Kansas National Guard Hall of Fame - COL Michael J. O'Toole

Colonel Michael Joseph O'Toole was born in Hiawatha, Kansas on January 1, 1952. He attended Topeka West High School for a one year and graduated from the Parsons High School in 1970. He enlisted in the Kansas Air National Guard in 1970 after graduation and began Basic Training in September of that year. Ultimately Col. O'Toole commanded the Wing that he had enlisted for, the 190th Air Refueling Wing of the Kansas Air National Guard.

While serving in the Air Guard he attended college at Washburn University and was a member of the ROTC program. Upon his graduation he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant and served on Active Duty at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico. He completed his active duty in 1979 and was appointed as an officer in the 190th ARG. In 1980 he graduated from Pilot Training and served as a Traditional Guard Pilot until 1986 when he became a Full Time Instructor Pilot. During his career he served in numerous Leadership and Command positions as all levels. He accumulated over 7,000 flying hours and obtained the Master Pilot Rating. He graduated from the Air War College in 1999.





			Col MICHAEL J. O'TOOLE
	Colonel Michael Joseph O'Toole was born in Hiawatha, Kansas on January 1, 1952. He attended Topeka West High School for a one year and graduated from the Parsons High School in 1970. He enlisted in the Kansas Air National Guard in 1970 after graduation and began Basic Training in September of that year. Ultimately Col. O'Toole commanded the Wing that he had enlisted for, the 190th Air Refueling Wing of the Kansas Air National Guard. While serving in the Air Guard he attended college at Washburn University and was a member of the ROTC program. Upon his graduation he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant and served on Active Duty at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico. He completed his active duty in 1979 and was appointed as an officer in the 190th ARG. In 1980 he graduated from Pilot Training and served as a Traditional Guard Pilot until 1986 when he became a Full Time Instructor Pilot. During his career he served in numerous Leadership and Command positions as all levels. He accumulated over 7,000 flying hours and obtained the Master Pilot Rating. He graduated from the Air War College in 1999. Col. O'Toole was mobilized to serve during the Desert Shield/Desert Storm War and the Kosovo Campaign being one of the first Air Refueling Crews in support of both Kosovo and the War with Iraq. As a citizen he served as a Trustee for the Stormont-Vail Foundation, as a board member of the Topeka Chamber of Commerce and a member of "Go Topeka." He was a member of Leadership Topeka, Class of 2001 and Leadership Kansas, Class of 2003. He served the National Guard Association of Kansas as the second and first Vice President and as the Executive Director of the National Guard Association of Kansas from 1985-1986. He started a "Wings" Leadership Program for Fifth Grade students a Pauline south Elementary School in Pauline, and was an active volunteer in the program. He also was a volunteer in the Kansas STARBASE program and gave orientation flights for the Wright Flight and Young Eagles, using his own airplane. His military awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal, the Aerial Achievement Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Air Force Achievement Medal, the Southwest Asia Services Medal, the Kosovo Campaign Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Kuwait Liberation Medal, the Overseas Short Tour Medal, the and National Guard Association of Kansas Distinguished Service Medal and other awards to numerous to mention. he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2007 following his father, COL Donald J. O'Toole, inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1991.