Brigadier General Michael E. Byrne was commissioned an Infantry Officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School Class OCRS 2-65, Fort Benning, Georgia, 16 August 1965. His first duty assignment was as Platoon Leader 2-159th Infantry, San Jose, California, National Guard. | His subsequent duty assignments include: Platoon Leader, 2-414th Regiment, Medford, Oregon; Training Officer and XO, U.S. Army Training Center, Fort Ord, California; Rifle Platoon Leader and Company Commander, 2 Bn 12th Infantry 25th Infantry Division, Republic of Vietnam; G-3 Operations, HHC, U.S. Army J.F.K. Center for Special Warfare, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Rifle Company Commander, 1-186th Infantry, Ashland, Oregon; S-3 Air, HHC, 1-186th Infantry, Ashland, Oregon;  Intelligence Office 249th RAOC, Tigard, Oregon;  Battalion S-3, HHC, 1-186th Infantry, Ashland, Oregon; Battalion Executive Officer, HHC, 1-186th Infantry, Ashland, Oregon;  Battalion Commander, HHC, 1-186th Infantry, Ashland, Oregon;  Strength Management Officer, HQ STARC (-), Salem, Oregon; Executive Officer, HHC, 41st Sep Infantry Brigade, Portland, Oregon; Deputy Brigade Command, 41st Sep Infantry Brigade, Portland, Oregon; and Assistant Adjutant General (Army) HQ STARC (-) Salem, Oregon. | His military schools attended include: Officer Candidate School, Infantry Officer Basic Course, Jungle Training, Airborne Training, Special Forces Training, Infantry Officer Advanced Course, Command and General Staff College (RC) and the United States Army War College.Colonel Byrne is a graduate of the University of New York having earned his BS Degree in Liberal Studies. | His awards and decorations include: National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal w/ 5 Campaign Stars, Army Commendation Medal w/ V Device and Oak Leaf Cluster, Silver Star, Bronze Star w/ V Device w/ Oak Leaf Cluster, Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachute Badge, Jungle Expert Patch, 2 Purple Hearts, Army  Meritorious Service Medal w/ 2 Oak Leaf Clusters and other various meritorious service medals.