Michael F. Korcheck

                                                                                                           BIOGRAPHY

Michael F. Korcheck, Colonel, USAF (Retired) was born on 26 June 1959 in Miami, Florida. He graduated from Bayshore High School, Bradenton, Florida in 1977. He received his Bachelor of Science degree and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant from the United States Air Force Academy in June 1982. He earned a Master of Aeronautical Science degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in July 1993 and a Master of Strategic Studies from Air University in June 2005.

After completing helicopter flight training at Fort Rucker, Alabama, and Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, he was assigned to fly the UH-1N at Detachment 22, 40th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho in August 1983. While assigned to Det 22, he held positions as the detachment security officer, training officer, and Chief of Standardization and Evaluation. He was credited with saving 27 lives during civilian search and rescue missions.

After over four years in Idaho, Col Korcheck was assigned to the 55th Special Operations Squadron at Eglin AFB, Florida in November 1987 to fly the MH-60G Pavehawk. He participated in Operations JUST CAUSE and DESERT SHIELD, in addition to numerous joint exercises. He served as the Chief of Current Operations and Scheduling and the Chief of Squadron Safety.

He was then sent to the 38th Rescue Squadron, Osan Air Base, Korea in February 1991 for a one-year remote tour. While there, he was upgraded to MH-60G Instructor Pilot and served as the Squadron’s Chief of Training.

His next tour was as a flight instructor and examiner pilot at the 512th Special Operations Squadron at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico in May 1992. He held positions as the 58th Special Operations Wing Chief of Rotary Wing Standardization & Evaluation, Commander of the 512th SOS HH-60G Flight, and 512th SOS Assistant Operations Officer.

Mr. Korcheck then moved on to his first staff tour as the Chief of Rescue Standardization and Evaluation for HQ Air Combat Command at Langley AFB, Virginia in August 1995. While stationed there he was selected to attend Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell AFB, Alabama for Academic Year 1997. Upon graduation he moved to the staff of Special Operations Command Central at MacDill AFB, FL in July 1997, serving as an Air Operations Officer and Exercise Coordinator and then the Commanding General’s Liaison Officer to Central Command.

After a two-year tour at MacDill, he was hired to be the Operations Officer at the 41st Rescue Squadron, Moody AFB, Ga in August 1999. He took command of the 41st in Nov 2000 and served as the commander until August 2002.

After relinquishing command he moved to the College of Aerospace Doctrine, Research and Education (CADRE) at Maxwell AFB, AL. He served as the Chief, Flag Officer Division for just over a year and then as the Deputy Director, Warfare Studies Institute at CADRE. He served at CADRE for two years, before moving next door to the Air War College, where he completed it’s course of study.

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