Michael J. Borders, is the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Energy, Installations, and Environment at Department of the Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. Mr. Borders is responsible for the formulation, review and execution of plans, policies, programs, and budgets to meet Air Force installations, energy, environment, safety and occupational health objectives. He provides civilian oversight and policy leadership for the Department of the Air Force’s global installation enterprise, with responsibility for military construction, installations and infrastructure, housing, environmental programs, and energy and resilience policy in support of Airmen, Guardians, and their families worldwide.
Prior to his appointment, Mr. Borders served 28 years in the United States Air Force where he led large, complex organizations and managed significant resources supporting global basing, mission readiness, and force sustainment. His focus has been on aligning infrastructure, energy, and environmental policy with operational requirements while ensuring disciplined stewardship of public resources with experience includes advancing resilience initiatives, modernizing installations, and strengthening partnerships with Congress, federal agencies, state and local governments, and surrounding communities.
Mr. Borders earned his commission through Officer Training School and holds advanced degrees in national security and strategic studies and is a graduate of senior military and executive leadership programs.
EDUCATION
1997 Bachelor of Arts, Criminal Justice/Sociology, Thomas More College, Crestview Hills, Ky.
2004 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2009 Masters of Military Operational Art and Science, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2009 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2010 FBI National Academy, Quantico, Va.
2010 Certificate of Law Enforcement, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Va.
2012 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2013 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2016 The Eisenhower School, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. March 1998–August 2001, Flight Commander and Convoy Commander, 2nd Security Forces Squadron, Barksdale Air Force Base, La.
2. September 2001–June 2004, Combat Operations Flight Commander, 421st Combat Training Squadron, Fort Dix, N.J.
3. July 2004–January 2007, Operations Officer, 822nd Security Forces Squadron (SAFESIDE), Moody AFB, Ga.
4. July 2007–January 2008, Chief, Operations Division, 820th Security Forces Group, Moody AFB, Ga.
5. January 2008–June 2008, Director of Wing Plans and Programs, 93rd Air Ground Operations Wing, Moody AFB, Ga.
6. Aug 2008–January 2009, Commander, 823rd Security Forces Squadron, Moody AFB, Ga. (Commander, 887th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, Camp Bucca, Iraq)
7. June 2008–June 2010, Commander, 56th Security Forces Squadron, Luke AFB, Ariz.
8. June 2010–September 2010, Student, FBI National Academy Quantico, Va.
9. September 2010–July 2011, Commander, 96th Security Forces Squadron, Eglin AFB, Fla.
10. August 2011–June 2012, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell, Ala.
11. June 2012–August 2015, Thailand/Burma Country Director, U.S. Pacific Command, Camp Smith, Hawaii
12. August 2015–June 2016, Student, Eisenhower School, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
13. June 2016–June 2017, Commander, 379th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, Al Udeid, Qatar
14. July 2017–February 2018, Deputy Director, Global Antiterrorism Policy, Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Defense Continuity and Mission Assurance, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
15. February 2018–June 2020, Director, Domestic Counterterrorism & Global Antiterrorism for the ASD for Homeland Defense & Global Security Affairs Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
16. June 2020–July 2022, Commander, 355th Mission Support Group, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
17. August 2022–September 2025, Commander, Det 3, Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
18. January 2026–present, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Energy, Installations, and Environment, Department of the Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Bronze Star Medal
Legion of Merit
U.S. Army Parachutist Badge
German Parachutist Wings
Royal Thai Armed Forces Parachutist Wings
U.S. Army Pathfinder Badge
U.S Army Jumpmaster School
(Current as of January 2026)