Michael A. Hales
- 25 Year Veteran of the US Army
- Aviation Officer with Assignments in Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Colombia
- Director of Aviation at Delaware State University
- Facilitated Multiple Airline Partnerships for the DSU Aviation Program
Michael A. Hales is a 25-year veteran of the US Army, who has served as an Aviation officer at multiple levels of key leadership positions and responsibility. His military assignments have taken him to multiple locations within the United States and overseas. Lieutenant Colonel Hales has flown in combat and deployed five times, beginning with Operation Desert Storm back in 1991.
While in the US Army, he deployed as the Aviation Advisor to the Commanding General of the Royal Saudi Land Forces Aviation Corps in Riyadh, aimed at establishing the first military Flight School in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Soon thereafter, he deployed to Iraq as the Director of the Iraqi Flight School at Kirkuk Regional Air Base.
In 2016, Michael started his “Dream Job” as the Director of Aviation Programs at Delaware State University. During his tenure at DSU, Michael was the Founder of the annual HBCU Aviation Director's Summit. He increased capacity for flight training by purchasing 15 more aircraft. Michael collaborated with US Senator Chris Coons' legislative staff with authoring the Flight Act in 2020. And he achieved FAA self-examining authority for 4 of the 6 certifications/ratings students must achieve, which saves approximately $6,000+ per student in DPE check ride fees. Most notably, Michael facilitated numerous airline partnership agreements for the Aviation Program, including an agreement with Alaska Airlines to establish the industry-leading True North Scholarship, which helps pay for student’s flight lab fees. Thanks to Michael’s efforts to build these partnerships, DSU students now have numerous career paths and opportunities to choose from.
In January of 2024, Michael transitioned from DSU to become the CEO of United Aviate Academy in Goodyear, AZ where he currently lives with his family.
