QUANTICO, Va. -- For the first time in more than two decades, the Air Force Office of Special Investigations is restoring a general officer to its mobilization assistant role.
Brig. Gen. Michael Mentavlos was promoted following Senate confirmation June 30 and later announced to the agency by Brig. Gen. Amy Bumgarner, AFOSI’s commander.
“This selection reflects both personal achievements and the critical role AFOSI plays in national security,” Bumgarner said. “The general officer selection process is highly competitive, and this advancement is well deserved.”
Mentavlos promoted immediately following confirmation and will continue serving as Bumgarner’s mobilization assistant. An official promotion ceremony will be held later.
The announcement follows the recent upgrade of the individual mobilization augmentee, or IMA, billet assigned to AFOSI headquarters. The position, formerly filled by a colonel, was upgraded to a brigadier general billet, reflecting the increased responsibilities of the role.
In addition, the increased grade ensures more effective integration of total force requirements as AFOSI continues to align with Air Force and Space Force missions, particularly as the Department of the Air Force modernizes for great power competition.
“Our IMA force is critical to AFOSI’s mission,” Bumgarner said. “They bring diverse experience and specialized skills that augment our active-duty component, with backgrounds unlike any other law enforcement or counterintelligence organization in the world.”
Mentavlos was commissioned through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps at The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina. Over his career, he has commanded 14 times and deployed on 10 occasions.
Prior to his current assignment, Mentavlos served as chair of the Defense and Security Issues Committee for NATO’s Interallied Confederation of Reserve Officers, representing the Air Force Reserve Command on defense issues in the international arena.
In his civilian capacity, Mentavlos works as a Special Agent for the Department of Defense Inspector General’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service. He currently serves as the Special Agent in Charge of the Southwest Field Office in Westlake, Texas.
“It’s an incredible honor to serve in this role at such an important time for AFOSI and the Department of the Air Force,” Mentavlos said. “I’m proud to continue working alongside this outstanding team and representing the vital contributions of our IMA force.”