Retired Air Force colonel to be named outstanding alumnus at Sauk Valley Community College

DIXON – A retired colonel from Sterling with 27 years of service with the U.S. Air Force will be named the outstanding alumnus this year for Sauk Valley Community College.

Michael Friedlein, a 1976 Sauk graduate, will receive the 2020 Distinguished Alumni award at the virtual commencement at 7 p.m. on May 29.

The award honors a particular achievement of noteworthy value, a series of such achievements or a career of noteworthy accomplishments that bring honor to the college.

Friedlein was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force in 1979 and, during his 27-year career, he commanded three squadrons.

The squadrons were deployed in support of the Gulf War as relief operations in Somalia as well as to the former Soviet Union and peacekeeping operations in Bosnia.

In 1990, he assumed command of the Fourth Mobile Aerial Port Squadron at Dover Air Force Base Delaware, the largest in the Department of Defense in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

In 2000, Friedlein began command of the 436th Aerial Port Squadron. His staff assignments included a tour with the joint chiefs of staff as a logistics emergency action officer and a tour on the staff of the secretary of defense as an air transportation adviser.

His merits and medals include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster and the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters.

Friedlein graduated from Sauk in 1976 with an associate of science degree in pre-professional studies and was a top player on the 1974-1976 basketball teams under Coach Frank Palumbo. He received a bachelor's degree in biology from Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, and a master's degree in industrial psychology and management from Webster University in St. Louis.

Friedlein and his wife, Janie, retired to Nellysford, Virginia, where he volunteers as a firefighter, first responder and member of the board of directors for the Wintergreen Fire and Rescue Squad. His father Tom lives in Sterling.