO.
8. June 1993 - July 1994, Chief, Atlas Launch Control Flight, 3rd Space Launch Squadron, Cape Canaveral Air Station, FL.
9. August 1994 - June 1995, student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL.
10. July 1995 - April 1996, information warfare joint warfighting capabilities assessment integrator, Directorate of Operational Requirements, Deputy Chief of Staff Plans and Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, DC.
11. April 1996 - June 1998, space operations planner, Directorate for Force Structure, Resources, and Assessment, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Washington, DC.
12. March 1998 - April 1998, student, Joint and Combined Staff Officer School, Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, VA.
13. June 1998 - June 2000, Commander, 321st Missile Squadron, F. E. Warren AFB, WY.
14. June 2000 - July 2001, student, Naval War College, Newport, RI.
15. June 2001 - June 2002, Chief, Space Control Division, Directorate of Requirements, Headquarters Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, CO.
16. June 2002 - June 2004, Commander, 595th Space Group, Space Warfare Center, Schriever AFB, CO.
17. July 2004 - May 2005, Vice Commander, 50th Space Wing, Schriever AFB, CO.
18. October 2004 - March 2005, Director of Space Forces, Combined Air Operations Center, Southwest Asia,
19. March 2005 - June 2005, student, National Defense Management Course, Maxwell School of Citizenship, Syracuse University, NY.
20. June 2005 - June 2007, Commander, 90th Space Wing, F. E. Warren AFB, WY.
21. June 2007 - February 2008, Director, Current Operations (J3B), Global Operations Directorate, USSTRATCOM, Offutt AFB, NE.
22. March 2008 - August 2010, Deputy Director, Global Operations (DJ3), Global Operations Directorate, USSTRATCOM, Offutt AFB, NE.
23. August 2010 - June 2012, Deputy Director, Command, Control and Nuclear Operations (J3), Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Washington, DC.
24. June 2012 - present, Commander, 20th Air Force, Air Force Global Strike Command, and Commander, Task Force 214, U.S. Strategic Command, Francis E. Warren AFB, WY.

Summary of Joint Assignments

1. April 1996 - June 1998, space operations planner, Directorate for Force Structure, Resources and Assessment, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Washington, DC, as a major and lieutenant colonel.
2. October 2004 - March 2005, Director of Space Forces, Combined Air Operations Center, Southwest Asia, as a colonel.
3. June 2007 - February 2008, Director, Current Operations (J3B), Global Operations Directorate, USSTRATCOM, Offutt AFB, NE, as a colonel.
4. March 2008 - August 2010, Deputy Director, Global Operations, Global Operations Directorate, USSTRATCOM, Offutt AFB, NE. (June 2009 - August 2009, Chief, USSTRATCOM Forward Integration Team, Kabul, Afghanistan), as a brigadier general.
5. August 2010 - June 2012, Deputy Director, Command, Control and Nuclear Operations (J3), Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Washington, DC, as a brigadier general and a major general.

Major Medals, Awards and Badges

Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Joint Meritorious Unit Award with Oak Leaf Cluster
Combat Readiness Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Bronze Star
Humanitarian Service Medal with Bronze Star
NATO Medal (ISAF Afghanistan)
Master Space Badge
Command Pilot Badge
Master Missile Operations Badge
Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge