Colonel Michael N. Cleveland enlisted in the Mississippi Army National Guard in July 1988 as a Chaplain Assistant. He later received his commission as an Engineer second lieutenant in August 1992 from the Mississippi Military Academy.
Colonel Cleveland has served in various leadership assignments throughout his career to include the 890th Engineer Battalion to include Platoon Leader, Detachment Commander and Executive Officer. He transferred to the 168th Engineer Group and served in positions to include Plans Officer, HHC Commander and Civil Engineer. In 2003, he was assigned to the 223rd Engineer Battalion where he deployed to Tikrit, Iraq serving as the intelligence officer in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and later served as the Battalion Operations Officer during Hurricane Katrina and later assumed the position of Battalion Executive Officer. In June 2010, he took command of the 223rd Engineer Battalion and latter deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He commanded a route clearance battalion composed of nine companies in Regional Command South consisting of over 1000 soldiers. After command, he was assigned as the Executive Officer of the 168th Engineer Brigade located in Vicksburg, MS. In Feb 2015, he assumed command of Camp McCain Training Site located in Grenada, Mississippi where he currently serves. In addition, Colonel Cleveland has participated in various overseas training assignments which range from Costa Rica, South Korea and Jamaica.
He earned a Bachelors of Science Degree from the University of Southern Mississippi and a Masters Degree in Business Administration from William Carey College. He is a graduate of the Army Command and General Staff College, Advanced Operations and War Fighting Course, the Engineer Advanced Course and the Engineer Officer’s Basic Course. He was selected for Army War College and is in the second year of the program.
His military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (2nd Award), Meritorious Service Medal (2nd Award), Army Commendation Medal (5th Award), Army Achievement Medal (2nd Award), Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (7th Award), Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 20 Year Device Silver Hourglass and M Device, Humanitarian Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal (with Bronze Service Star), Overseas Service Ribbon (2nd Award), Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon (3rd Award), Army Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Iraq Campaign Medal with Two Service Stars, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Combat Action Badge, and Meritorious Unit Commendation. His state awards include the Mississippi War Medal, Mississippi Emergency Service Medal (3rd Award), Mississippi Longevity Medal (5th Award).