Col. Michael R. Hudson was born in San Francisco and grew up in the Bay Area. He enrolled in the Platoon Leaders Course while attending San Jose State University and graduated with a degree in Aeronautics in December
1984. He completed The Basic School and was designated a Naval Aviator in April1987. He was assigned to Marine
Helicopter Training Squadron 301 at Marine Corps Air Station Tustin, Calif., and received his designation as a CH-46 medium-lift helicopter pilot.
Subsequently joining Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 161 at Tustin, he was assigned to both the administrative
and intelligence departments and deployed as part of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit in January 1989. Upon returning, he was promoted to captain and assigned to squadron operations. In August 1990, Capt. Hudson deployed again with HMM-161 to Jubail, Saudi Arabia, for both Desert Shield and Desert Storm, returning in April1991.
In June 1991, he was transferred to 3rd Tank Battalion, Twentynine Palms, Calif., where he served as air officer. He built the air package for the first Steel Knight Exercise, and participated in numerous combined-arms exercises, Exercises Desert Fire and Desert Scimitar.
In September 1992, he was transferred to Training Squadron Six (Vf-6) in Naval Air Station Whiting Field, Fla., where he served as the Standardization officer and flight instructor in the T-34C. During this time, he completed his master's in business management from Troy State University in Alabama.
Completing this tour in July 1995, he transferred to Marine Helicopter Training Squadron 204 in New River, N.C., for CH-46 refresher training. In November 1995, he was promoted to major and assigned to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 161 at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, Calif., where he was assigned as the administration officer before serving as operations officer. He deployed with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit in March 1997.
In April 1998, Maj. Hudson was transferred to Marine Aircraft Group 16 to serve as plans officer.
In August 1998, he was transferred to the Navy Warfare Development Command in Newport, R.I. While assigned
there, he drafted the Naval Land Attack Concept and worked on Time Critical/Sensitive Targeting and advanced sensor-to-weapon networks.
In June 2001, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and transferred to Marine Medium Helicopter Training Squadron 164 at Camp Pendleton, Calif. After completing his refresher syllabus, he was assigned to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364 to serve as executive officer. In March 2002, he deployed with the squadron to Korea to support Exercise Foal Eagle and a reception, staging, onward-movement and integration exercise. Upon his return in June, he was assigned as the Marine Aircraft Group 39 executive officer. He deployed to Ali AI Salem, Kuwait, in February 2003 for Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, returning in October 2003.
In May 2004, he assumed command of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364, 'The Purple Foxes." In February 2005, the squadron deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 04-06 to AI Taqaddum Air Base, Iraq, to conduct combat operations. Primarily conducting casualty evacuation missions and direct-action raids, the squadron flew more than 3,800 mishap-free combat hours in seven months. In December 2005, he relinquished command and was assigned to 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing to serve as future operations officer.
In June 2006, he reported to the Naval War College, Newport, Rl. He was promoted to his present rank in September 2006 and graduated in June 2007 with a master's degree in national security and strategic studies.
From July 2007 to May 2009, he was assigned to U.S. Pacific Command to serve as Joint Operations Center Director.
He transferred to I Marine Expeditionary Force in June 2009 for duties as future operations officer. He assumed command of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit in May 2010.
He has logged more than 3,900 total flight hours.
His personal decorations include the Bronze Star with one gold star, the Joint Meritorious Service Medal,
the Meritorious Service Medal with one gold star, the Air Medal with strike flight 12, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with one gold star and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with one gold star.
He is married to the former Nichelle Betters of Sunnyvale, Calif. They have two children, Courtney, 16, and Connor, 11.