Michael R. Ford, LTC, US Army (Ret.) Director-Aviation, Safety & Training

Michael Ford, LTC, US Army (Ret.) is the Director-Aviation, Safety & Training for American Business Development Group, an internationally respected, full-spectrum business development consulting firm, now representing a diverse list of over fifty prominent U.S. and international businesses. American Business Development Group enjoys a reputation as one of the largest business development firms in the United States which specializes in the re-equipping and modernization of the Reserve Component.

Mr. Ford began his military career in the US Air Force in 1977, before transferring to the Army, and attaining the rank of Sergeant First Class. His first assignment following his commissioning from the Officer Candidate School at Ft. Benning, GA in 1984, was that of a Platoon Leader in the 1-167th Cavalry, Nebraska Army National Guard. Following his promotion to Captain, he served as the Commander of D Troop (Air), 1-167th Cavalry; followed by Commander of 109th AVUM Det, then as the 67th Brigade Training Officer and Brigade Aviation Officer, then as the 41st Rear Area Support Center Operations Officer and Administrative Officer. Upon his promotion to Major, he deployed as the Support Operations Officer for the Army Support Group Falcon, at Camp Able Sentry, in Kosovo, before returning Stateside to serve as the 92nd Troop Command Headquarters Logistics (S4) Officer. Mr. Ford was then selected to serve at the national level as the Army National Guard Directorate Well-Being Section Chief, then as the Deputy Chief of the Programs and Integration Branch. After being promoted to LTC., Ford deployed to Baghdad, Iraq to serve as the Deputy C-3 Air (Plans), for the Multi-National XVIII Airborne Corps—Iraq (MNC-I); before returning to serve as the Chief of the Army National Guard Safety and Standardization Branch.

Mr. Ford holds a Master of Science in Quality Systems Management from the National Graduate School in Falmouth, MA; and a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts from the University of the State of New York, in Albany, NY.

Mr. Ford’s many awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (4th Award), the Army Commendation Medal (3d Award), the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with M De-vice, the Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal with 1 OLC, the Air Force Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, and the NATO Medal. This Senior Army Aviator with over 3000 hrs. flight time in the OH-58 A/C/D, AH-1 F/S, AH-64A/B, UH-60 A/L, has also earned the Air Assault Badge, and the Army Staff Identification Badge; in addition to being installed in the Army Aviation Association of America Honorable Order of St. Michael – Silver Level.

Mr. Ford and his wife, Cindy, reside in Kansas City, MO.

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