Colonel Michael “Spam” Cassidy graduated from The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina with a Bachelors of Arts in English and was commissioned on 11 May 2001.
After completion of the Basic School he entered flight training at NAS Pensacola with follow on training at NAS Whiting, Florida. He completed training as a Naval Aviator at NAS Kingsville, Texas and received his wings on 26 September 2003. After completion of flight training he reported to Marine Attack Training Squadron 203 for AV-8B Harrier training in Cherry Point, North Carolina.
Following qualification in the AV-8B in May 2005, First Lieutenant Cassidy moved to MCAS Yuma, Arizona where he was assigned to Marine Attack Squadron 214. While assigned to the Black Sheep he served as the Ground Safety Officer, a Schedule Writer for Operations, and the S-4 Officer in Charge. During this tour he completed deployments on the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in Japan.
In June of 2008, Captain Cassidy moved to Quantico, Virginia where he attended Expeditionary Warfare School. After Expeditionary Warfare School he was reassigned to MCAS Yuma, Arizona.
Upon arrival at MCAS Yuma, Captain Cassidy was assigned to Marine Attack Squadron 311 where he served as the Assistant Operations Officer, Detachment Operations Officer, Squadron Operations Officer, and Aviation Maintenance Officer. In September of 2009 he attended the Weapons and Tactics Instructor School and graduated in October of 2009. He completed deployments on the 31st MEU in Japan, and the 15th MEU where he flew combat missions in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM in Afghanistan.
In June of 2012, Major Cassidy reported to Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One. While at MAWTS-1 he served as an AV-8B instructor and the AV-8B Division Head.
After MAWTS-1, Major Cassidy reported to Marine Attack Squadron 211 and deployed as the AV-8B Detachment Officer in Charge for the 15th MEU where he flew combat missions in Operation INHERENT RESOLVE in Iraq and Syria. In December of 2015 he returned to Yuma and was the Squadron Executive Officer for VMA-311 until May of 2016.
In May of 2016, Lieutenant Colonel Cassidy reported to HQMC Aviation where he served as the AV-8B requirements officer.
In March of 2019, Lieutenant Colonel Cassidy assumed command of Marine Attack Squadron 214 the “Black Sheep” at MCAS Yuma, Arizona and served as the Commanding Officer until October of 2020. During his command tour Marine Attack Squadron 214 deployed to Prince Sultan Air Base in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and flew combat missions in support of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE.
In July of 2021, Colonel Cassidy attended the Air War College at Maxwell AFB and graduated in May 2022. Following graduation he reported to US Forces Korea where he served as the Deputy for the Commander’s Initiatives Group until June of 2023, and as the J33 Current Operations Division Chief for US Forces Korea and the C33 Deputy Division Chief for Combined Forces Command until May of 2024.
Colonel Cassidy has accumulated over 2000 hours in tactical jet aircraft. His personal decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Air Medal with numeral “3” Strike device, the Meritorious Service Medal with 1 Gold Star, the Navy Commendation Medal with 3 Gold Stars, the Navy Achievement Medal with 2 Gold Stars, as well as numerous campaign and service awards.