Biography

Colonel Michael C. Kasales graduated from DePauw University as a Distinguished Military Graduate and was commissioned as an Armor Officer in 1987. After attending Armor Officer Basic Course at Fort Knox, Kentucky he served as a Scout Platoon Leader, Squadron Support Platoon Leader, Cavalry Troop XO (during Operation Desert Storm), and Squadron S4 in the 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment at Fort Bliss, Texas.

He then attended the Infantry Officers Advance Course at Fort Benning, Georgia where he served as the Assistant S3 in the 2nd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, Wildflecken, Germany; and the G3 Training Officer for the 1st Armored Division, Bad Kreuznach, Germany. In December 1995 he assumed command of B Troop, 1st Squadron, 1st U.S. Cavalry Regiment, Buedingen, Germany and deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina with the lead IFOR elements of Task Force Eagle. Following command in 1997, he was assigned to the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, California where he served as the Headquarters Company, Scout Platoon / Reconnaissance Troop, and Battle Staff Trainer on the Armored Task Force Training Team (Cobra Team).

After graduating from the Command and General Staff College, and earning a Master of Arts degree at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas in 2001, he was assigned to Fort Lewis, Washington where he served as the Squadron Operations Officer for the 1st Squadron, 14th U.S. Cavalry Regiment (RSTA) and as the Brigade Operations Officer for the 3rd Brigade (SBCT), 2nd Infantry Division during the first Stryker Brigade Combat Team deployment to Operation Iraqi Freedom. Following this assignment he served in a joint assignment in the National Capital Region in December of 2006.

Kasales then assumed command of the 5th Squadron, 1st U.S. Cavalry Regiment in Fort Wainwright, Alaska in December 2006. He deployed to Diyala Province, Iraq during 2008-2009 as part of the 1st Brigade (SBCT), 25th Infantry Division. Following Squadron Command in 2010, he served as the Operations Officer (G3) at the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, CA.

As of June 24, 2011, Kasales commands 3rd Brigade (HBCT), 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colorado.

Kasales' awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Meritorious Service Medal, the Combat Action Badge, the Army Superior Unit Award, the Meritorious Unit Citation, and the Army Parachutist Badge. Colonel Kasales is also a knight in the Order of Saint George and is the 2002 recipient of the Frederick M. Franks Award.