Colonel Michael Huddleston

COL Michael J. Huddleston grew up in Hartford, Michigan and graduated from Hartford High School in 1978. In the fall of 1978, COL Huddleston enrolled at Western Michigan University and played football for the Broncos. In 1981, COL Huddleston attended the Basic Course at Fort Knox, Kentucky and was awarded a two-year ROTC Scholarship. As a cadet, COL Huddleston attended Airborne School at Fort Benning, Ga. and the Cadet Advanced Camp at Fort Lewis, Wash. He graduated as a Distinguished Military graduate from WMU in 1983 and has a Bachelor of Science degree in History and Political Science and a Master of Arts degree in International Relations. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Military Intelligence Branch in April, 1983.

As an active-duty officer, COL Huddleston served at several duty assignments to include Fort Bragg, N.C., Fort Rucker, Ala., Seoul, South Korea, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, Fort Ord, Calif., and in Iraq during Desert Shield/Storm. His positions included Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer, Battalion/Brigade Staff Officer and Company Commander.

COL Huddleston transitioned into the Minnesota National Guard in 1993 and has held numerous positions to include Battalion S-3, Brigade XO, Assault Battalion Commander and Attack Battalion Commander. He is presently the Director of Army Aviation for the Minnesota National Guard.

He is a graduate of Airborne School, Military Intelligence Officer Basic Course, Jump Master Course, Initial Entry Rotary Wing Course, Aviation Officer Advance Course, Air Assault School, Combined Arms Services Staff School, Foreign Area Officer School, Defense Language School (French), Command and General Staff College, Joint Firepower Control Course and the Aviation Pre-Command Course.

COL Huddleston is a master aviator with over 2,000 helicopter hours. His awards include the Air Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (3), Army Commendation Medal (6), Army Achievement Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal (2), National Defense Service Medal, South West Asia Campaign Medal, Kuwaiti Liberation Medal, two Overseas Service Ribbons and the Minnesota Service Medal. He has also received the Order of St. Michael, Bronze Award.

He is the son of Von Dean and Elizabeth Huddleston of St. Joseph, Michigan. He has been married for 26 years to the former Nancy Creed of Kalamazoo, Mich. and they have two children, Michael Jr. and Andrew.