Academic and Career Accomplishments
Lt Col Michael P. Lynch, was born in Ravenna on October 4, 1962. He is the oldest of four children born to William and Peggy Lynch, both graduates of Ravenna High School. He graduated from Ravenna in 1981 and attended Kent State University. Mike graduated in 1985 with a BS in Aerospace Technology and was commissioned, a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. After completing technical training at Chanute AFB, IL, he reported to his first duty station at Wurtsmith AFB, MI assigned to the 379 Field Maintenance and Organizational Maintenance Squadrons where he performed duties as an Aircraft Maintenance Officer on the B-52G Stratofortress and KC-135A Stratotanker as part of the Strategic Air Command. In 1989 he was reassigned to RAF Upper Hayford, UK and the 20th Tactical Fighter Wing, United States Air Forces, Europe where he led the maintenance of F-111E Fighter Bombers.
He joined the Arizona Air National Guard’s 161st Air Refueling Wing in Phoenix, Arizona in 1994. He has served in key leadership positions in contingency operations supporting Operations DESERT SHIELD/ STORM, Operation DENY FLIGHT, enforcing the no-fly zone over Bosnia, Operations NORTHERN and SOUTHERN WATCH enforcing the no-fly zones over Iraq and Operation ALLIED FORCE during the war in Kosovo. He was the first commander of Arizona’s Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team and deployed three times for Operations IRAQI/ENDURING FREEDOM supporting the Global War on Terror to include Kabul, Afghanistan as an advisor to the Director of Logistics for the Afghan National Police Force. Lt Col Lynch’s awards include five Meritorious Service Medals, four Air Force Commendation Medals, two Air Force Meritorious Unit Awards, five Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards to include a citation for Valor, Kosovo and Afghanistan Campaign Medals with campaign stars, two National Defense Medals, the Armed Forces Service Medal, Global War on Terror Expeditionary and Service Medals and three NATO Medals. Of all the accomplishments and titles he has held, Mike considers his two children, Emma and Aidan to be his most treasured accomplishments and the title of “Dad” to be his greatest.