Colonel Caldwell served for 24 years in the U.S. Air Force. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant after graduating from Officer Training School in August 1985. He was a career Public Affairs Officer serving in various Public Affairs leadership positions at the Wing, Numbered Air Force, Major Command, and Air Staff levels. He also served in joint and combined PA positions in Korea and other locations including two deployments to Iraq. During his first assignment to the Air Staff as Chief of the Air Force Press Desk from 2000 – 2002, Colonel Caldwell was an eyewitness to history when terrorists flew an American Airlines passenger plane into the Pentagon on September 11, 2001. Colonel Caldwell retired from the Air Force in August 2009 serving as the deputy director and acting director of Public Affairs for the U.S. Air Force.
Mike joined the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation in December 2019, shortly after the announcement to locate the National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington, Texas. Previously, having served as the Chief Operating Officer for the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation, Mike has trusted and strong relationships with most of the living Recipients of the Medal of Honor. Since 2019, Mike has served as the Medal of Honor Museum Foundation’s Chief of Staff, as the Director for Recipient and Executive Support, and as the Senior Director for Operations and Veteran Engagement.
Colonel Caldwell was named the Air Force’s Field Grade Public Affairs Officer of the Year in 1998. He is also an Eagle Scout. Mike, and his wife Marcella, who is also a retired Air Force colonel, have four children and three grandchildren.