Lieutenant Colonel Michael J. Quinn is the Professor of Aerospace Studies and Commander of Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) Detachment 005 at Auburn University. In this capacity, Lieutenant Colonel Quinn serves as the head of the university’s Aerospace Studies department, instructs senior courses on national security affairs and airpower history, supervises six faculty and staff members, and has overall responsibility for training and mentoring more than 100 students preparing to become Air Force officers.
Lieutenant Colonel Quinn received his commission as a second lieutenant through the Reserve Officer Trainings Corps from Clemson University in 2006. He is a senior pilot and advanced air advisor with more than 1500 flying hours including 171 combat hours. He has served in a variety of operational flying positions across three combatant commands and flown humanitarian assistance missions in direct support of OPERATION Tomodachi in Japan and combat air advising missions with the Afghan Air Force supporting OPERATION Enduring Freedom. Prior to this assignment, Lieutenant Colonel Quinn served as the Chief of Safety, 316th Wing at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland.
His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (4 oak leaf clusters), Air Medal (4 oak leaf clusters), Aerial Achievement Medal (one oak leaf cluster), the Air and Space Commendation medal, the Air and Space Achievement Medal, and various unit and service awards.
