Colonel Michael J. Zinno is the Deputy Commander for the 352nd Civil Affairs Command at Fort Meade, Maryland.
Colonel Zinno received his commission as a Chemical Officer in May 1989 from Gettysburg College after receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science. After completing the Chemical Officer Basic Course in 1989, he held several positions in the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment at Fort Bliss, Texas to include Squadron NBC Officer, Smoke Platoon Leader and Executive Officer for the 89th Chemical Company.
He transitioned to the U.S. Army Reserve where he served as HHD Detachment Commander and then the Fitness Unit Commander for the 84th Support Brigade in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In 2000, He transferred to the Civil Affairs Branch and was first assigned as a Civil-Military Operations Officer for the 402nd Civil Affairs Battalion in Tonawanda, New York. While a member of the U.S. Army Reserve Active Reserve, Colonel Zinno was Operations Officer for the 468th Chemical Battalion in Little Rock, Arkansas; S2/S3 for the 413th Civil Affairs Battalion, Lubbock, Texas; Assistant Plans Officer for the 350th Civil Affairs Command, Pensacola, Florida; and Commander of the 413th Civil Affairs Battalion in Lubbock, Texas.
Over his career, Colonel Zinno served in numerous assignments supporting the Global War on Terror. In 2004, he deployed to Iraq as a Civil Military plans officer assigned to the Multi National Force – Iraq. In 2008, he was named Joint Plans and Policy Officer for the Joint Task Force National Capital Region, Ft. McNair in Washington DC. In 2012, he deployed supporting Operation Enduring Freedom as the Chief of Plans for Task Force 2010 in Kabul, Afghanistan.
In 2008, he received his Master of Arts in International Peace and Conflict Resolution from the American University. Also in 2008, COL Zinno received his Masters in Military Art and Science from the Command and General Staff College. In 2012, he received his Master of Science in Joint Operation Planning from the Joint Forces Staff College. COL Zinno is also a designated functional area Strategist.
Colonel Zinno is a graduate of the Army Infantry Airborne Course, the Chemical Officer Basic Course, the Civil Affairs Officer Advance Course, the Combined Arms and Services Staff School, and the School of Advanced Military Studies. He completed Joint Advanced Warfighting School at the Joint Forces Staff College in 2012.
Colonel Zinno’s decorations include the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal (with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters), the Joint Service Commendation Medal (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters), the Army Commendation Medal (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters), the Army Achievement Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medial (with two campaign stars), the National Defense Service Medal (with two bronze stars), the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terror Service Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with ‘M’ device), the Army Service Ribbon, the Army Reserve Overseas Training Ribbon, the Saudi Arabia Kuwait Liberation Medal, The Kuwaiti Liberation Medal, Non Article 5 NATO Medal, Combat Action Badge, the parachutist Badge, and the German Armed forces Efficiency Badge- Bronze.