82S11064 MMS-D
By: Gallego H.R. No. 205
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, United States Air Force Colonel Michael R. Frankel,
commander of the 47th Flying Training Wing at Laughlin Air Force
Base, has long rendered exceptional service to this country; and
WHEREAS, In his present assignment, Colonel Frankel is
responsible for undergraduate flight training for United States Air
Force and allied officers; he commands a wing that operates 238
training aircraft and that logs more than 80,000 flying hours and
55,000 sorties a year; Colonel Frankel is also responsible for
ensuring that all the units under his command are able to deploy in
support of combat operations worldwide; and
WHEREAS, An alumnus of the United States Merchant Marine
Academy, Mike Frankel was commissioned into the air force in 1988;
he graduated with distinction from the USAF Weapons School in 1996,
attended the Air Command and Staff College in 2000, and holds
master's degrees in military operational art and science from Air
University and in national security strategy from the National War
College; and
WHEREAS, Colonel Frankel previously served as commander of
the 12th Fighter Squadron at Elmendorf Air Force Base from 2005 to
2006; during that time, his squadron won the Hughes Trophy, the most
prestigious air force award bestowed on an air fighter defense
squadron, and claimed the William Tell championship, the title
given to the winner of the USAF biennial fighter gunnery
competition; and
WHEREAS, After attending the National War College in 2007,
Colonel Frankel served as executive officer to the commander,
Allied Air Component Command, Headquarters, Izmir, Turkey, from
2007 to 2008, as division chief in the Deputy Directorate for
Special Operations, Joint Staff, from 2008 to 2009, and as vice
commander of the 12th Flying Training Wing at Randolph Air Force
Base from 2009 to 2010; and
WHEREAS, Rated as a command pilot, Colonel Frankel has
amassed 2,400 flight hours and more than 250 combat hours; he was
the youngest F-15C pilot to deploy with the 27th Tactical Fighter
Squadron for service in Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm; in
addition to the F-15C, he is qualified to fly the T-37 and T-38; and
WHEREAS, Among the numerous awards conferred on Colonel
Frankel have been the Defense Superior Service Medal, Defense
Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with four oak
leaf clusters, Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Aerial
Achievement Medal with four oak leaf clusters, Commendation Medal
with four oak leaf clusters, and Combat Readiness Medal with three
oak leaf clusters; and
WHEREAS, Throughout a career distinguished by decisive
leadership and consummate professionalism, Colonel Frankel has set
the highest standards of excellence in the execution of his duties,
and he has earned the gratitude of every Texan; now, therefore, be
it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby commend Colonel Michael R.
Frankel for his outstanding military service and extend to him
sincere best wishes for continued success in all his endeavors;
and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Colonel Frankel as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.