Michael J. Aguilar
Encyclopedia
Michael J. Aguilar is a retired United States Marine Corps
brigadier general
and the Federal Security Director of the San Diego International Airport
. Aguilar is the first Hispanic of Mexican descent to reach the rank of General officer in the United States Marine Corps
.
, the son of Michael Aguilar Sr., and Celia Aguilar. He attended Serra High School
, and has an older sister, Sylvia, and two younger brothers, Gil and Al.
Aguilar received his Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, California State University, Long Beach
and a Master's Degree in Strategic Studies and National Security Affairs, Naval War College
.
, U.S. Marine Corps Forces South, Miami, Florida
, and Commanding General, Fleet Marine Forces South.
Brigadier General Aguilar has flown H-1 helicopters throughout his career, accumulating nearly 4000 accident free flight hours, and has held a variety of billets in aviation at the squadron, aircraft group and aircraft wing level. He began flying the UH-1E Huey helicopter with Marine Light Helicopter Squadron 267, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, Camp Pendleton, and then while assigned to Headquarters and Maintenance Squadron 24, 1st Marine Amphibious Brigade, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii
. He was transferred overseas in 1976 to the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing where he served with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 165 aboard Amphibious Naval Ships and Marine Light Helicopter Squadron 367 on Okinawa, Japan.
In 1977 he returned to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing and converted to the AH-1J Attack Helicopter serving with Marine Attack Helicopter Squadrons 369 and 169 and the Marine Aircraft Group 39 Staff. He served in the maintenance departments and also as the Officer in Charge of an AH-1T helicopter detachment deploying with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265 aboard the USS Tarawa
. Returning to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing in 1982 he was assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169 as the Operations Officer and later as the Officer in Charge of another AH-1T helicopter detachment deploying with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 165 aboard the USS New Orleans
.
In 1985, shortly after returning from this deployment, he was transferred to the Marine Recruit Depot, San Diego. He was initially assigned as the Executive Officer, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion and later as the Director of the Drill Instructor School, the only aviator to hold the billet. In 1988 he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel and was transferred overseas to Okinawa and served on the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing Staff in the Operations Department. In 1989 he returned to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing and was assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 50, Camp Pendleton as the Operations Officer. Shortly after Iraq invaded Kuwait, he was assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 70 and deployed to Southwest Asia in August 1990.
During the Gulf War
he served as the Executive Officer, Marine Aircraft Group 16 operating out of Al Jubayl, Saudi Arabia, and later up north near Kuwait. After the war he returned to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing and assumed command of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 267 and later served as the Marine Aircraft Group 39 Executive Officer. In August of 1993 he attended the Naval War College
and was promoted to colonel in October of that same year. In July of 1994 he returned to Marine Aircraft Group 39 serving first as Executive Officer and then as Commanding Officer. In August of 1997 he was transferred to the Office of the Secretary of Defense serving as the Senior Military Assistant to the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy and, after promotion to brigadier general, to the Joint Staff as the Deputy Director for Operations, National Military Command Center
. In July of 1999 he was assigned as the Commanding General, Joint Task Force Panama, where he oversaw force protection during the drawdown of forces and transfer of property and equipment to the government of Panama. In December of 1999 he transferred to Marine Forces South, Miami, FL.
with Oak Leaf in lieu of a second award, Legion of Merit
, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal
and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal.
as federal security director. In 2007, he was honored as the Federal Security Director of the Year for the Western Region.
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
brigadier general
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
and the Federal Security Director of the San Diego International Airport
San Diego International Airport
San Diego International Airport , sometimes referred to as Lindbergh Field, is a public airport located northwest of the central business district of San Diego, California and from the Mexico – United States border at Tijuana, Mexico...
. Aguilar is the first Hispanic of Mexican descent to reach the rank of General officer in the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
.
Early life and education
Aguilar was born in Los Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, the son of Michael Aguilar Sr., and Celia Aguilar. He attended Serra High School
Junípero Serra High School (Gardena, California)
Junípero Serra High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Gardena, California, a suburban city located 14 miles southwest from downtown Los Angeles. Honored as a State School of the Year, Serra is operated by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles.-Background:Junípero Serra High...
, and has an older sister, Sylvia, and two younger brothers, Gil and Al.
Aguilar received his Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, California State University, Long Beach
California State University, Long Beach
California State University, Long Beach is the second largest campus of the California State University system and the third largest university in the state of California by enrollment...
and a Master's Degree in Strategic Studies and National Security Affairs, Naval War College
Naval War College
The Naval War College is an education and research institution of the United States Navy that specializes in developing ideas for naval warfare and passing them along to officers of the Navy. The college is located on the grounds of Naval Station Newport in Newport, Rhode Island...
.
Military career
Brigadier General Aguilars' last billet was as Deputy CommanderDeputy Commander
Deputy commander was a rank in the London Metropolitan Police which existed between 1946 and 1968.In 1946, the rank of chief constable, which was between superintendent and deputy assistant commissioner, was renamed deputy commander. At the same time, the rank of deputy assistant commissioner was...
, U.S. Marine Corps Forces South, Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
, and Commanding General, Fleet Marine Forces South.
