Michael Hood began his military career in the infantry as a guardsman with the Canadian Grenadier Guards before enrolling in the Regular Force and receiving his air combat systems officer wings in 1988. He served as director general of Air Force development and deputy director general of international security policy before being appointed deputy commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force in 2012. In 2013 he was appointed director of staff, strategic joint staff. He was commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force from 2015 to 2018. He is a retired lieutenant general and the former commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force. He is currently chief of staff at JDS Mining in Vancouver, British Columbia.