Major Michael A. Mosley, USAF, age 42, born November 8, 1974 in Ojai, Calif., died Monday, September 18, 2017.

Mike grew up in Ojai, and graduated from Nordhoff High School. He attended the Air Force Academy, graduating eighth in the Class of 1998, and was awarded the prestigious Bradley Scholarship to Harvard. He earned his graduate degree in Public Policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Mike attended pilot training at Laughlin AFB, Texas. He was a Command Pilot with over 3,800 flight hours in the KC-10, C-12, and T-37 and flew at Travis AFB, McGuire AFB, and was deployed 11 times in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2009, Major Mosley was assigned to Scott AFB, AMC, where he served as Chief, Special Operations Aerial Refueling Branch, 618th Air Operations Center (TACC). He was the recipient of the Defense Meritorious Service Medal and three Meritorious Service Medals and had earned seven Air Medals for his performance in combat. Additionally, Mike was the 618th AOC recipient of the Colonel James Jabara Airmanship Award. Mike's career was characterized by consistent leadership and excellence indicative of his meticulous nature.

A black belt in Tae Kwon Do, Mike possessed a wicked sense of humor, had a brilliant mind, and maintained high integrity.

He was preceded in death by his stepfather Lee Gordanier, and his grandparents Celia and Samuel Sperling.

Surviving are his wife Joanna, nee Bronson, Mosley; his mother Marilyn Mosley Gordanier; his brother Raphael Mosley, sister Ramaa Mosley; grandmother Wilma Mosley, aunt and uncle Barbara and Lee Sperling, and father Rick Mosley.

Memorial donations may be made to The Soldiers Project (www.thesoldiersproject.org) and will be accepted at the funeral home.

Visitation: The family will receive friends from 5:00 – 8:00 pm, Saturday, September 23, 2017, at Wolfersberger Funeral Home, 102 W. Washington St., O'Fallon, Ill.

Scott Air Force Base Honor Guard will render honors at 5:30 pm, Saturday, at the funeral home.