Lieutenant Colonel Michael P. Manning, United States National Guard
Lieutenant Colonel Mike Manning received his commission as an Infantry Officer through the Providence College ROTC Program in 1997. He is a graduate of the Infantry Officer Basic Course, the Infantry Captain’s Career Course, Airborne School, Ranger School, the College of Naval Command and Staff and the Maritime Advanced Warfighting School.
Prior to his arrival at Tufts University, as a National Security Fellow, he was assigned as the Commander of the Recruiting and Retention Battalion for the RI Army National Guard. Previous non-command assignments include service as an Infantry Platoon Leader and Brigade Scout Platoon Leader in the 1st ID; State Partnership Program Coordinator and Plans Officer, RI National Guard; Deputy Chief, CCA Regional Engagement Branch, Special Operations Command South; Legislative Liaison, RI National Guard; Ministry of Defense Senior Advisor, NATO Special Operations Component Command – Afghanistan; Sr. Operations Officer, Special Operations Detachment – Global and Secretary of the General Staff, RI National Guard.
His command assignments include: 48 months as Commander, 173d Infantry Detachment (Long Range Surveillance), 42nd Infantry Division, Troy, NY, where he deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III, and 21 months as Commander, Recruiting and Retention Battalion, RI National Guard, East Greenwich, RI.
Lieutenant Colonel Manning holds a Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College. He is a Senior Instructor at the Joint Special Operations University and has participated in delivering the Special Operations Command Design Way and applied research inquiries. His awards and decorations include Bronze Star Medal with OLC, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with 4 OLC, the Army Commendation Medal with 2 OLC, the Kosovo, OIF and OEF Campaign Medals, the Parachutist Badge, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Ranger