Major General (MG) Michael Oates is from San Antonio, Texas. He was commissioned in the Infantry upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1979.

MG Oates’ duty assignments include rifle platoon leader, company executive officer and battalion maintenance officer in 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas, from 1979 to 1982. From 1983 to 1986, he served as company commander and battalion S3 Air in 2nd Battalion, 187th Infantry (Airborne), 193rd Separate Infantry Brigade, Republic of Panama; and aide de camp to the CG, U.S. Army South.

MG Oates served as an Infantry assignment officer at Personnel Command from 1987 to 1989.

After graduation from CGSC, MG Oates served with 2nd Battalion, 187th Infantry (Air Assault), and 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky., from 1990 to 1993 as Bn. S-3 and Bde. S-3 and S-4. From 1993 to 1995 he served in J3, Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).

MG Oates commanded 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry, 10th Mountain Division (LI), Fort Drum, N.Y., from 1995 to 1997.

After graduation from the Naval War College, Newport, R.I., in 1998, MG Oates assumed command of 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (AASLT), Fort Campbell, Ky., until 2000. He subsequently served as Division Chief of Staff from 2000 to 2002.

From 2002 to 2004 MG Oates served as Executive Officer to Honorable Tom White, Secretary of the Army; and as Chief of Staff to the Chief Operations Officer, Coalition Provisional Authority, Baghdad, Iraq. From 2004 to 2007, MG Oates served as Deputy Commanding General (Operations), 101st Airborne Division (AASLT), Fort Campbell, Ky.

MG Oates holds a Masters Degree in National Security Studies from the Naval War College. He has completed the following military courses: Airborne, Ranger, Pathfinder, Jumpmaster and Air Assault School.