Throughout his Air Force career Mikhailov served in numerous positions, including Dean of (from 1980 to 1985), deputy and first deputy commander of the Air Force of the
Moscow Military District (1985–1989). In 1991, he earned a degree at the
General Staff Academy and was assigned to the
North Caucasus Military District as Air Force component commander, Air army commander. He was implicated in a corruption scandal described by in his book. In 1998, he assumed the office of deputy Air Force Commander-in-Chief. In 2002 he was promoted to the post of the Commander-in-Chief of the
Russian Air Force. He has the title
Hero of the Russian Federation. On May 9, 2007, Mikhaylov resigned from office due to his age. == Orders and decorations ==