MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- Lt. Col. Mike Hilyard assumed command of the 908th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, 908th Airlift Wing, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., May 14.
Hilyard had been acting as the squadron’s commander since September, and accepted the passing of the unit’s flag from Col. Donald Richey, 908th Operations Group Commander, in front of his unit to signify the formal passing of responsibility, authority, and accountability to him as the unit’s new commander.
Hilyard will direct more than 75 Airmen with a mission to provide airlift and combat support across the spectrum of military operations.
“I don’t think that there is a finer officer in my group to lead the aeromedical evacuation squadron,” said Richey. “What Mike brings to the table is experience.”
Prior to becoming an officer, Hilyard had spent 26 years in the Air Force, rising to the rank of senior master sergeant.
“He’s seen how to lead from the senior NCO level, he’s seen how to lead from the company grade officer level, and the field grade officer level,” said Richey.
In September, Hilyard was asked to take on the task of temporary or acting commander of AES, and Richey said he’s seen only good things since that time.
“The environment seemed to improve, people were happy, and I never had to ask Mike for anything,” he said. “It’s one of the few squadrons I have in my operation that has been the most self-sufficient, combat coded units … because it’s lead by someone with maturity; that has a lot of mature people constantly going back and forth … to contribute to the fight on terrorism.”
For Hilyard, the culmination of his career started when he entered the Air Force in January of 1975.
“During those years, I’ve had some good leaders and some not so good leaders. I’ve tried to remember the good traits of every single one of them, and also the bad to make sure that I did not sit there and become that type of leader,” Hilyard said.
“The main task of a leader is to make sure that the people he’s supposed to lead have all the training and support they need to be successful; they really are our best asset,” he said.
“In this business,” he continued, “that would be to send the AE crews and support personnel into harm’s way … My solemn promise to every squadron member is when that time does come, you will have all the tools you will need to be successful to bring home our wounded warriors.
“The number one asset the Air Force has is the people. I will strive to take care of each and every one of you,” Hilyard said.
Hilyard served as an Air Reserve Technician from 1988 to 1996 before receiving his commission in 1998 through the Air Force Reserve Deserving Airman Commissioning Program. He became an ART for a second time in 2007.
As a member of the Air Force Reserve, he has directed ground aeromedical evacuation combat operations supporting several conflicts and contingencies, including Hurricane Rita relief, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He is an Aeromedical Evacuation Operations Officer with more than 585 days of real-world deployment experience.