Brigadier General Aguilar has flown H-1 helicopters throughout his career, accumulating nearly 4000 accident free flight hours, and has held a variety of billets in aviation at the squadron, aircraft group and aircraft wing level. He began flying the UH-1E Huey helicopter with Marine Light Helicopter Squadron 267, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, Camp Pendleton, and then while assigned to Headquarters and Maintenance Squadron 24, 1st Marine Amphibious Brigade, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
. He was transferred overseas in 1976 to the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing where he served with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 165 aboard Amphibious Naval Ships and Marine Light Helicopter Squadron 367 on Okinawa, Japan.
In 1977 he returned to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing and converted to the AH-1J Attack Helicopter serving with Marine Attack Helicopter Squadrons 369 and 169 and the Marine Aircraft Group 39 Staff. He served in the maintenance departments and also as the Officer in Charge of an AH-1T helicopter detachment deploying with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265 aboard the USS Tarawa
USS Tarawa
Two United States Navy ships have borne the name Tarawa, after the Pacific atoll that was the scene of a bloody fight in the Pacific War.* The first was an aircraft carrier commissioned in 1946....
. Returning to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing in 1982 he was assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169 as the Operations Officer and later as the Officer in Charge of another AH-1T helicopter detachment deploying with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 165 aboard the USS New Orleans
USS New Orleans
USS New Orleans may refer to:, was a ship-of-the-line laid down in January 1815 but her construction was halted and she remained on the stocks, housed over, until sold in September 1883...
.
In 1985, shortly after returning from this deployment, he was transferred to the Marine Recruit Depot, San Diego. He was initially assigned as the Executive Officer, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion and later as the Director of the Drill Instructor School, the only aviator to hold the billet. In 1988 he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel and was transferred overseas to Okinawa and served on the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing Staff in the Operations Department. In 1989 he returned to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing and was assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 50, Camp Pendleton as the Operations Officer. Shortly after Iraq invaded Kuwait, he was assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 70 and deployed to Southwest Asia in August 1990.
During the Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
he served as the Executive Officer, Marine Aircraft Group 16 operating out of Al Jubayl, Saudi Arabia, and later up north near Kuwait. After the war he returned to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing and assumed command of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 267 and later served as the Marine Aircraft Group 39 Executive Officer. In August of 1993 he attended the Naval War College
Naval War College
The Naval War College is an education and research institution of the United States Navy that specializes in developing ideas for naval warfare and passing them along to officers of the Navy. The college is located on the grounds of Naval Station Newport in Newport, Rhode Island...
and was promoted to colonel in October of that same year. In July of 1994 he returned to Marine Aircraft Group 39 serving first as Executive Officer and then as Commanding Officer. In August of 1997 he was transferred to the Office of the Secretary of Defense serving as the Senior Military Assistant to the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy and, after promotion to brigadier general, to the Joint Staff as the Deputy Director for Operations, National Military Command Center
National Military Command Center
Located in the Pentagon, the National Military Command Center houses the logistical and communications center for the National Command Authority of the United States of America. The facility, which is composed of several war rooms, is the principal command and control center of the Department of...
. In July of 1999 he was assigned as the Commanding General, Joint Task Force Panama, where he oversaw force protection during the drawdown of forces and transfer of property and equipment to the government of Panama. In December of 1999 he transferred to Marine Forces South, Miami, FL.
Military Promotions
| Rank | Date |
|---|---|
| Brigadier General Brigadier General Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000... |
1998 |
| Colonel Colonel Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures... |
1993 |
| Lieutenant Colonel Lieutenant colonel Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence... |
1988 |
| Major Major Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ... |
1981 |
| Naval Aviator Naval Aviator A United States Naval Aviator is a qualified pilot in the United States Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard.-Naming Conventions:Most Naval Aviators are Unrestricted Line Officers; however, a small number of Limited Duty Officers and Chief Warrant Officers are also trained as Naval Aviators.Until 1981... |
1972 |
| Second Lieutenant Second Lieutenant Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal... |
1971 |
Decorations and honors
Brigadier General Aguilar’s personal decorations include the Defense Superior Service MedalDefense Superior Service Medal
The Defense Superior Service Medal is a senior United States military decoration of the Department of Defense, awarded to members of the United States armed forces who perform "superior meritorious service in a position of significant responsibility."...
with Oak Leaf in lieu of a second award, Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal (United States)
The Meritorious Service Medal is a military decoration presented to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguished themselves by outstanding meritorious achievement or service to the United States subsequent to January 16, 1969...
and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal.
Airport Security Director
In March 2002, Aguilar joined the San Diego International AirportSan Diego International Airport
San Diego International Airport , sometimes referred to as Lindbergh Field, is a public airport located northwest of the central business district of San Diego, California and from the Mexico – United States border at Tijuana, Mexico...
as federal security director. In 2007, he was honored as the Federal Security Director of the Year for the Western Region.
See also
- http://www.popehat.com/2010/11/16/its-such-a-fine-line-between-stupid-and-clever/
- http://www.thecrimereport.org/archive/criminal-probe-into-case-of-ca-man-who-refused-airport-scan/
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hispanics_in_the_United_States_Marine_Corps
- http://senweb03.senate.ca.gov/committee/standing/GOVERNANCE/10-10-06FINALREPORT.pdf