Brig. Gen. Michael O. Cadle is the Chief of Staff, Headquarters, West Virginia Air National Guard, McLaughlin Air National Guard Base, and the Director, Joint Staff at Joint Forces Headquarters Charleston, W.Va As Chief of Staff Brig. Gen. Cadle is responsible for assisting The Adjutant General and Assistant Adjutant General-Air in equipping and training over 2,000 Airmen to execute worldwide missions in support of federal and state taskings, while directing staff operations in the Air National Guard headquarters. As Director, Joint Staff, he is responsible for managing programs and operations for the Joint Staff and overseeing issues that impact the more than 6,500 Citizen Soldiers and Airmen of the West Virginia National Guard.
Brig. Gen. Cadle entered military service in April 1985 and attended Basic Military Training in June of that year. He was assigned to the Combat Support Squadron as a Staff Support Administration Specialist. He moved to the Base Contracting Office, serving as a warranted Contracting Officer until 1992 when he was commissioned through the Air National Guard Academy of Military Science as a Second Lieutenant in the Resource Management Squadron. He has served in a variety of leadership and state joint staff assignments, including Support Group Executive Officer, Mission Support Flight Commander, Director of Staff-Air, Mission Support Group Commander and Wing Vice Commander. Prior to assignment as Chief of Staff, Brig. Gen. Cadle served as the Director of Manpower and Personnel at the Headquarters, West Virginia Air National Guard.
While commanding at the flight and group levels and serving in other senior staff assignments, he was directly responsible for Airmen and unit wartime readiness. He was a key member of the state leadership team that guided the state through many strategic challenges, including the base realignment and closure process, two unit aircraft conversions that included a reduction in force, establishment of the state’s national homeland defense capabilities, and creation of the state’s force development program for identifying talented Airmen and maximizing their assignments and education to ensure they are prepared to assume senior leader roles in the organization. His background includes more than 12 years experience on the state joint staff, civilian experience as a business manager for a statewide architect/engineering firm, and president of the National Guard Association of West Virginia.
EDUCATION
1990 Bachelor of Science, Business Administration/Accounting, West Virginia State College, Institute, W.Va.
1999 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., by correspondence
2000 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2005 Master of Science, Public Administration, West Virginia University, Morgantown
2008 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2012 Joint Task Force Commander's Course, U.S. NORTHCOM, Petersen AFB, Co.
2014 Introduction to Special Operations Course, Air Force Special Operations Command, McLaughlin ANGB, W.Va.
2015 Emergency Operations Center Director's Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2016 Senior Leader Mission Generation Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2018 Reserve Component National Security Course, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.
2018 Commander Development Course, Air National Guard, Andrews AFB, Md.
2019 Anti-Terrorism Level IV Executive Seminar, Tysons Corner, Va.
ASSIGNMENTS
- April 1985 - March 1989, Staff Support Administration Specialist, 130th Combat Support Squadron, McLaughlin Air National Guard Base, Charleston, W.Va.
- April 1989 - June 1992, Contracting Specialist, 130th Resource Management Squadron, McLaughlin ANGB, Charleston, W.Va.
- July 1992 - March 1994, Supply Operations Officer, 130th Resource Management Squadron, McLaughlin ANGB, Charleston, W.Va.
- March 1994 - May 1997, Executive Support Officer, 130th Support Group, McLaughlin ANGB, Charleston, W.Va.
- May 1997 - April 1998, Director of Personnel, 130th Mission Support Flight, McLaughlin ANGB, Charleston, W.Va.
- April 1998 - July 2001, Commander, 130th Mission Support Flight, McLaughlin ANGB, Charleston, W.Va.
- July 2001 - October 2011, State Public Affairs Officer, Headquarters, West Virginia Air National Guard, McLaughlin ANGB, Charleston, W.Va.
- October 2011 - July 2015, Director of Staff-Air, HQWVANG, McLaughlin ANGB, Charleston, W.Va.
- July 2015 - November 2017, Commander, 130th Mission Support Group, McLaughlin ANGB, Charleston, W.Va.
- November 2017 - June 2020, Vice Wing Commander, 130th Airlift Wing, McLaughlin ANGB, Charleston, W.Va.
- June 2020 - March 2021, Director, Manpower & Personnel, HQWVANG, McLaughlin ANGB, Charleston, W.Va.
- March 2021 - present, Chief of Staff, HQWVANG, McLaughlin ANGB, Charleston, W.Va.
AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with three oak leaf clusters
Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
National Defense Service Medal with bronze star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon with three oak leaf clusters
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with gold device
Air Force Training Ribbon with one oak leaf cluster
West Virginia Meritorious Service Medal
West Virginia Emergency Service Ribbon with one oak leaf cluster
West Virginia Humanitarian Service Ribbon
West Virginia State Service Ribbon with one oak leaf cluster
West Virginia Service Ribbon
West Virginia National Guard Minuteman Ribbon with one oak leaf cluster
West Virginia Distinguished Unit Award
Louisiana Emergency Service Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant 30 July 1992
First Lieutenant 6 August 1994
Captain 7 August 1996
Major 20 September 2000
Lieutenant Colonel 5 February 2005
Colonel 23 May 2013
Brigadier General 1 Sept 2021
(Current as of Sept. 2021)