Home / Meet Program Ambassador Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Mike Shields
Lieutenant General (Ret.) Mike Shields has more than three decades of military service. He has commanded at multiple levels and served in Iraq and Afghanistan with men and women who risked everything to defend the nation they love.
But for many veterans, new challenges begin when the mission ends, and Shields understands that support shouldn’t stop there — which is why he serves today as the ambassador for Good Dogs for Great Americans, CACI’s signature philanthropic initiative in partnership with the Washington Capitals and America's VetDogs. The goal is simple: provide specially trained service dogs for disabled veterans who need them.
As part of the program, each time the Capitals block a shot during the 2026 – 2027 NHL regular season, CACI will donate $250 to America’s VetDogs.
Throughout his career, Shields saw firsthand how important a trusted teammate can be in overcoming adversity. That same bond defines the partnership between a veteran and a service dog. It’s a relationship built on trust that opens doors for veterans experiencing difficulties when they return to civilian life, from physical injuries to less visible challenges such as PTSD and depression.
Shields has led a distinguished military career, serving in a wide range of command assignments including company command in Germany during the Cold War, command of the 3rd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment at Fort Bragg, NC, and command of the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT) in Northern Iraq.
While redeploying back to Alaska from Northern Iraq, the 172nd SBCT was extended and sent to Baghdad where they completed one of the longest combat tours of the war. They suffered 36 killed in action and nearly 400 wounded in action. Under Shield’s command, the brigade earned the Valorous Unit Award for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an armed enemy.
Over the years, Shields has served in several joint strategy and policy roles including director of the National Joint Operations and Intelligence Center. In 2010, he joined the Joint Improvised Explosive Device (IED) Defeat Organization as the deputy director for Operations and Intelligence and director of the Counter-IED Operations and Intelligence Center. After returning from Afghanistan in 2012, he served on the Joint Staff as director of the Pakistan Afghanistan Coordination Cell. In 2013, he served as commanding general, United States Army Alaska (USARAK). Following USARAK command, he assumed his final role as director of the Joint Improvised Threat Defeat Organization.
Across these assignments, Shields worked extensively in joint environments and high risk missions, gaining deep expertise in threat analysis, rapid innovation, and operational integration of technology. These experiences shaped his understanding of how emerging technologies must be deployed quickly and effectively to support warfighters in dynamic environments.
Shields joined CACI in May 2019 where he helps ensure advanced technologies are aligned to customer mission needs and are successfully integrated into operational use. From leading soldiers and guiding national level threat defeat initiatives to accelerating transformative technologies at CACI, Shields has devoted his career to strengthening national security and supporting those who serve. His journey reflects his dedication to mission, innovation, and service — values he carries forward today through Good Dogs for Great Americans.
Good Dogs for Great Americans builds on CACI’s longstanding support of veterans by providing meaningful, measurable assistance through specially trained service dogs. As ambassador, Shields helps lead a program rooted in purpose: empowering veterans with confidence, independence, and improved wellbeing.
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