By order of the president of the United States, Clarksburg native Michael Skidmore has been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in service to the United States Air Force. Michael graduated from Robert C. Byrd High School in 2006 and was selected by then Senator Byrd to attend the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Spring.

Graduating in 2010, Michael received training as a Navigator aboard the HC-130P “Combat King” and later as a combat systems officer (CSO) aboard the HC-130J “Combat King II” where he achieved qualification as an instructor, evaluator, and Combat Search and Rescue coordinator. The highly specialized HC-130 is the world’s premier fixed-wing platform for conducting search and rescue operations, as well as medical evacuations under combat conditions. Michael has held distinction as Director of the United States Central Command, Joint Personnel Recovery Center and Chief of Personnel Recovery for U.S. Air Forces Europe and U.S. Air Forces Africa. 

He is currently serving as the Director of Operations for the 11th Air Task Force based out of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, AZ.

Editor's Note: Photo shows Michael Skidmore, the son of Ike and Beth Skidmore and the grandson of Jack and Mary Sue Fraser all of Clarksburg, taking the oath. Photo credit: Captain Jaime Toress from 1 September 2025 at Daegue Air Base, Korea.

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