The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, 20 July 1942, takes pleasure in presenting a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Legion of Merit to Colonel Michael R. Pent, United States Air Force, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Senior Individual Mobilization Augmentee, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, from 1 April 1997 through 13 August 2000. Colonel Pent came to Pacific Air Forces during a time of increasing international tension and while mission support and training opportunities were decreasing in part due to existing policies for the assignment and utilization of reserve forces. Colonel Pent initiated changes that greatly enhanced the capability of the Air Force to achieve mission effectiveness in the Pacific. He served as the Pacific Air Forces’ representative to the Air Force Reserve Joint Working Group that developed innovative criteria for the assignment and utilization of Air Force reservists in the Joint Service arena. He negotiated the first formal attachment to United States Pacific Command of a judge advocate reservist residing in the Continental United States. Through Colonel Pent’s advocacy and persistence, a program was initiated for the direct attachment of Continental United States-residing reservists to Air Force activities outside the Continental United States. During this same period, Colonel Pent continued a special assignment to United States Southern Command. He led a Joint Service team to Lain American countries for military-to-military contacts on the concept, organization and utilization of ready reserve forces. He was recognized as the 1998 recipient of the annual Air Force Judge Advocate General’s Department Thomas P. Keenan Award as the Air Force attorney who made the most notable contribution to the development of internal law or military operations law. He has also provided outstanding leadership for over seven years as a member of the Judge Advocate General’s Executive Conference and Council and championed initiatives that have contributed immeasurably to the Judge Advocate General’s Executive Conference and Council and championed initiatives that have contributed immeasurably to the Judge Advocate General’s reserve program. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of Colonel Pent culminate a long and distinguished career in the service of his country and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, 20 July 1942, takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Colonel Michael R. Pent, United States Air Force, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States while assigned as the Senior Individual Mobilization Augmentee to the Director, United States Air Force Judiciary, Air Force Legal Services Agency, Bolling Air Force Base, District of Columbia; to the Staff Judge Advocate, headquarters Air Force Space Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado; and to the Deputy Judge Advocate General, Headquarters United States Air Force, the Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia., from 2 May 1992 to 30 March 1997. His detailed strategic proposals on training policies and the establishment of an Air Force Legal Services Agency Executive Council contributed significantly to the upgrade of reserve support for the Agency and Headquarters United States Air Force. Colonel Pent’s involvement in the reorganization of Space command including incorporation of two numbered air forces and new bases and mission responsibilities resulted in his nomination as the Air Force Legal Services Agency and The Judge Advocate General’s Department outstanding Individual Mobilization Augmentee Officer for 1994. He developed an outstanding program for legal support of the national Aeronautics and Space Administration astronauts at the Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas. His exceptional service led to his selection as the Senior Individual Mobilization Augmentee to the Deputy Judge Advocate General, where he was responsible for the supervision, training and effective utilization of all Air Force Reserve legal personnel. He created the first computer database capable of matching reserve expertise with mission needs. Colonel Pent led the first-ever Reserve Subject Matter Expert Exchange to a foreign country. The exchange to Argentina was a resounding success and led to a by-name request for Colonel Pent to participate in a similar exchange to Chile. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of Colonel Pent reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.